Williamson puts Setanta on course for U-19C win

KATIE WILLIAMSON powered Colaiste Pobail Setanta home to a superb victory in the Under 19 C girls schools All-Ireland basketball final as they won out 49-60 over Carrick On Shannon Community School at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.
Williamson, who starred for the Ireland U-16 women’s team last summer, was certainly the star of the show for the Dublin school today as she put in a superb performance that included a whopping 30 points for her side.
Strong displays all round from Setanta including Milicia Stankovic on the point and Mary Jane Obijuru in particular, found Williamson inside time and time again, and Carrick On Shannon were just unable to stop her.
For their part, Carrick put on a brilliant display of basketball, with Sara Crowe the leading light for her side, netting 21 points on the day and leading a superb comeback in the third and fourth quarters to almost steal the game from Colaiste Pobail.
A strong start to the game though was eventually what would keep victory assured for Setanta, as a 10-point quarter from Williamson saw them lead 10-19 at the end of the first.
Despite brilliant basketball from Carrick’s Crowe, Clodagh Sheerin and Vivienne Egan at the other end, Setanta had opened the gap to 21-36 by half time.
The third quarter continued at frantic pace with Carrick’s Crowe, Aisling Leahy and Egan putting the game to Setanta at every turn, and Crowe dug deep as the clock ticked down and added three vital baskets to close the gap to 37-44 at the end of the third.
The game was far from over as a nervy fourth quarter ensued, and with just a minute gone, a superb score from Crowe narrowed the margin to just four points and it was officially game on.
Williamson showed her style here though, and stepped up to the challenge in style, adding two quick baskets to settle Setanta’s nerves, and despite Egan’s and Crowe’s best efforts, Setanta held on to win out by 11 points.