HOOPS takes 3rd place in WBA Easter Tournament

The Western Basketball Association organized a one day tournament on Good Friday as part of this year Easter festivities in Takoradi, Western Region. Five teams took part namely Knights, T-Poly and Westside from Takoradi, Unicorns from Sekondi and HOOPS from Cape Coast, Central Region. Two ladies teams, Giants and Angels from Takoradi also graced the occasion. HOOPS won their first game against Knights 37 - 26 but lost in the semi final game against T-Poly 47 - 54. Nonetheless boys were able to put together themselves from the semifinal defeat by winning the third place match against Unicorns 49 - 26. The games were conducted under a friendly atmosphere as all sides showed good sportsmanships through out the occasion. The venue of the tournament was the Military Barracks at Apremdu, Takoradi. The tournament started at 7AM with balloting between the teams. As there were five teams, four teams where paired against each other while the fifth team was put on standby to meet the loser with the best losing margin. The winner of game one and two played first semis while the standby team and the best loser met in the second semis with the winners of both going to the final and the losers for the third place. Here is the breakdown of how the matches went: Game 1 KNIGHTS 26 HOOPS 37, Game 2 T-POLY 48 WESTSIDE 30. Game 3 (females) GIANTS 10 ANGELS 5, Game 4(semi 1) T-POLY 54 HOOPS 47, Game 5(semi 2) UNICORNS 31 KNIGHTS 37, Game 6(3rd place) HOOPS 49 UNICORNS 26, Game 7(final) T-POLY 28 KNIGHTS 26. Winner - T-POLY, Runner up - KNIGHTS, 2nd Runner up - HOOPS. Each game was played for forty minutes with twenty minutes running time per half. Lots of skills were shown by most players but the sight of attraction was the HOOPS team which came with talented young players but most of their big men fell into foul trouble in the semi-final encounter which lead to "Alinko" and Saheed each with five fouls long before the second half could end. With their departure from the game it left a serious gap in the game plan. Other players tried their best to match up with the T-Poly boys raining in three points but time also was not available to catch up with the scores. At the end of the tournament, refreshments were served at the junior officers' mess hall at the military barracks. A short meeting was conducted before the meals were served by the WBA President, WBA Sports development Officer, the Western Region Sports Coordinator, the Central Region Sports Coordinator, Cocal-Cola representative, SKY TV and coaches of the teams which took part in the tournament. For his part, the WBA President thanked all the participating teams and all others especially those who traveled from Cape Coast. He also gave insight of the upcoming WBA League which will commence soon. The Western Region Sports Coordinator added that the sports council will do all within its power to promote the sports in the region and Ghana as a whole. His counterpart from the Central Region announced that the region has similar plans and will in the nearest future organized the CBA and asked his fellows WBA officials and members to work along with him in making this a realty. The Coca-Cola rep for his part asked that the list of all basketball courts both in the Central and Western Regions be submitted for the branding of these facilities. SKY TV pledged their support in taking the activities to the masses as presently its the media which educate the people of the happening in their community. The HOOPS player/coach, Claudius Thompson, thanked the organizers for the tournament and also give the team's full support in whatever program undertaken by the WBA in the uplifting of the sports in both regions and Ghana as a whole. At the end of discussions, the guest and hosts were treated to a Ghanaian dish of Kenkey and fried fish after which all sides departed to their respective places. To make record straight, the HOOPS team asked that they be given the chance to play each individual teams in the Western Region starting with T-Poly. Watch out boys, we'll be back and if you try coming to our home ground, you will pay dearly. HOOPS on Fire, still.




HOOPS Lineup

(50)Alinko, 6'9"
(32)Taiwo, 6'6"
(25)Saheed, 6'7"
(40)Kwesi, 6'1"
(23)Emi, 6'9"
(7)Romeo, 6'0"
(16)Mario, 5'11"
(3)George, 6'0"
(52)Yam, 6'0"
Coach: Claudius Thompson

HOOPS Camp reopens with two additional players

The camp of HOOPS located at Abura in Cape Coast opened this week Monday with two additional players namely, Mbah Ifeanyi (6'9)aka Alinko and Oladipo Saheed (6'7). Both players where glad to be in Ghana and to be a part of the HOOPS family. The most experience of the two Alinko, seen on the left in the photo was among the top 100 Athletes Selected for NBA Basketball without Borders in Africa and also a participant of the 2007 FIBA U19 World Championship. His experience will help the team alot as we prepare for the upcoming Accra League which will be held in Accra. HOOPS is still living up to the promise of bringing da best out to perform and big-up the sport here in Ghana. Keep posted as we will bring in videos and photos from these stars. In addition, the team will be leaving tomorrow for the Western Region for a One day tournament being organize by the Western basketball Association. Players available for the tournament includes Alinko (6'9), Taiwo (6'6), Saheed (6'7), Emi (6'9), Romeo(5'11), Kewsi (6'1) and Mario(5'10). The boys promise to bring the tournament trophy to Cape Coast. This will also serve as preparation of the boys for a next week cracker with Yotwe in Accra wherein other players like SB(6'3), Benedict(6'0), Sunday(6'9), Peter(6'5), Christopher(6'9), Fred, and Michael(6'10) will be available. The team is set for the onslaught in their debut of the Accra League.

Launching of Western Basketball Association

This past Saturday saw a big development in the basketball section of Ghana. The Western Region was able to inaugurate their basketball association in the capital of the region, Takoradi. This shows that Ghanaians who love the sport are trying the best to remove it from what is term as other sports and have it compete with the nation most love sport soccer. Six teams where present to grace the occasion of the first tournament being organize by the WBA. The teams included from the Western Region, Dream Team and WBA; from the Central Region, HOOPS and DONS; from the Greater Accra Region, After 7 and last but not the least, from the Ashanti Region, Slizzers. The preliminary games where played at the military baracks in the morning. The games began at 8AM and the following teams where drawn against each other from ballot. Dream Team vs WBA, HOOPS vs DONS and Slizzers vs After 7. Winners emerging from the first round of matches were Dream Team, DONS and After 7. These three qualified for the second stage which was the semifinal. Slizzers qualifued as the fourth team as they emerged best loosers having score one point above that of HOOPS.

DONS and Slizzers won their matches and advanced to the Final which was played at the GSTS grounds in the afternoon. At the GSTS grounds the first match was played between two female sides which was very exciting. later the third place was played between After 7 and Dream Team which the Dream team won. Than came the final, DONS vs Slizzers. This match proved to be a earth shaking one as both sides went all out from the begining of the blast of the whistle. The experience side of the Slizzers took the day against the other side of one of Ghana most celebrated basketball player known as MeMe.

The main event of the day was the dinner. This was held at the newly built Sekondi Stadium which was one of the stadia that was used during the 2008 MTN African Cup of Nations. Speakers at the event praised all involved and also give some words of advice for the youth, as well as the elderly still in the game. Than came the eating time which was great as the food was at its best and the boys ate heartfully. This shows that basketball in Ghana is moving forward and nobody will stop it. We encourage all other regions to copy the western Region to beef up the
game in Ghana