Al Ahli edge past Al Hala in basketball league

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Antonio Blakeney made a go-ahead three-point play with only a minute-and-a-half remaining to help lift defending back-to-back champions Al Ahli to a come-from-behind 77-74 victory over a battling Al Hala last night in their Top Six clash of the 2021/2022 Zain Bahrain Basketball League.

Blakeney scored on an acrobatic drive and was fouled by Hala’s Brian Halums.

He then sank the ensuing free-throw to give Ahli a crucial 76-74 lead.

Hesham Sarhan was able to add to their advantage by sinking one of two charity shots with 49 seconds remaining.

Hala had their chances to tie the game or reduce the deficit, but could not convert their attempts.

Ahli was able to eke out the hard-earned win and post their second victory in as many games in this stage of the league.

Hala, on the other hand, suffered a second narrow loss to go with zero wins so far.

Ahli did well to fight back from a sluggish start as they fell into a 15-point hole early in the second quarter.

Sparked by a Mohammed Qurban three-pointer, they went on a rampant 21-2 run before the half to take the lead before Hala edged back ahead 37-36 at the interval.

The game remained close in the third and fourth quarters and Hala appeared to be headed to a stunning win after going up 72-66 on two Halums free-throws and just over three minutes to play.

But Ahli showed why they are champions and pressed on with their comeback.

They got to within a single point, 73-74, after a pair of Sarhan charities with under two minutes left, and that set the stage for Blakeney’s crucial basket, which turned out to be the game-winning play.

The American finished with a team-high 26 points while Jamaican import Adrian Uter contributed 17 markers for Ahli.

Maitham Jameel chipped in with 13, including three triples, and was their only other player in double figures.

Halums was the game’s leading scorer with 30 points, which included a perfect 15- of-15 from the free-throw line.

He also had 11 rebounds.

Former Ahli import, American Anthony McClain, had 19 points and 21 rebounds for Hala, while Alwatheq Ali finished with 11 markers.

Action in the Top Six continues on Thursday with Manama facing Bahrain Club.

Meanwhile, Al Ettihad defeated Sitra 95-84 last night in the concluding Silver League clash of the 2021/2022 season, played at Zain Basketball Arena in Um Al Hassam.

Ettihad used a strong second half to turn a narrow 42-44 deficit at the break into a double-digit win.

They led by as many as 12 late in the game, as they claimed their third win after four contests to wrap up their division in second place.

Sitra suffered their third defeat in four tries, but they were able to move up to third amongst the five Silver League squads.

CJ Giles top-scored for Ettihad with 28 points while also grabbing an impressive 33 rebounds.

Mohammed Ghazwan and Hassan Fahad added 14 apiece, while Ali Ghadeer and Hashem Alwadaie scored 12 each.

For Sitra, team captain Mohammed Abdulla was their top scorer with 24 points.

Husain Safar added 22 off the bench while Ali Eid scored 11.