Lagos- Defending champions, St. Jude Girls Secondary School, Amarata, Bayelsa, on Tuesday defeated Westend Mixed Secondary School, Asaba, 14-11 as Nestle Milo Secondary School Basketball Championship dunked off in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the championship is taking place at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos with 12 teams competing for honours.
This year’s grand finale is tagged “Slam like a Champ’’.
NAN reports that the Bayelsa girls took the lead in the first quarter with a 7-4 lead and recorded an 11-5, 11-8 before sealing their victory 14-11 in the final quarter.
An elated Coach Tony Nelson of St Jude Girls Secondary School told NAN that he was delighted to have avoided a bad start and was confident of going far in the competition.
“It’s a great match; my girls stood their ground and never gave up till they sealed victory.
“We have a young team and being the first game; my players were under pressure but were able to handle themselves.
“But I am confident of going far in the competition,” Nelson said.
His counterpart from Westend, Kenneth Mfon, told NAN that his players lost due to fatigue.
“We came into Lagos late in the evening and our players could not regain their strength for the competition.
“They were unable to move their feet well enough to challenge their opponents.
“We will go back and make corrections in preparation for our second group match,” Mfon said.
In a group B encounter, Yejide Girls Grammar School, Oyo defeated CAC Secondary School, Akure, 26-18 to earn their win in the group. (NAN)
