Bish boys make it four-in-a-row of basketball schools titles

St. Joseph's College 77

Calasanctius College 39

St Joseph’s College (the Bish) won the Western Regional Senior A basketball title in style when they comprehensively defeated Calasanctius College, Oranmore in the final in Maree last Friday.

This game was much anticipated as it involved both the U-19A and U-16A national title holders from last year playing each other.

The Bish managed to produce the form that has seen this particular team secure three All Ireland A titles in the past three years and this was also their fourth regional title in a row. Led by their Irish internationals Patrick Lyons, Dylan Costelloe and Stephen O’Brien, the Bish took control of the game from the start, playing with great confidence, skill and organisation.

Brian Brophy and Liam Barber dominated the post-positions for the Bish and scored some vital baskets to ensure the Bish in the opening quarter, with the city side finishing the quarter leading by five points despite some fine shooting from Oranmore’s Cormac Shields and Ryan Murray.

The introduction by the Bish of Cathal Evans – who had just returning from an injury – along with U-16 captain Padraig Doran in the second quarter saw them increase their dominance, and extend the lead to 16 points at half time.

In the third quarter the Bish appeared to move up a level during a spellbinding period when Costello, O’Brien and Lyons combined to score an incredible 30 points in three minutes, hitting ten 3-point shots in a row.

With these shooters all hitting form at the same time it became difficult for Calasanctius to contain them. These scores effectively put the regional title beyond the reaches of a Calasanctius team which included many of last year’s successful All Ireland Senior Championship winning team and current successful Maree U-18 team such as Ryan Murray, Craig Hansberry, Cormac Shields and Cathal Finn.

Calasanctius worked tirelessly until the final whistle but the game was effectively over by the fourth quarter with the Bish holding an unassailable and commanding 30 pt lead.

Despite the valiant and sustained efforts of Calasanctius, this game will largely be remembered for the form of the Bish shooting guards, and if they repeat that display in the All-Ireland play-offs, they will be hard to stop.

Bish Coach Tom O Malley after the game commented that "If this team continue to make space and shoot these percentages, then other schools will find it very difficult to contain us and if they give us half a chance, we will take it,” said Bish coach Tom O’Malley after the game.