Thursday was a historic day for the Year 9 boys basketball team as they took to the court against St Ronan’s Lurgan. 
Unfortunately, on this occasion, the boys were not able to come away with a victory – losing by 10 points in a game that was close throughout. Going into the final 4 minutes there were still 3 points in the game but fatigue set in for the boys and Lurgan were able to pull away. 
St Paul’s started the first quarter slowly in the scoring with Daire Kelly getting their opening score.

It proved to be their only of the quarter, but a strong defensive performance meant that they only trailed by 4 points at the end of the first. The first quarter set the defensive tone for the rest of the game as in the second quarter baskets from Emmett McKeever and captain Jude Clements allowed St. Paul’s to win the quarter and only trail by a basket at half time. The 3rd quarter saw St Paul’s play the better basketball on the court and their superb defensive continued with Aodhan Lynch and Miceal McCreesh leading the way defensively and Daire Kelly again to the fore on offence. However, a scoring drought of 11 missed shots and a long 3 pointer by St Ronan’s cost the boys and allowed Lurgan to take 3 point lead into the final quarter. The final quarter proved difficult as the effort defensively eventually took its toll on the boys and allowed Lurgan to pull away on the scoreboard in which a 10 point lead was not a true reflection on the scoreboard.

After the game a proud Mr Burns was on hand to present the boys with their runners up medals and remind them of how great the accomplishment of being a first St Paul’s basketball team to reach a final actually was. Coach Mr McArdle could not have been prouder of the performance of the players and the grace they showed in defeat. It is an amazing achievement by a honest, hard working team who had never played basketball until November. In three short months, to be standing as the second best team in Ulster, is something to look at with great pride. 
Congratulations to St Ronan’s Lurgan on a great victory in a game which was a credit to both schools.