Rivers Hoopers, the five-time Nigerian champions, achieved a significant milestone at the ongoing 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL).
They secured a hard-fought victory against Armée Patriotique Rwandaise (APR) with a score of 86-82, marking the first time a Nigerian team has won consecutive games in the BAL. The day after they triumphed over the home team and 2023 BAL runners-up AS Douanes in their Sahara Conference opener, the Hoopers displayed remarkable quality, composure, and game management. They faced a resilient APR team, fresh from an overtime victory against former champions US Monastir of Tunisia in their opening fixture.
APR began purposefully, scoring the first points in a tightly contested match. However, the Hoopers quickly responded, with Will Perry executing a well-timed layup to level the scores. The game continued to ebb and flow, with the Hoopers trailing by just one point in the final 35 seconds of the first quarter. Devine Eke’s impressive alley-oop, initiated by a floating pass from Kelvin Amayo, gave the Hoopers a one-point lead, ending the quarter at 19-18.
Both teams maintained a balance between offensive flair and solid defense. The Hoopers opened a four-point lead in the second quarter, but APR fought back, ensuring the teams entered halftime tied at 40-all.
The closely contested nature of the game persisted into the third quarter, with the lead changing hands multiple times. However, the Hoopers managed to edge ahead, leading 63-62 heading into the final quarter.
In a decisive move, the KingsMen extended their lead to ten points, the largest of the game, with four minutes remaining. Despite APR’s valiant effort to reduce the deficit, it was not enough, and Will Perry’s late free throws sealed an 86-82 victory for Rivers Hoopers.
