Sunday

Rusizi 54-104 IPRC-SouthCSK 44-53 UGB

Saturday

IPRC-Kigali 69-51 U18 Boys Team

Women

APR 40-57 UbumweThe Hoops 65-50 UR- CASS

Friday

Patriots 68-71 Espoir

National Basketball League title hopefuls IPRC-South recovered from last week’s defeat to Espoir to thump struggling Rusizi 104-65 on Sunday in Rusizi district.

It looked a balanced game, at least in the first-half. Hosts Rusizi narrowly claimed the first quarter 16-15 before the visitors grabbed the second quarter 19-17 to go into half-time with a 34-33 lead.

Things changed in the second half, when IPRC-South turned the screw and ran away with the third quarter 30-7 before wrapping up with a 40-31 in the final quarter, en-route to an emphatic 104-65 win. IPRC-South captain Bienvenue Niyonsaba scored the game high 23 points.

While IPRC-South registered the biggest win of the weekend, the biggest game of the round was played on Friday evening, between table leaders, Patriots and Espoir.

In-front of fully packed at Amahoro indoor stadium, point guard Olivier Shyaka scored 18 points to lead reigning champions Espoir defeat title rivals.

The game was one of the most anticipated in the national basketball league this season, since Patriots had won the last two meetings between both teams, including 84-72 to lift Heroes’ Day tournament and 77-65 in the league first round last month.

"It was a competitive game, but to win a game like this, means a lot for the team,” Shyaka said after the game.

Shyaka, who scored a game high 22 points to lead Espoir to a crucial victory over the other archrivals IPRC-South last weekend, admitted the two defeats against both teams in the first round, is now history.

Henry Mwinuke’s Patriots started as  the dominant side, winning the first quarter 16-8, but Jean Bahufite’s Espoir bounced back to take the next three quarters 18-17, 23-21 and 22-11 respectively.

Patriots still top the table with 21 points, IPRC-South and Espoir sit second and third with 20 points apiece while IPRC-Kigali are fourth with 19 points, one ahead of fifth-placed APR.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw