Reformers of Prisons Women’s Basketball Team put the brakes on Ghana Police Service offensive game to book a 68-56 win in Game One of the 2021 Accra Basketball League (ABL) Women’s Division.
The game played earlier today at the Prisons Court in Cantonments got off to a slow start but pushed into full gear of excitement amid improved play from both teams in the second half.
Prisons in the process handed the defending division champions its first loss of the season ahead of a crucial Game 2 on Friday, November 5 at the same venue.
Newly elected Ghana Basketball Association (GBBA) President Ato Van-Ess was present at the venue.
Match Report
Thelma Dawson-Ahmoah of Prisons blocked Mavis Martey’s fast break layup attempt. Georgina Ntow drained a jump shot for the game’s first points after 2:47 minutes played. Sadat Balkisu scored four points for Police.
Dawson-Ahmoah and Christabel Edem scored from the free throw line to get Reformers on the board. Christiana Ayebeng punctuated Police’s 7-0 run with a three pointer. Reformers went on a run of their own with Augustina Amuzu scoring from the free throw line and closed the first quarter trailing 10-15.
Prisons opened the second quarter with a fast break layup from Edem off an Amuzu assist; Balkisu responded for Police. The teams traded baskets with Police holding on to its five point lead three minutes into the second quarter.
Zenabu Mohammed of Police wasteh first to get points on the board in the second quarter. Frances Van-Alstyne scored from the charity stripe and Dawson-Ahmoah scored a three pointer to tie the game at 23.
The game’s lead swung several times with Joana Dansoah scoring for Prisons and Augustina Afful and Ntow bagging points for Police. Ezequeen Dadzie put Prisons up 30-29 midway through the quarter after backing down Afful and spinning to score a layup.
Police went back ahead by getting points from Zenabu Mohammedr from the free throw line. Matey then hit a three pointer to give Police a 35-30 lead with 3:16 minutes remaining.
Dawson-Ahmoah responded with a three pointer and Edem added four points to give Prisons a 37-35 lead and closed the quarter leading 43-36.
Dadzie scored early for Prisons in the final quarter but Balkisu set up Ntow to score inside the paint with a beautiful pass. Prisons scored to give Prisons a nine point lead that was quickly cut back to six with a three pointer from Zenabu Mohammed.
Edem connected on a jumper to get Prisons lead back to eight before a Police timeout. Balkisu fouled out of the game with 1:43 minutes left to play; Dawson-Ahmoah and Belinda Annan-Acquah scored from deep to seal a 68-56 win for Prisons.
By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
@YawMintYM on Twitter
