Basketball in Africa

Gaborone — Dolphins are the Botswana Basketball League men's division 1 champions after beating Troopers 71-56 in a fast-paced title decider played on Saturday night. The entertaining match was halted for more than 30 minutes in the last quarter due to darkness after lights went off at the University of Botswana (UB) basketball courts.

Before the match, Troopers were top of the log with 22 points from 12 matches, while Dolphins were in second position with 20 points from 11 matches. Therefore, both teams needed victory in order to win the league.

It was Troopers who started the match confidently with Mbaki Pitso, Thebe Morwaagole, Teko Sekgwama and Duma Setlhare orchestrating brisk attacks.

Morwaagole scored good baskets as Troopers established a 10-3 lead in the early stages of an end to end first quarter.

However, Dolphins found their footing and closed the gap to leave the score tied 18-18 at the end of the first quarter.

The match continued to be an entertaining end to end staff in the second quarter, but Dolphins dominated goalmouth action as Nathan Warikandwa combined well with Tshepo Mixon and Kesaobaka Ndawanyana.

The physicality of the battles led to the two teams committing a lot of fouls which resulted in many free-throws.

Warikandwa in particular was a menace to Troopers as Dolphins established a 34-31 half-time lead.

Dolphins produced a masterful attacking performance with Ndawanyana, Patrick Mokgethi and Michael Masilo plundering more points to leave Troopers on their knees in the third quarter and stretching their lead 56-39.

Their defence was a lot more solid after the break as they won a lot of rebounds, leaving Troopers attackers Mothusi Phokoje, Setlhare and Pitso frustrated.

Dolphins continued their domination of the match, but the lights then went off six minutes into the fourth quarter, halting what was an engaging spectacle.

When lighting returned, Dolphins slowed down play with the intention of seeing out their win.

Dolphins coach, Trynos Moyo expressed happiness about winning the league for the first time since he started coaching the team.

"We are just happy to win the league, but we are also humble. To beat a team like Troopers to win the league is something else.

We managed to run them down, we managed to tire them," Moyo said.

With the national championships set to start this week, Moyo wants his young team to continue playing well.

"The national championships will be a different ball game.

But chances are we would meet them again, we would give everything we can," he said.

Spartans, Flames and Police finished the league in third, fourth and fifth places respectively.

Meanwhile, Police V women have retained their title in the women's league after finishing with 28 points.

BDF V came second with 26 points, while Dolphins and UB Relics were third and fourth respectively. Avengers came fifth while BC Ravens finished sixth.

Source : BOPA