The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Louis Edem

  • ‘Careless’ Rivers Hoopers lose Louis Edem Basketball Championship

    ‘Careless’ Rivers Hoopers lose Louis Edem Basketball Championship

    Reigning Nigerian champions Rivers Hoopers blew an 18-point lead to lose 80-77 in overtime to ASPAC of Benin Republic at the Louis Edem Basketball Championship Final on Saturday.

    A 13-point lead at halftime was stretched to 18 at the start of the fourth quarter, but that didn’t take long before it was cut short by a resilient ASPAC team.

    Hoopers had a scoreless run for over four minutes and finally scored with two minutes left to play at 64-61.

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    With 10 seconds remaining, ASPAC dropped a buzzer-beating three to tie the game at the end of the fourth and take it to overtime, 64-64.

    Johnson Anaiye knocked down back-to-back threes in overtime to give Hoopers a one-point lead but ASPAC gave a quick response at the other end of the floor.

    Michael Daramola’s clutch throw levelled the game 77-77 with 10 seconds left.

    ASPAC, who had the last possession, shot a buzzer beater to seal the win.

  • Louis Edem Invitational: Rivers Hoopers thro’ to third consecutive semis

    Louis Edem Invitational: Rivers Hoopers thro’ to third consecutive semis

    Rivers Hoopers bounced back from Wednesday’s loss to Hoops & Read to rout Kwara Falcons 87-62 on Thursday.

    In a battle of the only teams to have won the Louis Edem Invitational Basketball Championship, Kwara Falcons were first on the board, making the first two baskets of the game to start with a 4-point lead.

    However, an immediate response from Hoopers saw them take control of the game to finish the first quarter with a 7-point advantage at 27-20.

    In the second quarter, the KingsMen had to shrug off some early foul trouble with improved defensive performance while also outscoring Kwara Falcons 24-15 to carry a 16-point lead into halftime, with the score at 51-35.

    Before Wednesday’s loss against Hoops & Read, which marked an end to Rivers Hoopers’ 21-game unbeaten run, Kwara Falcons were the last team to inflict a loss on the KingsMen.

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    They did so in a semi-final matchup en route to winning the maiden edition of the Louis Edem Invitational Basketball Championship in February 2023.

    But history would not repeat itself as Hoopers continued their dominance over Kwara Falcons in the third, which finished 18-9 in favour of the KingsMen, with the fourth ending 18 points apiece.

    The result means Rivers Hoopers will play in a third straight semi-final at the Louis Edem Invitational Basketball Championship, where they will meet last year’s runners-up, the Spintex Knights of Ghana.

    The semi-finals take place today.