Sports Digest: Six points from Shane Egan in the closing minutes, including a superb three-pointer, helped Oatlands College of Stillorgan to a 49-34 victory over CBC Cork in the boys' under-19 B All-Ireland Schools' Cup basketball final at the National Arena yesterday.
After an evenly-contested first quarter Oatlands opened up a 22-13 lead at the break thanks to the excellent work of Egan, Kulle Oyiberu and Donal O'Sullivan.
Keith Daly, Jason Coughlan and Aidan King helped CBC close the gap to just three points in the third quarter.
However, Oatlands, with Egan controlling matters, were far too strong in the closing minutes and were well worth their 15-point winning margin at the final buzzer.
In the girls' under-19 B final, St Aloysious of Cork staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Teresians, Dublin, 50-47.
Teresians took the early opportunities and led 27-18 at the break with Susie Doyle and Lorenza Cafolla leading the charge.
However, 10 points down entering the final quarter St Aloysious stormed into the attack and after good work from Niamh Pearson and Caitriona McGarry, Joan Buckley sealed the victory for the Saints with her 14th point of the game.
Simon Cummings scored 17 points as St Patrick's Academy Dungannon beat Patrician Academy, Mallow, 36-27, in the boys' under-16 B final, while St Joseph's, Abbeyfeale, were comfortable 51-30 winners over Mount Temple in the girls' under-16 decider.
SA threaten boycott
South Africa would consider boycotting tours of Australia if their players continue to suffer racial abuse on the current tour, a local newspaper reported yesterday.
The Mercury, a Durban daily, quoted Cricket South Africa chief executive Gerald Majola as saying: "It is very serious and if it continues, yes, we would look very seriously about whether we return here for another series."
Makhaya Ntini, Garnett Kruger, Herschelle Gibbs and Ashwell Prince, who are black, were targets of racial abuse during the first test in Perth in December.
"It is not right when a country has a history like ours," the paper quoted Majola as saying in Perth. "It is something we never thought we would hear about."
Baghdatis's mum well
The mother of Marcos Baghdatis was recovering from a minor operation yesterday after being taken to hospital during her son's Australian Open final.
Baghdatis caught the imagination of tennis fans worldwide in Melbourne, where the unseeded Cypriot was beaten in four sets in Sunday's final by Roger Federer.
The 20-year-old's mother Andri had complained of stomach pains early on Sunday and the pain worsened when she saw her son suffer cramp during the match. She was taken to a private clinic where doctors diagnosed gall stones. She finished watching the match from her hospital bed.
Baghdatis is expected to receive a hero's welcome when he returns to Cyprus on Friday. He will receive 150,000 Cyprus pounds (€261,730) from the state.
