On the eve of departed Ghana Basketball stalwart Matthias Ocloo’s fifth year anniversary, the club he is famously associated with St. Joseph’s CYO Basketball Club recorded an impressive win in the Accra Basketball League (ABL) Men’s Division I.
Played earlier today at the Prisons Court in Cantonments, CYO secured a 56-47 win over Tema Youth Basketball Club after trailing in the first half and much of the third quarter.
Tema Youth will rue a handful of big misses late in the game that would have at least forced the game into overtime and quite possibly grab a win. Turnovers hurt both teams.
Match Report
Tema Youth got a quick early lead with Jonathan Walker bagging back to back three pointers and added a jump shot. Samuel Nyantakyi hit a three pointer, Adalbet Allotey scored inside the paint and Benjamin Adjetey buried a jump shot of his own. Roland Akowuah and Moses Abu scored late to pure Tema Youth up 14-11 at the end of the first quarter.
Walker stole the ball but scored off his initial missed shot and added a fast break layup. Akowuah’s basket stretched Tema’s lead to 20-11. Allotey blocked Akowuah and scored a layup; Andre Adusei setup Rodman Tettey for an easy shot inside.
Kent Fosu came off the bench and buried a three pointer to halt CYO’s run. Alvin Ledy scored off a missed shot to end the first half with CYO trailing 19-23.
Yusha Iddris went on a 7-0 run scoring a three pointer, two free throws and burying a jump shot. Emmanuel Baidoo added on to give CYO a 27-25 before Walker tied the game.
Prince Gyamfi scored four straight points to close out the quarter after Andre Adusei scored three free throws and Ledy finished off a brilliant team move to give CYO a 39-34 lead.
The teams traded baskets but Tema missed crucial baskets late in the game with Ernest Nii Moi, Walker and Gyamfi registering misses. Baidoo came up clutch with timely baskets to give CYO a 54-47 lead.
Tema turned the ball over and Nyantakyi assisted Iddris to score the game’s final basket to take the nine point win.
By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
@YawMintYM on Twitter
