By Josh Mangham
The women’s basketball team staved off a late comeback from Lancaster to triumph 45-39 on Sunday, sealing Roses victory for York. Christin Kirchhuebel’s free throw in the dying seconds of the match ensured the win, taking the White Rose past the magic 141 points total needed to ensure the Carter James trophy returned to York for another year, and capping off a fantastic season for the women’s team.
York dominated the opening period of play, with captain and playmaker Lydie Mariutto dictating proceedings with her dribbling and passing. The home side were cheered on by a packed audience of White Rose supporters, and illuminated the early exchanges with their quick passing and energy, breaking away in the first quarter to finish 14-6 ahead.
The White Rose continued into the second quarter in the same fashion, and with half the game gone they were 25-15 ahead and looking comfortable winners. It came as a surprise then when Lancaster broke back into the game. Whether it was due to the exhortations of their increasingly animated coach, or the growing numbers of vocal supporters on the sidelines, the visitors seemed to gain newfound resolve in the third quarter, bringing the game to York and in the process almost stealing it from underneath the home side.
Lancaster started to use their physical advantage to impose themselves on proceedings, making interceptions, winning rebounds and showing a more clinical edge as they started to rack up the points. The visitors brought themselves back to within six points of York, and as the final quarter started the home side found themselves under real pressure from a series of relentless Lancaster attacks. It was to the team’s great credit then that they didn’t buckle, and despite Lancaster raking back the score from 41-29 to 44-39, York showed defensive nous and mental strength to hang in and eventually close out victory.
York’s captain Mariutto praised the efforts of her team after the match, saying they had shown real strength of character to pull through a challenging tie. “Above all it was a team effort,” she said. “We were really tough against them, which we had to be as they were strong and we weren’t sure how they’d play. All season we’ve been working on our defence, and it paid off in the end! It’s an amazing feeling to be the team that has won Roses.”