In a battle for a playoff spot, Tema Youth Basketball Club has come out tops after a fierce battle with Ghana Police Service at the Lebanon House Court in Tudu.
The 2019 Accra Basketball League (ABL) Men’s Division I matchup had everything fans wanted to see in a clash between two top sides.
Tema edged Police 63-61 win with a gutsy performance to come back from a 19-28 first half deficit and inch closer to secure the final spot in the playoffs.
Benjamin Omari and Prosper Dorsu scored for Police to take a 6-4 lead with 3:39 minutes left to play. Tema Youth got on the board through a Brian Kwami three point shot.
Dorsu finished off inside the paint off a neat interplay before an Emmanuel Dickson’s three pointer put Police up 14-7. Tema went on a good run to trail 12-18 before Dickson drilled another three pointer. Omari scored four straight points to give Police a strong first half finish to lead 28-19.
Kwame Boamah Djan slammed a two handed dunk off a fast break in a seven point run for Tema to take a 29-28 lead with 5:07 remaining. Dickson scored a crucial three pointer to end the run and Omari added a tough tear drop layup to give Police a 40-31 with 1:09 left. Tema scored late to trail 35-40 heading to the final quarter.
Joy Ofori came off the bench to score eight straight points and give Tema a 52-47 with 5:11 minutes remaining. Kofi Elias grabbed a rebound and scored on a strong drive to the basket to stretch Tema’s lead to seven (56-49) but Dickson got a three pointer for Police with 1:54 remaining. Dickson got a late three pointer but Tema held on to win 63-61 with Josiah Karikari scoring for the team.
By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
@YawMintYM on Twitter
