Tema Rockets rose to the challenge and delivered an important win in Game One of the Tema Community Basketball League Playoffs.
Rockets beat defending league champions Nungua Coldstore 46-42 in an entertaining matchup at the Tema Community 4 Court tonight.
The loss is Coldstore’s second in 24 games played this season (regular season and a two game series sweep of Sakumono Titans in the first round of the playoffs).
However, another win on Sunday, January 26 at the same venue takes Rockets to the final for the first time in the league’s history.
With seven minutes remaining, Rockets led 7-2; Daniel Laryea drained a three pointer and Enoch Borsah and Aninagyei Osei scored for Rockets. Joel Tham scored a layup after going coast to coast.
Jonathan Walker
completed a three point play and Awuletey Junior delivered a two hand slam for
the highlight of the first quarter. Coldstore trailed 8-15 after Laryea score a
late three pointer.
Baba Ibrahim scored four points inside the paint for Rockets early on in the
second quarter. A trio of three pointers from Joy Ofori, Walker and
Emmanuel Wolff to trail 20-21.
Jibril Musah drained a three pointer and McMartey Lawer scored off an offensive rebound for Rockets. Kwame Boamah drained one of two free throws to end the first half as Rockets led 26-22.
Enoch Borsah converted a three pointer and bagged four points inside the paint. George Opoku-Pare missed a pair of free throws to stretch Rockets 37-30 third quarter lead. Rockets played very physical inside the paint and on the perimeter and made it difficult for Coldstore to score from deep.
Joel Tham stole the ball off Ibrahim to open the scoring in the final quarter but Ibrahim atoned for his mistake with a short floater. Opoku-Pare drained a corner three pointer to give Rockets a 42-34 lead with seven minutes left.
Coldstore went on a 7-0 run with Ofori draining a three pointer but Opoku-Pare ended the drought with a layup. Both teams scored free throws in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
@YawMintYM on Twitter
