Nigerian champions, Rivers Hoopers, started their 2024 Basketball African League season on a positive note by beating last year’s finalists, AS Douanes 77-68 at the Dakar Arena on Saturday, SUNDAY PUNCH reports.
It was just the second victory for the Port Harcourt-based team at the competition since they first participated in 2021.
Hoopers coach, Ogor Odaudu, began the game with Will Perry, Kelvin Amayo, Peter Olisemeka, Devine Eke, and John Wilkins in the starting lineup.
AS Douanes showed their strength as finalists in the previous tournament by establishing their dominance from the beginning and taking a strong lead in the first quarter, finishing 23-18.
The second quarter saw a more evenly matched exchange, but the Hoopers, led by the in-form Eke, narrowly beat Douanes 19-16. However, the Kingsmen kept up their pace, creating a 10-point difference in the third quarter, 19-9 over AS Douanes, while the fourth quarter ended with the Hoopers winning 21-20.
Eke was the top performer for the Hoopers in the game, scoring 31 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and providing three assists. He was followed by Perry, who contributed 15 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
Wilkins also achieved 14 points and three assists.
The Hoopers will encounter Armée Patriotique from Rwanda in their upcoming game at the Dakar Arena on Sunday (today).
