Maxol WIT Wildcats’ Brittney Dunbar takes on the Brunell defence on Saturday night. Photo: Noel Browne.

Basketball Ireland Women’s Super League

WIT Wildcats bounced back to winning ways on Saturday night at the Mercy Gym. After a disappointing performance against Liffey Celtics the previous week, Wildcats produced the goods with a 66-47 win over Cork city side Brunell. Wildcats raced into a early lead with the first four baskets of the game and from that point on it was comfortable all the way to the finish. Leading 42-19 at the halfway stage mainly through quality inside and outside baskets from Steph O’Shea who finished the game as top scorer with 22 points. As the game progressed, Wildcats coaches were able to try different combinations of players which included Aoife Brett and Mel Stone who added to their teams total with well timed scores that kept sufficient distance between the teams on the score board. Brunell did close the gap at one point but more scores from Cathy Kavanagh and Britteny Dunbar left Wildcats with 19 points to spare at the final buzzer. This win moves Maxol WIT Wildcats up to joint second on the Super League table behind unbeaten Glanmire, Cork who provide the opposition this Saturday in the National Cup.
Squad list for the game was as follows: 1. Brittney Dunbar, 2. Delacy Anderson, 3. Stephanie O’Shea, 4. Cathy Kavanagh, 5. Sinead Deegan, 6. Helena Rohan, 7. Mel Stone, 8. Aoife Brett, 9. Katie Whelan, 10 Ciara Twomey,11. Emily Fanning.

UP FOR THE CUP
It’s been some time since Wildcats had a Cup quarter final at home and they don’t come any tougher than this Saturday when the reigning champions, Glanmire, come to the Mercy sports hall. The Cork outfit have made this cup competition their own having won the coveted event a  record number of times in recent years, and while Wildcats showed themselves to be a match for most this season, they will have to raise their game even higher if they are to progress to the Cup semi finals. In the Super League, Glanmire have won all of their seven games so far and Wildcats have been the only team to run them close when beaten by six points in Cork some six weeks ago. Now with home advantage and their faithful supporters behind them, Wildcats must have a serious chance of toppling the champions in what could prove to be the game of the season. Certainly Glanmire’s coach Mark Scannell  is not taking anything for granted as he was present at the Mercy sports hall last Saturday to see Wildcats win four from four at home. With a packed house expected, supporters are asked to be early for a 7pm tip off.

UNDERAGE
It was also a busy weekend for the Wildcats underage teams last weekend which saw four teams in action. Wildcats’ Under 14 and Under 16 teams recorded two very good wins over Cork side, St. Anthony’s in the Cork league, and also took the win over close rivals, Brunell in the Under 13 fixture on Sunday in the Mercy Sports Hall. The Wildcats Under 14 team lost out to a very strong Brunell side in what was a close encounter and the Under 18 team, despite having recorded some great wins to get to the National Cup quarter final, lost out to Glanmire in a tough match in Cork on Sunday afternoon.