Mayo basketball team win historic county title in dramatic finale

Mayo sport history was made on Saturday when the Westport girls won a dramatic cup final in nerve-jangling fashion.

The win secured the title for the Westport Warriors for the first time and was greeted with scenes of wild celebration.

The nail-biting triumph was sealed with just seven seconds left on the clock, following a courageous  comeback from an 11-point deficit in the final quarter.

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Hollie Campbell opened the scoring for the Pacers in Ballina Sports Centre, before Lena Massey quickly responded for the visitors. Key contributions from Lottie Billington, who made several vital steals, and Isla McCartney, whose precise passing helped set up scores, kept Westport in the hunt.

While Campbell and Emma Devenney added points for Ballina, Saoirse Reynolds and Maebh McGeough found the  basket for Westport, leaving the Warriors narrowly ahead by a single point at the end of the first quarter, 10-9.

There was a fresh five on the court for both teams in the second quarter, and Ríona Whelan and Grace Mulligan led the Pacers, contributing 10 points between them. Westport responded through Rheanna Hoban and Maya Hellberg, who added four crucial points.

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Anna McDonnell and Abby Horkan were formidable under the boards, collecting key rebounds, while Lucy O'Malley made her presence felt with timely steals. Despite the Warriors' best efforts, Ballina held a 19-14 lead at halftime.

Ballina continued to dominate in the third quarter, with scores from Laura Newcombe, Whelan, and Devenney pushing their advantage. However, Hoban and Reynolds kept the Warriors within reach, with the scoreline standing at 30-21 in favour of the home side at the end of the quarter.

The opening moments of the final quarter saw the Pacers extend their lead further. Kate O'Meara’s basket for Ballina stretched the gap to 11 points, but Westport refused to back down. Westport’s Hoban and Reynolds matched the Pacers' scoring output on their own in the quarter, thrilling the travelling crowd with a comeback that seemed impossible just moments before.

With just 90 seconds left on the clock, the Warriors still trailed by five points, but Hellberg’s free throw, followed by two more layups, levelled the score. With 7 seconds to spare, she made one final fast break, for a glorious two-pointer that sealed the 38-36 victory.

This historic win marks a monumental achievement for the Westport Warriors Basketball Club, which was founded in 2016 and is now competing in the Mayo Area Board League, Cup and Plate competitions across all age levels.

The U14 Girls’ panel, with 38 talented and dedicated players, has represented the club with distinction all  season, and this victory is a testament to their hard work and commitment.

Thanks to the generous support of Eye World and Centra Westport, the girls had the opportunity to attend the Ireland vs. Latvia  match at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght just a week earlier.

WESTPORT WARRIORS
Lottie Billington, Maya Hellberg (13) MVP, Rheanna Hoban (9), Abby Horkan, Lena Massey (2), Isla  McCartney, Anna McDonnell, Maebh McGeough (2), Lucy O’Malley, Saoirse Reynolds (12)  
BALLINA PACERS
Hollie Campbell (7), Anna Jane Coen, Emma Devenney (12), Annie Fleming, Sarah Gallagher, Sophia Kiely,  Gráinne Leonard, Grace Mulligan (6), Laura Newcombe (1), Kate O’Meara (4), Ruby O’Shaughnessy, Ríona  Whelan (6)

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