Basketball in Africa

By Francina Chomba
Magnets 62 - Stringers 64
YMCA Stringers at the weekend survived a scare at the hands of Mufulira Magnets whom they narrowly beat to close in on leaders Lunga Bullets to remain in contention for the Zambia Basketball Association (ZBA) northern region league title.
Despite collecting a hard-fought but narrow victory, it was enough to keep the Kitwe side level on 25 points with their city rivals Lunga, who were not in action for their week 20 fixture.
Stringers, however, remained position owing to an inferior goal difference and having also played a game more.
Trotters 51 - Cavs 59
Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) sponsored Cavaliers got back to winning ways as they added more woes on relegation threatened Konkola Trotters.
The result saw Cavs move a place up into fifth on 17 points while Trotters remained rock bottom on 11 points.
Other games saw CBU Robbins maintain third position after beating Mufulira Saints 32-24 to move to 14 points, eight ahead of the Saints, who are third from the bottom.
Magic 77 - Eagles 49
In the southern region, Matero Magic remained on course to retaining the title as they got the better of Green Eagles as Lusaka City Council (LCC) Looters suffered a defeat at the hands of Hotspurs.
Elsewhere, Napsa Breeze humbled Green Buffaloes with a 91-49 thrashing with Junior Hurricanes powering 72 baskets against 63 of Earthrow Bulldogs.
Chinzam were awarded a walkover against Lotus Challengers with a 20-0 while Evelyn Hone Nishati Denvers beat Nkwazi 66-51 with Matero Magic B edging out Heroes Unity Play by a narrow 78-77 score.