On Friday, Central YMCA put NNH in an unfamiliar territory by beating them, 67-64 in the opening round of the under-18 boys’ category of the Bombay YMCA Annual Open state level basketball tournament at Ghatkopar YMCA.
It is not usual for a Nagpada Neighbourhood House team to get knocked out in the first round of any basketball tournament in Mumbai. On Friday, Central YMCA put NNH in an unfamiliar territory by beating them, 67-64 in the opening round of the under-18 boys’ category of the Bombay YMCA Annual Open state level basketball tournament at Ghatkopar YMCA.
The game was a see-saw battle in which neither side let the other get away with a lead of more than half a dozen points. Central YMCA were heavily reliant on southpaw Kartik Counder, who scored 42 points. Both sides had an identical 3-2 defensive strategy, but in the offence NNH relied on fast breaks while Central YMCA chose to attack using slower set of plays.
NNH’s Mohsin Sheikh was impressive in the game with his drive-ins, but in the first quarter he missed a number of four freethrows that could have given his side a larger lead than the two points they managed with the score at 10-12. Their lead was cut down to a point at half time, when the score was 24-25.
Central YMCA managed to get a slender lead of one point and at the end of the third quarter the score was 44-43. Counder gained some support from Nilesh Sherke and Muzamil Mir, but most of the plays were largely started and finished by him.
The last quarter saw both sides gain advantage over each other at various stages. With half a minute to go and NNH leading 62-64, Counder drove in, scored a basket and also induced a foul giving himself the extra free throw to give his team the lead at the crucial juncture. Central YMCA scored one more and held on to their lead till the final whistle which was followed by wild celebrations.
Results: Mini Boys’ (SF): Mastan YMCA 61 (Shaikh Zaid 16, Shaikh Mearey 12, Shaikh Hammad 12) bt DAV New Panvel 10 (Ishan 4, Arnav 4). HT: 29-4
Mini Girls’ (QF): DAV New Panvel 21 (Nandita T. 14, Prachi M. 7) bt P.G. Garodia 7 (Sejal 6).Junior Girls (1st Rd): Indian Gym 48 (Akansha R. 14, Aishwarya 12) bt Savio SC, Andheri 22 (Preksha 7, Irene 4). HT: 26-6.
Junior Boys’ (1st Round): Central YMCA 67 (Kartik Counder 42, Nilesh Sherke 11, Muzambil Mir 7) beat NNH 64 (Moshin Khan 24, Imran Siddique 21, Akib Sheikh 12) HT: 24-25
Men’s League: Pool A: Indian Gym 76 (Mihir 17, Akansh 15) bt Ghatkopar YMCA 70 (Suraj Shetty 20, Jian Johnson 9). HT: 39-31 Pool B: Mastan YMCA 67 (Sameer Shaikh 21, Shamsher Makrani15, Farhan Khan 13) bt Central Rly 56 (Arun 14, Mansoor 12). HT: 19-16.
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