Twin propellers power NNH

Mumbai, May 1: Propelled by gifted ball-handlers Kashif Shaikh and Rizwan Shaikh, Nagpada Neighbourhood House stormed into the boys final...

Mumbai, May 1: Propelled by gifted ball-handlers Kashif Shaikh and Rizwan Shaikh, Nagpada Neighbourhood House stormed into the boys final of the ninth DB Prabhu Memorial youth basketball tournament, sponsored by Colgate, at Indian Gymkhana today.

NNH drubbed School of Basketball 50-20 in the morning, and then mesmerised an erratic Indian Gymkhana 45-30 in the evening, Kashif and Rizwan notching double-figure scores on both occasions.

The girls final will be a repeat of last year8217;s clash between defending champions Agradneya Vyayamshala and Indian Gymkhana.

The two teams played a thrilling, if inconsequential, league match today, Agradneya emerging winner by a solitary point. Agradneya8217;s fortunes tomorrow will revolve around national Gayatri Manolikar, who is keeping indifferent health.

Agradneya held the lead as long as she was on court, even though she eschewed the drives and pivot shooting to conserve energy. Gymkhana made a valiant comeback in her absence, covering a 10-point deficit to take thelead at 36-34, but the talented Priyadarshini Patil saw her team through.Kashif Shaikh exposed the shortcomings in Indian Gymkhana8217;s defence in the first half by drilling holes through the centre. Over-reliance on Rohan Kumar hampered the hosts8217; offence, and the team was staring at a 8-23 deficit at half-time.

Their think-tank made amends by marshalling the offence around compact ball-handler Sachin Rao in the second half, and the move bore immediate fruits. A tight leash on NNH reduced the margin, but with Mohan and Robin Rodrigues in foul trouble, they could not persist with the aggression in defence.

Gymkhana8217;s fate now rests on the NNH-Mastan YMCA match tomorrow; if Mastan win, it will be curtains for them.

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School of Basketball ran Mastan close today, but with an unflattering attack banking heavily on one player, Chinmay Bhandarkar, they were unlikely to get any further.

RESULTS

Boys SF league: NNH 45 Kashif Shaikh 14, Rizwan Shaikh 11 bt Indian Gymkhana 30 Rohan Kumar 19 HT 23-8;Mastan YMCA 31 P Suleiman 10, Sarfaraz Ansari 9 bt School of Basketball 26 Chinmay Bhandarkar 16 HT 11-7; Indian Gymkhana 37 Rohan Kumar 15, Sachin Rao 12 bt Mastan YMCA 29 Imran Khan 8 HT 17-13; NNH 50 Rizwan Shaikh 21, Ishtiaque Khan 13, Kashif Shaikh 12 bt School of Basketball 20 Chinmay Bhandarkar 9 HT 30-10.Girls league: Indian Gymkhana 37 Poornima S 12, Mugdha Waingankar 9 bt Satara EMS 11 HT 22-3; Agradneya 38 Priyadarshini Patil 15, Rucha Marathe 11 bt Indian Gymkhana 37 Mugdha Waingankar 16, Akruti Desai 10 HT 25-18.