Rivers Hoopers Basketball Club emerged champions of FIBA Africa Zone Three qualifiers championship, after beating AS Police of Niger Republic 55-34 points in Cotonou at the weekend.
Buchi Nwaiwu of Hoopers again scored high numbers of points in the final to give the Nigerian team victory. He made 17 points, six rebounds and two blocks, while his teammate, Solomon Ajegbeyi, made a double-double, 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Hoopers led from the start to finish and kept a huge gap from the first quarter 18-2, which increased to a 26-point lead going to the last quarter. Police put up a good fight in the fourth round, beating Hoopers 15-10 but the result was not good enough to turn around the game.
AS Police Libidi Tankoano scored 10 points, eight rebounds and 2two steals.Hoopers won all five games in the championship against Civil Defenders (Nigeria), Custom Braves of Ghana, Elan Sportif (Benin Republic), Harbel Pointers (Liberia) and AS Police (Niger) respectively to finish unbeaten in the competition. Read more