Basketball in Africa

On fire Beau Vallon Heat inflicted a second defeat on defending division one champions PLS Hawks at the weekend at Victoria Gymnasium, winning the tie 81-76.


Under the leadership of former Premium Cobras coach Guy Hall, impressive newcomers Beau Vallon Heat have been performing above all expectations this season. Already boasting wins against two of the biggest names in local basketball – PLS Hawks and Premium Cobras – the Heat find themselves atop the nine-team league standings, unbeaten after six games.
Probably not even coach Hall would have predicted such a good start for his team at the start of the season.
The Heat prevailed against the Hawks thanks to great resilience and hard work on the court. They had Jean-Paul Camille and Robert Léon scoring 17 points apiece to lead them to victory. The Hawks got 15 points from Rodney Lozé while Nigerian Alao Solomon and Hendrick Denis had 14 points apiece.
PLS Hawks, meanwhile, have now suffered their second loss in five games – their first defeat coming against third-placed Baya – and they lie in sixth place with 8 points. Hawks did manage a win, however, on an 86-42 score against neighbours RC Dynamics.
Unbeaten in six games, the Heat have a maximum 12 points.
Dynamics are carrying the weight of the table after suffering their seventh straight loss. Besides losing to Hawks at the weekend, the Roche Caïman-based team lost 59-84 against seventh-placed Drifters.
Both teams have seven points but Drifters boast a better head-to-head record against Dynamics and eighth-placed Angels who beat Mont Fleuri Dawgz 66-54 for their first win in six games.
Fourth-placed MBU Rockers took on fifth-placed Premium Cobras in a closely contested game. Cobras eventually ran out winners by a four-point margin – 61-57.
The only match outside the men’s first division that was played during the weekend was the men’s second division match between Juniors and AAP Brothers. Anse Aux Pins-based AAP Brothers strolled to a 72-29 victory to maintain their push for promotion to the top division next year.
S. N.