Basketball in Africa

IRT's team scoring guard Mustapha Khalfi took charge with only two minute left in the game and hit 2 three-pointer to give his team the lead and the win against local rival FUS. IRT had to work hard for the victory, having been incomprehensively outplayed by FUS in the first half (37-16). FUS players showed much better tactical organisation on the court and IRT's coach Bouzidi had tried unsuccessfully many different defenses (m&m, zone, triangle & 2). IRT players were playing without desire and showed a worrying lack of aggressiveness in defense and lack of ideas in offense, which is still based only on individualities. But right after half time IRT came more and more into the game thanks to a simple and normal 1-2-2 zone press and the lack of experience of FUS young line up. FUS resisted to IRT comeback on the score thanks to Bangoura Mourlaye (18 points, 11 rebounds) but Tunisian player Marouane Kechrid (20 points) took the ball in crunch time and made the decisive baskets to tie the game 2:30 minutes remaining in the game. Then Mustapha Khalfi (19 points) netted is only 3 three-pointer shots of the game and sealed another victory for IRT (65-75).
Despite this lost the inexperienced young and hunger FUS players showed in general a high level of discipline in offense and good consistency in defense, and are promising good results to come.

MAS secured his second place after a home victory over WAC (91-82). The teams exchanged runs in the first half with WAC earning a 14-16 lead after 1Q before MAS players responded to take a 38-36 halftime lead. Things stayed the same until MAS switched to a 2-3 zone defense and created many problems to WAC players. When WAC's coach decided to set a box and one defense in order to stop Alpha Traore good shooting range, Matar M'baye appeared and enjoyed a terrific game topscoring with 24 points and 8 assists. WAC players tried to stop the fire with a terrible unorganised match-up zone defense where Aloui Brahim (4 out of 5 three-pointer) and Hjira's double double (14 points, 14 rebounds) found easily the way to the basket. Michel Lasme topscored for WAC with a strong 21 points performance but was not enough as he did not receive any help from his teammates.

Saturday's other result saw RCA edge past ASS 81-77 and KAC struggling for a win over MET 61-64. TSC recovered from last weeks defeats with a 97-69 strong victory over CMC.

from Africabasket.com