NAN-S-1
Basketball
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, July 14, 2017 (NAN) Mark Mentors on Thursday in Abuja edged Defenders 66-59 at the end of a nervy encounter in a third round final game at the National Stadium.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Savannah Conference game which was disrupted by power failure produced another thriller with just four points separating both teams with two minutes left in the fourth quarter.
That was until Stanley Gumut produced a moment of magic with three points to open up the gap and hand Mark Mentors victory.
Defenders had raced into an early lead with Efe Adottah and David Garga combining very well to take a 22-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Mark Mentors rallied in the second quarter and clawed themselves back into the match, thanks to some lovely shots from Okpe Ocheibi and Emmanuel Nwobi to level scores 32-32.
The Defenders would take the lead again after their hit man, Efe, came off the bench following a well-deserved rest in the second quarter to score seven more points at the end of the third quarter for a 47-43 scoreline.
Efe had 17 points, while David Garga and Joel Ijigba had 10 points each.
But the Defenders blew away a late lead as Mark Mentors came from behind once again to snatch the victory defeating their opponents 66-59 at the end of a pulsating encounter.
In another game played earlier, Kano Pillars out dunked Kada Stars of Kaduna 71-43 to consolidate their lead at the top of the Savannah Conference standings.
Pillars have lost only two out of 20 games played so far, while Gombe Bulls and Mark Mentors are second and third respectively.
NAN also reports that hostilities will resume in the fourth and final round on Saturday as Conference leaders Kano Pillars take on Gombe Bulls in Katsina on Saturday, while Defenders face Niger Potters.(NAN)
VO/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabii)