Akatsi Rifles started its match against Tema Heat on a brilliant note but ended up on the losing end in the aftermath of a 28-32 loss.
The loss keeps Rifles outside the top eight playoff places and the team needs to recover quickly from the loss to make another trip to the postseason.
Cecil Edem scored a pair of three pointers and Mark Combey converted one of his own in a blistering start for Rifles and Emmanuel Mensah added a jump shot. Prosper Dorsu and Mubarak Alhassan scored free throws as Heat trailed 2-11 at the end of the first quarter.
Fred Yeboah scored three points for Heat early in the second quarter. Gabriel Ashaley drained a layup before Heat got three points from Godwin Tetteh. Heat went on a 4-0 run to end the first half with the game tied on 14 points.
Tetteh drained a three pointer to give Heat a 17-14 lead. Combey scored layups on back to back possesions for Rifles to retake the game’s lead. Dennis Boateng converted two free throws in the final play of the third quarter to tie the game at 20 after Heat went back in front.
Eric Adorku scored a three pointer to give Rifles a 23-20 lead. Kwaku Nyantakyi drained a three pointer to tie the score at 25 before Ashaley put Rifles back in the lead after converting one of two free throws with 5 minutes left.
Mensah scored a fast break layup but Yeboah’s three pointer tied the game at 27. Alhassan scored off an offensive rebound to put Heat up 29-28 with 1:26 minutes remaining. Nyantakyi completed a three point play to give Heat a 32-28 win.
By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
@YawMintYM on Twitter
