BANGALORE, JANUARY 7: Defending champions Indian Railways and Tamil Nadu women have advanced into the quarter-final knock out while Uttar Pradesh stunned Services in men's section in the 51st senior National basketball championship being played here.Tamil nadu made shortwork of Madhya Pradesh 74-52 to end their league engagement with an all win record and top the four-team group `B' on Sunday.Hot favourites for the title, Indian Railway women recorded another emphatic win beating Maharashtra 79-36 for their second successive win in group `A' late last night. Now they will meet Kerala, who had already made the last eight grade, in their last league assignment to decide the group leader. The match between Punjab and Maharashtra would decide the third team for the quarter-finals from the group.In the men's section, Uttar Pradesh kept their hopes alive of qualifying for the pre-quarterfinals knockout edging past an off colour services team 67-61. Uttar Pradesh needed a win having lost their encounters to last year's runners up Bihar and Punjab. Services have a victory to credit having beaten Bihar in their opening encounter in the group `B'.In the qualifying rounds in the men's section, Maharashtra and Kerala winning all their league matches topped the group `D' And group `E' respectively. Now they would play among themselves and the winner would get a berth in the pre-quarterfinal knockout. In group `E', Orissa women with an all win record emerged the leader to remain in contention for quarter-final knockout berth. A determined Uttar Pradesh played with purpose and they combined well besides using their height advantage effectively. Barring, dimunitive Sambhaji Kadam, other Services players had problem with their shooting. The defence also looked supect and allowed Uttar Pradesh to score a few easy baskets putting the team under pressure.Uttar Pradesh led through out the match and the score was 25-18 at the half time. Midway through the second half, Services had only managed to narrow the lead.For Uttar Pradesh Suresh Kumar was the pick of the players with 23 points and Nishanth Kumar and Amit Singh contributed 16 and 10 respectively. Kadam, who was the pick of the players, and captain and international Phool Singh made 14 each.Spearheaded by Anita (29 points), Tamil Nadu did not sweat it out against Madhya Pradesh in their 74-52 victory. The winners led 34-28 at half time. Vidya Sridharan and Kaushika chipped in with 17 and 15 respectively. For Madhya Pradesh Poonam Singh was the top scorer with 17 and Savita made 11.In the qualifying rounds, Kerala beat Delhi in the crucial match 76-70 after trailing 35-40 at half time in group `E'.Maharashtra accounted for Himachal Pradesh in group `D' at 67-28 after leading 39-17 at half time. Orissa women steamrolled over Goa 55-30 in group `E' with half time score being 31-11.
