Basketball in Africa

Khubetsoana All Stars Basketball Club won the Top4 finals in dramatic fashion against Shines Basketball Club on Friday 23^rd March at Lehakoe Club. The match should have been played on the 17^th March but due to bad light, it was postponed at half time.

The win secured a double header for the Khubetsoana side, which also won the 2011-2012 league. Shines won the Top4 in the ladies section after beating LUCT convincingly in the final.

The rain in the 1^st Quarter of the Final between KTA and Shines did not blemish the mood of the day as both teams fought till the end and the game had to go to over-time as the teams were tied at the end of normal play. They went into half-time KTA leading 16-14.

Soon after they break KTA piled on the pressure offensively and committed most of Shines players in foul trouble. With less than 3 minutes to go, KTA leading 32-30, Shines point-guard Matlatsa Nteso got his marching orders after exhausting his fouling limit. KTA had the ball in Shines half but could not close the game as KTA’s big man Sekhoane Moshabesha made a horrendous turnover and Shines got the ball to tie the game. The match went into over-time both teams tied at 32-32.

It was in the over-time period that three Shines players got fouled out and watched the match from the bench. Still with three Shines players out with fouls it was not an easy win for KTA as it went down to the wire to secure the win. With about 40 seconds left on the clock the score was tied at 40-40, and KTA’s Molale Monnapula was fouled when attempting a layup and when on the Free-throw line to score the two points for the win.

“It is fitting that we also won the Top4 after winning the league and winning tournaments in Bloemfontein. We are now looking forward to new challenges and the team is preparing to go to Pretoria Easter Tournament next month and hopefully will come back with a victory,‘’ said KTA’s point-guard Ratsolo Molupe.

At the end of the match awards were given out to the winners and a list of 35 players to trial for the Senior National team was announced by LBA’s President Mr. Molupe Mothepu.

Shines Lineup:

Khotso Maseela

Matlatsa Nteso

Lehloholo Rajane

Setsoamali Moshabesha

Lekaka Lekaka

Refiloe Motsieloa

Thabiso Matete

Chere Tlelima

Pana Hlasoa

Sehlabaka Rampeta

Daniel

KTA Lineup:

Ratsolo Molupe

Motloli Mothepu

Motjekoane Moshabesha

Tsepo Mohapi

Tsepo Ntsoele

Molale Monnapula

Lukonde Kakoma

Teboho Nkotsi

Sekhoane Moshabesha

Paul Young

Benji Moteka

Mofoka Makatja

National Basketball League 2011/2012 – AWARDS

League Champions:

Khubetsoana All Stars (Males Section)

LUCT (Females Section)

Top 4 Finals: Males

Khubetsoana All Stars – Champs

Shines - Runners up

Rovers - Third Place

Top 4 Finals: Females

Shines – Champs

LUCT - Runners Up

Rovers - Third Place

League MVP:

Khotso Maseela - Shines (Males)

Sebolelo R - LUCT (Females)

Top4 MVP:

Molale Monnapula - Khubetsoana All Stars (Males)

Mamoepi Letsatsi - Shines (Females)