JEDDAH: Ohud took possession of second place in the STC-Saudi Basketball Federation League by beating Al-Ahli 72-70 at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal sports complex on Thursday.
The game started with both teams just running and scoring with little defense. Ohud led at the end of the first quarter 24-20. The teams played a bit more defense in the second period and Ohud increased its lead 42-32.
Ohud had 14 turnovers and Ahli 10 in the first half. Ahli took poor percentage shots while Ohud hit its mark.
The third period looked like a runaway game for Ohud as it raced to a 59-45 spread. Ahli regrouped and was a different team in the fourth. With 8 seconds left they had outscored Ohud 25-13 and were down by two.
Ohud’s Waleed Al-Madani saved the game with a block with three ticks left and time ran out. High men for Ohud were Andrew Bell with 17 points, and Anwar Bilal had 15. Ahli’s Khaled Al Falatah scored 15, and Adel Al Mowaled had 14.
At last week’s games, Al-Ittihad hosted Ohud and handed them their first defeat of the season. The scoreline was 80-71. The win took Ittihad to first place in the team standings.
Ittihad went ahead 22-10 in the first quarter. By halftime they led by 23 points, 47-24. Ohud outscored Ittihad 23-10 in the third, cutting the lead to 10 points.
Roselle Ellis Jr. led Ittihad with 29 points. For Ohud, Abdul Mosen had 21.
Ahli hosted Ansar in a back and forth game. Ansar led 15-10 in the first quarter. Ahli took the lead at the interval 37-30. The game was tied in the fourth and Ahli pulled out the win 75-67.
Ahli’s Salman Al Mowalad hit five three-pointers and finished with 18 points. Ansar’s Abu Buker Kamarer added 22.
In other games, Al-Hilal beat Wehdah 77-75, Masera topped Al-Nasr 89-71, Fath beat Khalij 67-56, and Jubail downed Nahdah 87-70.
