SETU Wildcats get off the mark with first home win
The Wildcats team and management at a time-out during their Women's Super League tie with Fr. Matthews played at the Mercy Sports Hall. Photos: Noel Browne.
On Saturday last, the SETU Wildcats had a win over Munster rivals Father Matthews of Cork city in Basketball Ireland's Super League at the Mercy Sports Hall.
Having gone down by four points in a tight contest away to Killester of Dublin in their opening game of the season, it was imperative that the STS sponsored Wildcats won this game to keep in touch with the league's top teams.
However it took Wildcats, who are coached by Jillian Hayes this season, a while to get into the flow of the game as their Cork rivals edged ahead nine points to two in the opening minutes.
Gradually the Pride of the Southeast found their scoring touch through team captain Helena Rohan and the Hickey Sisters Kate and Sarah and had the game all square at 15 points each after five minutes.
Two quick three pointers from Kate Hickey were followed by another basket from distance from American Ashia Mc Calla.
The visitors did respond but their best was cancelled out by four consecutive baskets from Sarah Hickey which gave Wildcats a 10-point lead 45 to 35 at the half-way stage.
From the restart, it was essential Wildcats built on their advantage and few expected them to do so in the manner they did as Sinead Deegan, Ashia Mc Calla and Kate Hickey all hit amazing three pointers within 50 seconds.
From there on, it was uphill for Father Matthews but they battled on chipping away at Wildcat's lead reducing it to 11 points before the outstanding Kate Hickey hit another pair of three pointers part of her game high 25 points to put distance between the teams once again.
Wildcats American centre Chelsea Cain took time to settle into the game, but when she did she had a number of excellent scores and assists that put the game well beyond the Cork side who never gave up and had a number of quality baskets down the stretch. Orla Dullaghan hit consecutive baskets as did Miriam Rasenberger before young Isabelle Daniels was introduced to the Super League. By the games end Wildcats had a healthy 22 points difference over Father Matthews 90 points to 68.
While pleased with the win and the overall effort coach Jilian Hayes knows her outfit were sloppy at times and will no doubt work on these issues in order to get perfect performances which will be needed if Wildcats are to be up with the best come the business end of the season.
This coming Saturday Wildcats are away to Glanmire in Cork before they welcome league favourites Liffey Celtics to the Mercy Sports Hall the following Saturday, it was pleasing to see a full house at the Father Matthews game and it could a tight squeeze for the Celtics encounter.
