NUWAIDRAT and Sitra both posted narrow victories last night in their respective Silver division games of the 2018/2019 Zain Bahrain Basketball League.
Hassan Abbas converted the game-winning lay-up to lift Nuwaidrat to an 86-84 win over Isa Town, while Sitra did just enough in the end to eke past Al Najma 94-90 in yesterday’s other game.
The results earned both teams their third victories, with Nuwaidrat also having two losses and Sitra just one.
Both of yesterday’s contests were played at Zain Basketball Arena in Um Al Hassam.
In Nuwaidrat’s triumph, things were close throughout as neither side could build leads of more than eight points. Nuwaidrat were up 40-38 at the half but Isa Town managed to get ahead 63-62 at the end of the third quarter. In the fourth, it was a hard-fought, see-saw battle that saw six ties in the period alone.
An Ahmed Hassan lay-up with just under five minutes remaining put Nuwaidrat ahead 78-75, but Isa Town quickly responded and five straight points from American Antwan Wilkerson and Mansoor Jaber gave them a slim 80-78 advantage.
Both of yesterday’s contests were played at Zain Basketball Arena in Um Al Hassam.
In Nuwaidrat’s triumph, things were close throughout as neither side could build leads of more than eight points. Nuwaidrat were up 40-38 at the half but Isa Town managed to get ahead 63-62 at the end of the third quarter. In the fourth, it was a hard-fought, see-saw battle that saw six ties in the period alone.
An Ahmed Hassan lay-up with just under five minutes remaining put Nuwaidrat ahead 78-75, but Isa Town quickly responded and five straight points from American Antwan Wilkerson and Mansoor Jaber gave them a slim 80-78 advantage.
Both teams continued to exchange baskets and after a pair of Abbas free-throws that made it 84-82, Wilkerson tied the proceedings one last time with his own two baskets from the charity stripe and just 21 seconds left. That paved the way for Abbas’s end-game heroics, which came with only five seconds to go.
Attack
Abbas led a balanced attack for Nuwaidrat, as six of their players finished in double-figures. Abbas finished with 25 point and eight rebounds, while American Curtis Washington had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Hasan Madan added 12, while the trio of Jawad Abdulla, Husain Hasan and Ebrahim Albasri each contributed 10 points.
Wilkerson paced Isa Town with 39 big points including 18 rebounds and five assists. Mansoor Jaber added 16 in the losing effort.
Meanwhile, in yesterday’s other game, Sitra were tied 75-all with Najma midway through the final frame. They later powered ahead 86-80 following a lay-up by Senegalese import Mansour Kasse, and then 88-81 after a Hussain Taqi basket.
Wilkerson paced Isa Town with 39 big points including 18 rebounds and five assists. Mansoor Jaber added 16 in the losing effort.
Meanwhile, in yesterday’s other game, Sitra were tied 75-all with Najma midway through the final frame. They later powered ahead 86-80 following a lay-up by Senegalese import Mansour Kasse, and then 88-81 after a Hussain Taqi basket.
But Najma wouldn’t go down without a fight, and they roared back to within one point with back-to-back three-pointers from Ali Jaber and Hussain Mohammed. Kasse and Taqi, however, had all the answers, and they helped steer their team to the victory with key baskets down the stretch.
Kasse put in a monster effort of 44 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks in a complete 40 minutes of work. Taqi added 21 to go with an impressive nine assists, while Mohayad Ameer chipped in with 16.
American Kevin Rogers led Najma with 32 points, incouding five three-pointers, and 15 rebounds. Ali Jaber added 19 in defeat.
The Silver League continues tonight with Samaheej taking on Al Ettihad at 5.30pm. it will be followed at 7.30pm by game two of the Golden Square semi-final match-up between Muharraq and Al Ahli. Muharraq have a 1-0 lead in the series. Both ties are set to take place at the Khalifa Sports City arena in Isa Town.
American Kevin Rogers led Najma with 32 points, incouding five three-pointers, and 15 rebounds. Ali Jaber added 19 in defeat.
The Silver League continues tonight with Samaheej taking on Al Ettihad at 5.30pm. it will be followed at 7.30pm by game two of the Golden Square semi-final match-up between Muharraq and Al Ahli. Muharraq have a 1-0 lead in the series. Both ties are set to take place at the Khalifa Sports City arena in Isa Town.