Galaxy Basketball were winless in four games in the first round of the Accra Basketball League (ABL) Men’s Division II but they registered a first tick in the win column following a spectacular rally to beat CYO 58-57. Tema Youth stunned Junior Reformers of Prisons 63-61 in the opening game.
The winning shot came via an easy option of star Point Guard Raymond Affram converting on a layup with eight seconds left to play. However, Galaxy had to sweat for the win against a strong and well conditioned CYO side.
The latter’s first point was made from the free throw line with 6:24 left to play in the first quarter; that settled CYO who converted attempts at the rim to tie the score at 13 to end the first department of the game.
CYO won the second quarter 29-27 off 11 beautiful drive after Salawudeen Halim converted a three pointer.
The second half livened up the close affair as both sides traded buckets off beautiful ball movement around the arc. Two moves of such endeavor had Samuel Asare score twice after Nichokas Akakpo saved possession. CYO was on a roll and Larry Tuafik accentuated it by grabbing a huge offensive rebound to score and get fouled.
He completed the three point play before Galaxy got going again with Halim scoring five straight points including a dagger three. Substitute Bampoe Barnaby put in a great shift for Galaxy off the bench
Point Guard Raymond Affram then took over matters in the quarter; the highly rated playmaker yanked his side back into with consecutive three pointers to get within a point of tying the score. With 40 seconds left to play and Galaxy trailing 54-55, Raymond missed an uncontested layup but made amends going the same route with eight seconds left to win Galaxy’s first game.
