Schools Basketball All-Ireland League finalsJerome Westbrooks achieved a unique double at the National Arena yesterday by coaching both St Fintan's and Holy Faith Clontarf to All-Ireland A titles.
St Fintan's, the holders, defeated cup champions Coláiste Éanna 56-46, with the latter hampered by the loss of their influential centre Ciarán White in the second quarter.
The Shamrock Rovers Hoops Superleague player has been struggling to shake off a groin strain. And White, who picked up the MVP award for Éanna in their cup win over St Gerard's last month, was no way near his best.
Éanna had shaded the first quarter 13-11, but the outside shooting of Darren O'Moore was already having a big bearing on the game.
Two baskets from the St Fintan's captain late in the first half saw them edge ahead 28-26, and although Éanna captain Scott Kinevane and Raymond Koomson tried to keep their team in contention, St Fintan's closed the game down in the final quarter.
St Fintan's drew the fouls and were able to consolidate their lead with a succession of scores from the free-throw line.
Westbrooks was also in charge of the Holy Faith team, and his daughter Leah inspired her side to a 46-39 win over Coláiste Íosagáin. Westbrooks picked up three fouls in the first half which limited her time on court.
But her influence under both baskets had a big bearing on this game, coupled with a MVP display from Sarah McGrath.
The teams were evenly matched, with Coláiste Íosagáin holding a 25-22 lead at half-time. But following Westbrooks' return Holy Faith put together a sequence of scores.
Westbrooks managed to remain on court as her team ran out 46-39 winners.
The individual performance of the day came in the Girls' Under-16A final, where MVP Christine O'Gorman scored 27 points as Presentation Thurles defeated Coláiste Íosagáin 56-38. Coláiste Íosagáin trailed by five points at the end of the third quarter, but Thurles dominated the final period with baskets from O'Gorman, Katie Shanahan and Cathriona Walsh.
As a result, Thurles will represent Ireland at the World Games in France in 2007.
The day's other game, the Girls' Under-16B, saw Mount Temple pip Loreto, St Stephen's Green, 29-25. Kate Doyle put Loreto ahead in the closing stages, but baskets from Sarah Murphy and Sarah Maxwell sealed Mount Temple's victory.
