Hickey lands last-gasp winner for SETU Wildcats
Wildcats Alyssa Durazo-Frescas gets her pass away under the watchful eyes of Meteors Martina Destro.
SETU Wildcats got back on track with a home win against Dublin Meteors at the Mercy Sports Hall on Saturday last. Just three points separated the sides 74-71 in a nerve-tangling game that saw the STS-sponsored Wildcats almost throw away a sizeable lead before a last-gasp winner from the game's top scorer, Sarah Hickey, with 33 points, got them over the line.
The game opened at a fast pace, with both sides playing some quality basketball, producing many excellent scores, as Sarah Hickey and Tiara Brown netted 9 points each, leaving the Wildcats leading 23-17 at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter belonged to the Hickey sisters, with Kate swishing a couple of three pointers while Sarah added 10 more points to the Wildcats total.
The Waterford side led 44-32 at the break and looked like they were back to their best as guards Alyssa Durazo and SETU Student Sanija Brikmane were producing solid performances.
As the game progressed, the Dubliners matched the Wildcats' efforts with their American post player Eva Learn (24 points) doing sizeable damage inside. She may have had a bigger total, but for the outstanding defence and rebounding from Tiarra Brown, who was simply tremendous all game. As the game entered the final quarter Wildcats led 63 - 51.
Consecutive baskets from Helena Rohan, Alyssa Durazo and Sanjia Brikmane saw the difference extend to 17 points with 8 minutes remaining in the game.
Just then, the Wildcats fumbled a number of chances for breakaway scores with astonishing turnovers that let the opposition back into the game as they punished the Wildcats for every turnover with fine scores.
The difference was down to 69-61 with 5 minutes remaining. A big three-pointer from Alyssa Durazo eased the pressure. But Meteor's spirits were high in the last minutes and kept the Wildcats scoreless while hitting many fine shots, tying the game 71-71 with 14 seconds on the clock.
Wildcats coach Jillian Hayes Hickey called for a timeout to set up a play in the hope of making it a winning one, and sure enough, to the relief of the home crowd who had fallen silent watching their favourites collapse from a willing position, it proved to be so. Alyssa took the ball forward and, with six seconds remaining, hit Sarah Hickey with a pass that she finished in style.
The Irish international was fouled while doing so, and she slotted home the bonus shot to give the Wildcats a much-needed victory.
The games now come thick and fast, with tough tasks ahead for the Wildcats, who travel to Cork this Saturday to face Brunell before they welcome their other Cork rivals, Glanmire, at home the following Saturday, with the tip-off at 7pm at the Mercy Sports Hall.
