Written 3 months ago by Will O'Callaghan

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Having already booked their place in the quarter-finals, the Irish under-18 women’s basketball team round off their European Championship group stage campaign against Ukraine this evening.

Senior international and team captain, Portlaoise Panthers’ Claire Melia, led the way with 14-points in their 63-49 victory against Great Britain.

The girls in green never doubted the result from the off as they oozed confidence from the tip off and drove into a 19-6 lead by the end of the first. Claire Melia, Bronagh Power Cassidy and Rachel Huijsdens led the scoring early on, with Melia later going on to bag another double-double (her third of the tournament) by the final buzzer.

Louise Scannell and Power Cassidy kept the momentum going through the second, with huge defensive displays across the board from the Irish, with Power Cassidy, Dayna Finn and Maeve Phelan in particular working hard on the British guards to keep them at bay, while Melia was on hand under the boards to get vital rebounds to lead 37-23 at the half.

Another huge performance in the third quarter saw Power Cassidy bring her tally to 13, with Melia making the stats spin once more with huge rebounds and assists and kept her position as a firm favourite with the fans with hard work at both ends of the court to finish 51-30 to the good at the end of the quarter.

Strong defence in the fourth quarter of a tough and physical contest ensured Ireland ran out deserving 63-49 point winners in the end and book their spot in this weekend’s quarter-finals.

Image – INPHO/Tommy Dickson

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