Ho Harlem Basketball Club has failed to clinch a home win against After 7 Basketball Club from Cantonments in a match played at the Ho Sports Stadium on Saturday, May 19, 2018.
The host, who had to merge both old and new players to play their guests, lost 53-55. The game really saw skills, tactics and wonderful throws within the 4 quarters.
The guests, being a swift attacking side, with excellent fast breaks got the first basket and were leading 15-10 at the end of the first quarter. Ho Harlem gave After 7 a good response in the second quarter, reducing their deficit to two (2) at 28-26. The visitors had to stretch the home side again in the third quarter with 6 points but Harlem fought back to reduce the points.
After 7 continued their dominance in the last quarter but signs of fatigue saw Ho Harlem fight really hard to end the game at 55-53.
The game between old Harlem and the current Harlem players ended 65-43 in favor of the latter. The curtain raiser sort of game saw the current players punish the oldies with pace and strength.
Another game was played between the Current Harlem players against a new set of After 7, which ended 35-31 for the home side. This match saw new set of Ho Harlem players and it concluded the day’s activities. It was however not much different from the main friendly game of the day.
Head Coach and player of the Oldies, Charles Gomadonku, spoke to TalksenseSports about the effect of the friendly against After 7.
“Playing ‘After 7’ is something that has given us a good experience. We knew how tough they were and prepared for them. Our performance wasn’t bad but I think if we had trained as a team for a while, we would have done better because the score line was close. Although they couldn’t get used to our rim faster, they got the win due to most of their player’s national team experience. We really had a good game and it has taught us a lot.”
This exercise has been a good one in terms of preparation towards the Sports Festival. Volta Basketball however plans for a Justifier, where teams from Ho, Akatsi, Sogakope, Kpando, Hohoe, and Aflao converge to select players for the Sports Festival.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey/voltaonlinegh.com
