…As Ondo, Osun State Clinch First Victories In Ibadan
By: Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye
Lagos State on Tuesday brought Oyo State’s sterling run in the South West Basketball League to an end in competition.
It was a nervy and spine tingling match as Lagos State started the game on the wrong foot losing 8-11 in the first quarter.
The men from the City of Excellence failed to recover in the second quarter, receiving a 15-23 points blow from the fierce Oluyole Warriors. The following 10 minutes came with seasons of refreshments for Lagos State, as they cruised on 25-14 to win the third quarter.
With the scores tied in the final quarter, Lagos State pushed harder using fast break as they capitalized on Oyo State’s defensive lapse, to clinch a narrow 64-60 victory.
Head Coach of Osun State, Ogunleye Stephen, in an post match interview with FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG, gave his verdict on the game.
HIS VERDICT
He stated that his side LOST FOCUS, and CELEBRATED JUST TOO EARLY, leading to their unexpected and avoidable defeat.
“The Lagos team did not beat my team, rather it was we that lost the game all by ourselves, the players started jubilating before the end of the game due to early lead which made them to lose focus and by the time they woke up to reality it became a fruitless struggle,” he emphasized.
He further explained that he and other officials of the club also share a measure of the blame.
“We the bench too had our part in the loss because there might be one or two things we would have done in terms of substitutions that were not done at the right time or done wrongly,” the coach reiterated.
He added that his team will take to heart all the lessons from the loss to Lagos, not just for tomorrow, but for future events.
“But in as much as I have said all these, the fact still remains that we lost a game that we ought to win, but we have learnt our lessons and that will strengthen us against the same conditions in the festival prelims and the National League phase one coming up in Benin, Edo State,”
The win seals Lagos State ticket into the championship final, while Oyo State will have to battle Osun State, who won their first match in the League today.
They bagged the victory over Ogun State by a whisker, 79-78 in the last second.
The princes from the Land of Virtue, hit Ogun State hard in first quarter of the game, 23-12, but couldn’t hold on to the lead in the second quarter losing 29-11 as the Gateway men fought back.
Ogun State went ahead to take the third quarter 13-15, with Osun State firing air balls through the quarter.
Osun State came on court in the final quarter rejuvenated and determined, pressed Ogun State to the breaking point to slip in the vital point, to claim the tie, 79-78.
Ogun State are currently winless in the league.
Ondo also won their first game in the League, with a similar final minute following a rocky start, dropping the first quarter, 10-19.
The sunshine basketers replied in the second and the third quarter, 14-10, 31-26.
The tension filled fourth quarter was riddled with bricks and air balls, as Ondo State scored only 5 points to coast home the win.
The Ondo cagers will confront Ogun State in the first game of match Day 5.
