Maree Win U13 Galway League Final: 33 - 20.

Maree faced Moycullen in the U13 County Final at the Annual Basketball Finals Day in NUIG on Mar 27th. In their last meeting, Maree let a 14pt lead slip but held on, nervously, to win by 4. So, this final was always going to be a close encounter.
Charlie Crowley got the opening score for Maree, followed by a free throw and settled some of the initial nerves. Both sides were playing great defense - Rian Maher kept Moycullen's, Kyle Cunningham, scoreless in the first quarter. However, Moycullen, likewise, kept Maree's tallest player, Song Song Du, scoreless. Cian Greaney had a great quarter for Maree, scoring two vital baskets. While Rian Maher rebounded and scored off Stephan Gilmore's shot, to leave Maree ahead 9 - 0 at the end of the first.
The teams were evenly matched in the second quarter - Ben Brennan, a constant threat for Moycullen, picked up two baskets, however, Damian O'Reilly and Eoin Rockall restored the 9pt lead with a bucket each. Diarmuid Byrne, Ciaran Blaney and Peter Finn had no luck under the basket, many attempts rimmed out. All played tough defense and the quarter ended with honours even - 4pts each - leaving Maree ahead 13 - 4 at half time.
Song Song found his scoring touch in the third quarter, grabbing 5pts. Crowley and O'Reilly continued to get scores off drives and Peter Finn was at the end of a super fast break move. Cunningham, Egan and Brennan picked up baskets for Moycullen, but Maree had widened the lead slightly, 25 - 12, at the end of the third.
Maree were determined not to let the lead slip this time round, all played tight defense, including stints from Adam Cox and James Reynolds. Further baskets from Crowley, Greaney, Gilmore and Rockall secured victory for Maree: 33 - 20.
It was a great team success - all contributed to the tight defense, many grabbed rebounds, dished out assists, Song Song blocked shots and scores came from eight different players.

Congrats to all

Ciaran Blaney, Diarmuid Byrne, Charlie Crowley(6), Adam Cox, Song Song Du(5), Peter Finn(2), Stephan Gilmore(2), Cian Greaney(6), Rian Maher(2), Damian O'Reilly(c)(6), James Reynolds, Eoin Rockall(4).

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Maree secure two more league wins.

Maree hosted Corrib on Feb 14th: the boys played solid defense and ran the break well to set up a 51-26 win. Peter Finn top scored for Maree with 10pts, his season's best. Charlie Crowley added 8pts, Damian O'Reilly 7pts, while Ciaran Blaney and Rian Maher each had 6pts. Stephan Gilmore, Cian Greaney, and Eoin Rockall scored 4pts each. Oisin Doyle, who stepped up from the U12s, was lightening quick on the break and scored 2pts.

Maree played Barna away in Arus, Bothar an Tra, on 4th March and came away with a win: 28-50. Again, the scoring was spread, Song Song Du, Charlie Crowley and Eoin Rockall each had 10pts, closely followed by Damian O'Reilly with 8pts and Rian Maher with 6pts. Peter Finn chipped in 4pts and Cian Greaney added 2pts.

The boys have now qualified for the County Final on Mar. 27th.
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Maree hold on to win a close contest with Moycullen.

Maree continued their Galway league matches on Dec 6th with a home contest against Moycullen.
Peter Finn opened the scoring with a fast break, followed up with 6 points from Charlie Crowley to open up a 8 point lead. Strong post play from Song Song Du, together with steals from Stephan Gilmore and Damian O'Reilly lead to further scores for Charlie, leaving Maree 14 - 3 up at the end of q1.
Moycullen replied quickly at the start of the second quarter and cut the lead to 7. Two baskets from Diarmuid Byrne kept Maree in front. However, Moycullen kept up the pressure and continued to score. Free throws from Diarmuid and Ciaran Blaney and a drive from Eoin Rockall left the half time score 22 - 14 in favour of Maree.
Scores were traded evenly at the start of the third, before Moycullen hit three in a row and cut the lead to 4. However, Maree responded strongly - Song Song was a constant treat inside, scoring 3 baskets. While Eoin found his scoring touch, hitting 10 points, leaving Maree 37 - 25 ahead at the end of q3.
Further scores from Song Song, Ciaran and Charlie in the fourth quarter, together with solid performances from Rian Maher, Adam Cox and James Reynolds saw Maree through to win 43 - 39, despite a very strong finish from Moycullen.

Ciaran Blaney (3), Diarmuid Byrne (5), Charlie Crowley (12), Adam Cox, Song Song Du (9), Peter Finn (2), Stephan Gilmore, Rian Maher, Damian O'Reilly, James Reynolds, Eoin Rockall (12).
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Maree Runners-up in U13 Tournament.

Maree hosted Kubs from Dublin, Sligo All-Stars and Moycullen in a round robin tournament on Nov 29th. There was great basketball on display from all four teams, every match was competitive and Maree lost out to Sligo in the final.
A point separated the final teams going into the last quarter, however - unfortunately for Maree - Sligo's shooting guards were hot, whereas many of Maree's chances rimmed out. Maree will gain much experience from the tournament, especially considering over half of the team were U12.
The boy's best match of the day was against Kubs. In this match they boxed out and denied Kubs' tall post players easy baskets, while offensively they scored many impressive baskets.

Thank you to the referees and table officials who helped out during the day and a special thank-you to all the parents who organised and provided the food. The visiting teams were very complementary of the whole event.

Team: Ciaran Blaney, Diarmuid Byrne, Ruairi Corry, Charlie Crowley, Jim Crowley, Adam Cox, Song Song Du, Peter Finn, Stephan Gilmore, Cian Greaney, Adam Hanniffy, Rian Maher, Damian O'Reilly, James Reynolds, Eoin Rockall.
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Maree braved the bad weather and came away with another win.

On Nov 21st, despite the gales and the floods, Maree travelled to Corrib and secured their second league win: 58 - 22.

Ciaran Blaney (11), Diarmuid Byrne (2), Ruairi Corry, Charlie Crowley (4), Song Song Du (7), Peter Finn (8), Stephan Gilmore (2), Cian Greaney (6), Rian Maher (2), James Reynolds (2), Eoin Rockall (14).

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Maree U13Boys open their Galway League campaign with a win

On Nov 8th Maree hosted Barna basketball club in their opening match of the 09/10 Galway league. Despite losing six of last year's players, Maree won the contest 68 - 35.

Ciaran Blaney (4), Diarmuid Byrne (7), Ruairi Corry (2), Charlie Crowley (10), Song Song Du (11), Peter Finn (2), Stephan Gilmore (4), Cian Greaney (4), Rian Maher (6), Damian O'Reilly (6), James Reynolds, Eoin Rockall (12).