YMCA basketball: Ghatkopar edge out Borivli

Hosts Ghatkopar YMCA overcame Borivli YMCA, 12-11, in the league stage of the Junior (U-18) girls’ category of the in the 23rd Bombay YMCA Annual Open State Level Basketball Tournament at the Ghatkopar YMCA on Tuesday.

The game got off to a slow start as neither team managed to score a point in the first quarter. Deepta Suresh opened the score for Ghatkopar with a three-pointer. Borivali made a swift counter and Berleen Pareira’s basket took them ahead by a solitary point, a lead that they held at half-time.

Ghatkopar once again gained a three point cushion, in the third quarter, but Borivli came back in the last period to take a two point lead, with baskets from Berleen and Ruth Parr. Deepti levelled the score to take the game to over-time.

The game took a thrilling turn in the over-time period as both sides held the lead at various points only to see the opponent making a come back. Borivli began the scoring with through a free-throw conversion by Voleta Naronha. Doris Karkara scored a jump-shot to take Ghatkopar ahead by a point. 

Berleen once again came to Borivli’s rescue with her accurate shooting and restored the one point advantage. With seconds to go for the final whistle Ghatkopar’s Saili Patil was fouled and received the opportunity to shoot two free-throws as Borivli had committed more than five team fouls. Saili converted both the crucial attempts to take her team ahead at a  vital juncture.

Results:

Mini Girls: Vidya Niketan - 26 (Priyanka V 10, Chitrangi W 8 ) bt DAV 11 (Saumya 4, Vishaka 4);

Junior Girls: Ghatkopar YMCA 12 (D Suresh 5) bt Borivli YMCA 11 (B Pereira 6);

Junior boys: Ghatkopar YMCA ‘A’ 66 (Dharampal K 18, Praful C 15) bt Ghatkopar YMCA ‘B’ 58 (R Manetia 16, H Parab 13, Sonu Pal 11)