The 'boys of Ballisodare' are the pride of Sligo this week after St. Mary's College produced a magnificent display of basketball to win the Under 16 C boys national title at the National Basketball arena, Tallaght, on Monday last.

In a pulsating encounter, the Sligo boys matched their County Clare opponents stride for stride and then produced a stunning late scoring burst to claim the title.

As the scoreline suggests there was very little to separate the teams but in the end a late run of scores from Gary Cadden was enough snatch a famous win for the Ballisodare team.

Enistymon were aiming for their second success of the day having captured the Under 19c final in the first game of the programme. And with Superleague stars, Carlton Aaron (Hoops), and UL Eagles duo Stuart Robbins and Scott Kinevane (who did commentary for the day) watching from sidelines, both teams turned in a terrific first quarter.

There was little to separate the sides early on with a layup off a drive by Peter Murray followed by a drop shot by the same player leaving the Sligo men up 11-10 at the end of the quarter.

Marys maintained their intensity in the second with the impressive Oliver Brockman making consecutive baskets to op bring the gap out to seven points. However with Ennistymon's premier ball carrier, Michael Leigh bringing his time back into contention with six points in the third quarter it was all to play for, Sligo leading by the narrowest margins, 22-20 at the interval.

The third quarter was an extremely competitive affair with Cadden finishing off a terrific team move to land a basket from the right hand side of the court. MVP Karvulis Gunka (Sligo ) and Leigh than traded baskets before Kevin Falvey (Ennistymon) converted one of his free throws to cut the gap to three, 26-23 St Marys. And so to the final quarter which began with two cracking baskets from Gunka.

A three pointer from Leigh however put the pressure back on Sligo and but they proved they were no shrinking violets with Peter Murray and Cadden scoring each of an effort from Mattie Kinch (Sligo).

The tension was mounting now with Kinch and Leigh both slipping under the Marys radar to put three points between the teams. But with 1.40 left on the clock, Sligo then sealed the deal with Cadden making consecutive baskets with Brockman then making the final basket to bring to a close a terrific contest.

Scorers: St Marys: K Gunka 13 pts, C Gadden 12 points, P Murray 6 Ennistymon M Leigh 17 points, M Kinch 8 points

ST MARYS SLIGO: Paul Scanlon, Colin Browne, Colm Parke, Gary Cadden, Patrick McGloin, Jamie Doorer, Karvlis Gunka, Peter Murray, Joseph McGowan, Oliver Brockman, Eoin O’Neill, Aaron Scanlon, Tommy Jackson