FIGHTING IRISH  GIRLS BASKETBALL
Major Atom
2007 - 2008

Fighting Irish Face Tough Competition in London!

The Fighting Irish Major Atom team coached by Dean Galvin and Jay Peckham faced some pretty tough competition at the London Titan’s tournament in London on February 1^st and 2^nd.

The Irish squad faced the Windsor Valiants for the third and hopefully final time this season dropping a 45-12 decision.  The Irish kept things interesting for the first half but the stronger Valiants eventually pulled away to a sound victory.  The Valiants are probably one of the strongest teams in the province this year and although the final score doesn’t show it, our local girls improved their game against them since their last competition in December.  “In our first 2 games, (the Valiants) had to drop back after the first quarter because of a 15 point lead rule, but they kept their full court press on for most of the game this time.” Observed Coach Galvin.  “Our girls ran out of steam in the final quarter and it made a big difference to the final score.”  Victoria Ennett and Emily Peckham led the offense with 4 each followed by Daylin Galvin and Carmella Arcuri with 2 each.

The Irish dropped disappointing losses to the London Titans and 35-11 and the Brantford CYO 38-20 but resounded with a 27-7 win against Wallaceburg to earn a birth in the Bronze medal game.

Against the Titans Peckham led the offense with 4 with Kadin, Galvin and Adrianna adding 2.  Lauren Elviage hit for one free throw.  Peckham had the hot hand for the Irish against Brantford with 7 points followed by Ennett and Galvin with 4 each.  Elviage and Adrianna added 2 and Dalrymple chipped in 1.  It was a true team effort against Wallaceburg with eight players sharing in the scoring:  Galvin had 5; Lauren Dalrymple,  Carmella Arcuri, Peckham, and Megan Thevenot had 4 each; Adrianna Arcuri, Kadin Siopidou-D’Andrea and Ennett added 2 a piece. 

The Irish got a second look at the Brantford squad in the finals and worked hard to come within 6 points at the end of the first half.  But the Branford girls got hot in the second half and the Irish couldn’t defend their strong outside shooting dropping a disappointing 47-24 final.  Galvin led the offense with 10 followed by Peckham with 6, Kadin with 4, Ennett with 2 and both Laurens with 1 each.

The Irish travel back to London on Feb. 15-17 to compete in the London Ramblers tournament.  “With just six weeks to the OBA’s every practice and game is very important now.”  Said Coach Galvin. “We have come a long way…but we still have a lot of work to do!”