Another proud moment for Panthers as Harrison makes the cut for Europeans

PORTLAOISE Panthers’ Katie Rose Harrison has made the final cut for the Ireland squad that will contest this summer’s FIBA Under 16 Women's Youth EuroBasket 2025 in Istanbul.

The highly-rated guard is one of 12 players selected by head coach, Paul O’Brien to travel to the Turkish city where they will face off against Austria, Iceland, Switzerland and hosts, Turkey in Group A of the tournament, which runs from 20-29 August.

Two teams will advance to the quarter-final stage from each of the four groups in the competition, with three teams securing promotion to Division A for the following year.

Harrison’s selection is a major achievement given that she is a year underage with this Ireland squad, but Ireland boss, O’Brien is confident she can more than hold her own on the European stage.

“Katie Rose has really stepped up over the course of the programme and we’re delighted with the progress she is making,” he told the Laois Nationalist.

“She’s a gifted offensive player who can score in a number of ways. We have things that we need her to work on, but making a national team a year underage is a tremendous accomplishment and one she should be very proud of,” he said.

Harrison has again proven a key figure for Portlaoise Panthers this season, helping her team to a clean sweep of Midlands League, Cup and Top-Four honours.

She was also an integral part of the squad that made it as far as the Division A semi-finals at last month’s AIG All-Ireland Club Championships in Gormanston Park, the Laois side being stopped just short of the decider by eventual champions, Limerick Celtics.

That Limerick panel now boasts three players on the Ireland squad, including forward, Madelyn Hartigan, who is the only player to return to the set-up from last year's FIBA Under 16 Women's Youth EuroBasket squad.

“We feel we have a great blend of skill and athleticism in the squad and the potential in the group is massive,” said O’Brien.

“Being able to pick a squad of all domestic-based players shows how much work has been done by these players’ schools, clubs and regional academies and we can’t wait to see what the summer brings.

“It was such a difficult squad to pick, and we are leaving some really good players behind, but I want to thank everyone who has been involved with the squad since September. They should all be immensely proud of the work they have put in,” he stressed.

Delighted at seeing Harrison among the players to make the final cut for this year’s Europeans, her coach at Portlaoise Panthers, Jackie Coleman told the ****Laois Nationalist****: “We’re all thrilled for Katie Rose on her selection for the Ireland Under 16 team. It’s a fantastic achievement and just reward for all her hard work and dedication to the sport. It’s a great opportunity to compete in the European Championships, and I’m sure it’s the start of great things to come in the future for Katie Rose.”