There were emotions at play in the course of a thirsty matchup between Ghana Police Service and Reformers of Prisons in the 2021 Accra Basketball League (ABL) Men’s Division I played earlier today at the Prisons Court in Cantonments in Accra.
The exhilarating game ended tied at 72 points after both teams failed to close out with a win; Reformers Guard Andrews Ayienab turned the ball over and the ensuing possessions ended in Police scoring points.
Police Guard Benjamin Omari had the chance to end the game when he was sent to the free throw line with just a second left on the shot. However, he missed both.
The game was thrown into chaos as Reformers prepared for overtime while Police checked out believing they had a draw. After a long delay, Police refused to play the overtime and lodged a protest to defend its actions to avoid a loss via forfeiture. A winner is yet to be declared.
Match Report:
Benjamin Omari scored the game’s first points and Dennis Dugbenu gave Police a 4-0 by scoring on the fastbreak off a long pass from Emmanuel Dickson.
Reformers answered with a shot from James Amotoe who stole the ball and delivered a double pump dunk. Dickson scored four points with Daniel Laryea adding a three pointer to give Police a 15-10 first quarter lead.
Omari scored five points to open the second quarter. Prisons Abraham Allotey delivered a vicious slam to get the crowd on its feet again. Former Prisons Guard Elvis Pobi-Siaw hit a pair of three pointers in response. Mubarak Alhassan scored inside the paint as Prisons trailed 21-30 with 5:04 minutes left to play.
Amotoe scored five straight points including completing a three point play as Prisons trailed 27-32 with 3:10 minutes remaining. Dugbenu and Prisons Raymond Abagi traded three pointers. Laryea converted one of three free throws to end the half with Police leading 38-33.
Prisons made a strong to close the deficit to three points with 2:41 left to play. Andrews Ayienab and Mubarak Alhassan scored in the run that was halted by Police with points coming from Pobi-Siaw, Dickson and Laryea. Nana Kwame and Allotey scored late for Prisons to end the quarter trailing by two (54-56)
The teams traded baskets but Amotoe tied the contest at 60 with a three pointer. The game was tied at 62 with 5:14 minutes remaining. The teams traded baskets but Prisons edged Police via a 66-64 result with 2:54 minutes remaining.
Dickson tied it up at 66 with a layup high off the backboard. Amotoe scored four points including a pair of free throws to put Prisons up 70-66 with 1: 22 left.
Dickson and Dugbenu scored to tie the game at 72 with 16 seconds remaining off a costly turnover from Ayienab. Omari missed two free throws to send the game into overtime.
By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
@YawMintYM on Twitter
