The Ashaiman Tigers overcame a resilient Teshie Lions team 80-75 in overtime to earn qualification to the semi-final stage of the Rush Community Basketball Tournament.
Joseph Boye’s one man wreckage of the Ashaiman Tigers proved futile in giving the Teshie Lions a needed win to stand a chance of extending their participation in the competition.
The Tigers third win in the tournament guaranteed them a spot in the last four but will go second in the group behind the yet to be defeated Osu Hawks.
Point Guard Kingsley Quist and Shooting Guard Gabriel Numarworse combined for 25 points and eight assists but it was the Lions Center who rode the back of a third quarter explosion to record a 28 point and 12 rebounds double-double.
Ashaiman’s star Shooting Guard Elvis Siaw was at his usual best as he posted a team high 21 points but had massive contributions from Paul Amralo and Daniel Mantse.
Tigers Amralo’s inadvertent header to deflect the ball out of bounds in the closing stages of the second quarter, epitomized Ashaiman’s sustained pressure on defense and preserved his team a 34-31 lead before the end of the second quarter.
The Lions impressed in the third quarter with great ball movement but it was Boye who impressed the most as he bulldozed his way to 15 points and capped it off with an utterly gorgeous put back dunk. Elvis Siaw scored on a drive and pull up jumper to restore Ashaiman’s lead heading into the last quarter.
The game’s lead changed hands many times in the fourth quarter as both sides pushed for a victory. Amralo completed a three point play to give Ashaiman a 71-68 lead with 48 seconds left in the game. Joseph Boye made all three free throws after being fouled on a three point attempt to send the game into overtime.
In overtime, Teshie Lions were guilty of turning the ball over many times and made only one of nine free throw attempts as Ashaiman’s Ernest Ottu made a crucial three pointer to make the games safe for the Tigers.
Speaking to basketballghana.com, Lions coach George Ghansah said wrong decision making and panicking from his team were the factors for the defeat.
