Castle Park has a strong tradition of success in basketball, the excellent facilities in our Sports Hall enhancing training sessions.  Both boys and girls learn basketball during timetabled PE classes and it is a popular after school "hobby" throughout the year.  We enter a boys' and girls' team into the annual AIJS tournament and also arrange a series of friendly fixtures throughout the year.  Team members also attend additonal training sesions during their lunch break.

Spring Term 2012


Week of 5th March

AIJS Girls' Basketball Tournament, Wednesday 7th March Our girls were keen to win the Tournament which we hosted again this year. All the girls from Forms V and VI, and also a few from Form IV, were in our squad and we fielded three teams.  There have been many extra practices for all the girls, a big thank you to Mr Hillman and Mr Shaughnessy for their coaching input.  The girls started the tournament really well and our "A" team finished top of their group.  The "B" and "C" teams also played well in their last two games and I was delighted with their performance.  We qualified for the semi-finals and were up against a very strong St Gerard's team.  The girls worked tirelessly throughout and it finished 0 - 0 at fulltime.  They had to play on to determine the winner and luckily we scored the deciding basket, qualifying us for the final.  The final had us pitched against Teresians.  This was a tough match but our girls played fantastically and put everything they had into it.  We were beaten 12 - 6 but I was very proud of all the girls.  Well done! (Ms A Davey)

Week of 27th February

Boys' and Girls' A Teams v Glenageary Bounce  On Monday both our Girls' and Boys' A teams played two very competitive matches against the local Basketball club - Glenageary Bounce.  These competitive games provided a valuable opportunity for a "warm up" prior to the upcoming AIJS Basketball Tournaments.

AIJS Boys' Basketball Tournament  We welcomed 12 teams to the School for this year’s AIJS Boys’ Basketball Tournament. After winning the Tournament in the previous two years our boys were confident going into their matches. The group stage started really well with convincing victories over St Gerard’s, St Michael’s and St Mary’s. The games increased in competiveness and the victories over Wicklow Montessori and St Mary’s were tight but ensured qualification into the semi finals. Mr Hillman was happy with the performances but everyone knew that they had to ensure they didn’t turnover the ball and that they remained more composed in possession if they were to beat an extremely talented and tall Terenure team in the semi-final. Terenure played really well and despite a good effort the boys had to settle for a place in the bronze medal match. In the other group Castle Park B team enjoyed 5 matches scoring a number of good baskets and at times playing some nice basketball. Now all eyes were on the bronze medal match, could Castle Park beat Willow Park to claim 3rd place. It was always going to be a difficult encounter as Willow had previously beaten our boys in a warm up game earlier in the year. It was a very exciting game and Castle Park played their best basketball of the year to win convincingly in the end. Terenure eventually beat St Andrew’s in the final and congratulations to them. Well done to all the boys who participated and many thanks to all the staff behind the scenes for their help and cooperation.

 

Week of 6th February

Visit by Beachborough School - on Tuesday evening we were joined by puils from Beachborough School, Northampton as part of their tour to Ireland.  The evening began with a very enjoyable basketball tournament, and all the children had great fun competing against each other in mixed teams.  Once the matches were over, we hosted a meal for our visitors in the Dining Room where Chef Mark Ryan had prepared a lovely meal for all.  On Wednesday the Beachborough pupils joined us for lunch after their trip to the Aviva Stadium before heading off in their bus to Kilkenny.

Week of 23rd January

Girls basketball v St Gerard's - This was the senior girls first fixture of the year, the girls have been very dedicated to their training and this definitely paid off.  Team One worked hard throughout especially on defence and ran out eventual winners, 38 - 22.  Team Two really improved in the second quarter of the game but were beaten 24 - 14.  I was pleased with the display all the girls put on and look forward to all the training ahead in preparation for the AIJS tournament.  Mr J Hillman

Autumn Term 2011