ABUJA – Zamfara Shooters basketball team of Gusau on Thursday beat the Solid Hits of Nasarawa State 59-49 at the ongoing National Men’s Basketball Division Two Championship in Abuja.
The championship, which is holding at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Abuja National Stadium, is organised by the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).
The Zamfara side’s win made it four wins from four games for them at the competition which got underway on Monday with six teams participating.
They had earlier defeated Hard Rockers of FCT 57-49, thumped Coal City Kings of Enugu State 75-51 and beat Pearls of Benue 63-51.
In Thursday’s game, the Nasarawa State side dominated the early moments and raced to a 20-10 lead before losing grip for the Zamfara side to return into conflict.
Mustapha Dogo, coach of the Nasarawa State team, however said his team lost due to inexperience.
“We lost due to inexperience, even though we won a game on Monday. This is all due to the fact that this is the first time the state is appearing in such a championship.
“Most of our players have not participated in this type of event before. So, they are not used to it and find it a bit difficult to co-ordinate themselves.
“But we will surely bounce back in our final match and subsequent appearance at competitions,’’ Dogo said.
Coach Muhammad Umar of Zamfara said he was happy that his team won Thursday’s match.
“I am happy that we won, though it was a difficult game. We have been wining since the beginning of this competition. But we have once again proved to be unbeatable.
“My players have been doing very well and I am proud of them because we have played four matches and have won all’’.
“If we win tomorrow’s (Friday’s) match, which is our last match, my team will be promoted to division one,” he said.
In other matches played on Thursday, Gilali of Kaduna State defeated Hard Rockers of FCT 72-54 while Pearls of Benue defeated Coal City Kings of Enugu 54-45.
The championship which began on Oct. 27 is expected to end on Oct. 31.(NAN)
