MUMBAI, APRIL 16: Kasif Shaikh's free-throw, with one second remaining on the clock, gave Nagpada Neighbourhood House a thrilling 48-47 victory over School of Basketball in the knockout stage of the Colgate-sponsored Savio Junior basketball tournament at the Don Bosco, School here today. Kasif converted one of the two free-throws after the teams were level at 47-all. They were down 44-47 when Ishtiaque Khan drained 22-footer for NNH to equalise (47-47).Their victory came after one period of overtime. The game was 38-38 at full time. Even drawing level at any point of the match looked a remote possibility for NNH. What with their pivot, Khan Furkan fouling out with four minutes on the game clock.But the lack of ball-handler and experience among the ranks for School of Basketball proved their problem. What should have been a breeze, was blown away by the losing team.After having lost Furkan, NNH used pressure defence to bridge a seven-point deficit and drew level pushing the game intoover-time.School of Basketball had the height with G Lino standing at 6 feet 8 inches. But his height was hardly utilised, making Leno a passenger on the court. Though in Chinmay B and V Sahil, School had two good players who could have controlled the game, their game came unstuck with Leno's ineffectiveness.At the other end, Leno's opposite number Furkan was making that wee bit difference to the fortunes of NNH. And with Kasif Shaikh, a good ball handler with the ability to drive past the defence, NNH could rely on his skills. Kasif was helped to a great extent by Ishtiaque's supporting role.ResultsBoys: Central YMCA 53 (Siddharth Mani 16, Darshan Shah 17, Amay Powar 12) bt Savio A 42 (Siddharth Shukla 22); NNH 48 (Kasif Shaikh 20, Ishtiaque Khan 12) bt School of Basketball 47 (B Chinmay 18) Full-time: 38-38.Girls: Fatima 50 (Anita Krishnan 26, Ami Momaya 16) bt Indian Gym 29.
