Second Year Girls
After a series of friendly games before Christmas, we entered a second-year girls’ team into the league for the first time. The girls were excited, as for many, it was their first experience playing competitive basketball.
Our first match was against Coláiste Raithin. The girls displayed great resilience and played hard until the final whistle. We had three first-year girls — Anna Kelly, Beatrix Hodge Doherty, and Akshata Keerthi — who stepped up and performed exceptionally well. Although the outcome was a loss, the team can hold their heads high for their effort.
With no time to rest, the following day, we faced another strong team, Temple Carrig. Once again, the girls showed a great attitude and played their hearts out. Isabella Van Jaarsveld and Lili Egan did a fantastic job handling the ball, while Jasmine Marshall worked diligently under the boards, securing important rebounds. It was a strong team performance, and everyone was eager for the next game.
In our penultimate game, we faced Woodbrook. The girls felt confident and started strong, with Anna Kelly making impressive steals and fast breaks that led to several baskets. Isabella took charge of the ball and made some great outside shots. In her first game, Lunasa Fox scored a fantastic basket. Nora Kearney, Annalia Halford, and Layla Dowling defended well and made excellent passes that resulted in scores for the team. We finished with a victory, winning 18-10, marking our first win and giving the girls a much-needed boost.
Our final game was away at Greystones CC. The girls were brimming with confidence and led in the first quarter, thanks to stellar passing and impressive drives from Isabella. However, Greystones took control in the second half and ended up winning 20-11. Despite the loss, it was another strong performance, and the girls are improving with every game.
Although we didn’t advance to the next stage, I am immensely proud of the girls and thoroughly enjoyed each game. I look forward to a few more friendly matches.
Well done to all the girls on the team: Isabella Van Jaarsveld, Lilli Egan, Jasmine Marshall, Layla Dowling, Annalia Halford, Nora Kearney, Aisling Taheny, Anna Kelly, Akshata Keerthi, Lunasa Fox, and Beatrix Hodge Doherty.
Second Year Boys
Our second-year boys were eager to kick off their league campaign, but what was initially planned as four matches was reduced to just one due to several schools not having enough players.
Despite this setback, the boys were excited to take to the court. On January 29th, they travelled to Olafs GAA to face Temple Carrig in their first competitive game.
The match started strong for us, with Jaithra Dhamiha scoring some great points early on. As the game progressed, Temple Carrig found their rhythm, and the scoring remained tight throughout. The second half continued similarly, with Temple Carrig hitting a crucial three-pointer that proved to be the game-winner. The final score was 24-21 in favour of Temple Carrig.
Congratulations to all the boys for their efforts! We’re looking forward to participating in the Plate competition after the Midterm.
Team on the Day:
Dara Williams, Gagan Harsha, Ismael Kirmi, Jaithra Dhamiha, Ruben Swan, Selim Shahin, Ryan O’Reilly, Kai Lawless Clarke, Will Gelvin, Milo Beckett, Lucas Tyner, Luke Flavin.
First Year Boys
The first-year boys’ basketball league kicked off right after Christmas, with twelve eager students excited to begin their competitive journey.
Game 1: John Scottus vs. Wicklow Educate Together
The season opener saw the boys face Wicklow Educate Together. Most were experiencing their first competitive game, and they embraced the challenge. The first half was slow, with a halftime score of 7-5 in favour of John Scottus. The boys found their rhythm in the second half, scoring 12 points, thanks to strong contributions from William Van Jaarsveld, Bastian Van Jaarsveld, and Ryan Zhou. Their hard work on defence paid off, leading to a final score of 19-6 and securing their first win!
Game 2: John Scottus vs. Coláiste Raithin
Next up was a nail-biter against Coláiste Raithin, where both teams exchanged leads throughout the match. The defence shone with great rebounds from Matthew Nolan and solid defence by William Clucas, Tom Crowley, and Jack Wood. With just two minutes left, the score was tight at 19-18 in favour of Coláiste Raithin. Bastian made a crucial drive to the basket, scoring and getting fouled, which allowed him to complete a three-point play, putting JSS ahead by two. William Van Jaarsveld capped off the game with a final basket, ending it at 23-19 and giving the team their second victory.
Game 3: John Scottus vs. Temple Carrig
Confidence was high heading into the match against Temple Carrig. However, it proved to be a tough battle, with the boys struggling to find their rhythm. Despite their efforts, Temple Carrig won with a score of 27-11. It was a challenging day, but the team remained determined.
Game 4: John Scottus vs. St. Killian’s of Bray
In their penultimate game, the boys faced St. Killian’s. This match turned out to be another close contest, but the scoring was low. Although they maintained possession well, the team couldn’t convert their chances, resulting in a close loss.
Final Game: John Scottus vs. CCA
Their final game against CCA was a walkover, meaning the boys finished the group stages with three wins and two losses. It was an impressive campaign overall, and the boys should be proud of their hard work and performances.
The team members for all the games included: William Van Jarsveld, Bastian Van Jaarsveld, Eoin Cuddihy, Georgie Scott, Jack Wood, Matthew Nolan, Rigo Wang, Ryan Zhou, Tom Crowley, William Clucas, William Hance, and JJ McConnell. They eagerly await the final group standings and look forward to the next stage of the competition!