Basketball in Africa

Defending men’s division league champions PLS Hawks are now occupying top spot on the table after their crushing 110-62 victory over Baya – sending out a warning to the rest of the league.

At the other end of the table, Razors look like getting closer to playing second division basketball next season after another defeat at the hands of RC Dynamics.

Hawks came back from an eight-point deficit – 40-32 – at half time to crush Baya 78-22 in the second half.
After narrowly losing the first quarter 15-16, Baya stepped up their game in the second quarter to score 25 points compared to their opponents’ 16.
It was in the third quarter that the boys of coach Clifford Joubert took total control of the match, scoring 31 points to Baya’s 11.
PLS Hawks were simply untouchable during the final quarter as they outscored defence-less Baya 47-11 to close the match on a devastating 110-62 score.
Nigerian Alao Solomon was Hawks’ top scorer with 31 points, while Jean-Paul Camille led the scoring for Baya with 22.
Leaders Hawks now have 15 points from seven wins and a loss in eight matches –the same win-lose-points record as runners-up Premium Cobras. The former have the head-to-head advantage after beating Cobras 102-77 earlier in the season.
Baya remain third on 15 points with six wins and three loses in nine matches.

In another match, RC Dynamics came from behind to beat Razors 66-59, adding to the latter’s misery in the top flight.
After losing the first two quarters 13-22 and 15-17, Dynamics regrouped and took control of the third and fourth quarters which they won 23-9 and 15-11.
Captain Emmanuel Jupiter had the hot hands for Dynamics with 20 points, while with 22 points, Alex Baron led the scoring for Razors.
The win keeps Dynamics in fifth spot with 11 points from eight matches (three wins and five losses).
With six points out of seven matches, Razors are still carrying the weight of the table.

Fourth-placed Mont Fleuri Dawgz also registered victory over the weekend and this time their opponents were Anse Boileau-based Angels.
After winning the first quarter 32-16, Angels let down their guard, allowing the Dawgz to get their act together and catch up with them. The latter won the second, third and fourth periods 22-14, 22-11 and 34-18 to win the match 94-75.
Captain Reggie Ah-Kong was Dawgz’s top scorer with 29 points – two more than Angels’ top marksman Daniel Dodin who finished with 27.

Dawgz have now accumulated 14 points after six wins and two defeats in eight matches, while Angels lie eighth. They have 10 points from two wins and six losses in eight matches.

In the only women’s match played during the weekend, RA Sisters met Juniors. The more experienced RA Sisters dominated all four quarters – 11-3, 12-2, 15-6 and 11-7 – to win the match 49-18.
Captain Tessa Mathiot was RA Sisters’ top scorer with 20 points, while Veena Panagary, Kimberly Vidot and Doris Oreddy scored four points apiece for Juniors.
RA Sisters are now in the fourth position on the league table with seven points after getting two wins and three losses, while Juniors are at the foot of the table with four points following defeats in all four matches played.