Basketball in Africa

RAIDERS' men and women's teams had a good outing over the weekend as they won their matches in the Harare Basketball League.
The championship got underway last month and most of the teams have slipped into second gear as they battle for the league title.Raiders men beat Pistons 78-68 at Richwood Park to maintain a 100 percent winning record in the A league so far.
It was the same story for their women's side as they dismissed L.A 63-17 in a one-sided affair.
Raiders coach Martin Mukweva said his charges have been improving since the season began last month.
"Comparing with the two (opening) matches, they have definitely stepped up. Pistons are a big team placed among the top five in the province.
"Since we have a youthful (women's) squad, they are raring to go and they are doing fine. They played really well," said Mukweva. Raiders power forward, Norest Shenje, said the match was good their target was to win the league title come the end of season.
"It was a good game, we won by 10 points. Our first game was slow since we were coming from off-season. Our first game was against Hustlers and the second was against JBC and we won, it was a big game.
"We are going for the championship," said Shenje.
In other matches played in the league JBC beat Hustlers 49-45 in a match that could have gone either way as both teams played some good basketball proving why they are rated among the top teams in the league.
Cameo dismissed Black Rhinos 78-40 to conclude the weekend's fixtures in the A league.
Results
A League: Cameo 78, Black Rhinos 40; Raiders 78, Pistons 68; JBC 49, Hustlers 45.
Women's League: Arcadia 50, FML 42; L.A 17, Raiders 63; Hornets Queens 17, Vixens 72; Stanbic Real Returners 67, Black Rhinos 17.
B League: G.A 55, Pacers 58; Arcadia 77, First Mutual Life 41; City Hornets 37, Mablazo 40; Swagou 64, Drifters 68.