CDS Independence Basketball Championship: Rivers Hoopers advance to quarterfinals

Rivers Hoopers have qualified for the quarterfinals of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Independence Basketball Championship after they defeated Bauchi Nets 55-50 at the Mo Arena on Thursday.

The Ogoh Odaudu-led team started the game with consecutive three-pointers to end the first quarter with a one-point lead, 13-12.

The second quarter was a low-scoring game for the two teams who failed to score, but it was Hoopers who took a three-point lead (22-19) to the break.

Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu was disappointed in his team, who played with less aggression against Nets.

Asked about how he felt about the two wins against City Chiefs and Bauchi Nets, Odaudu said, “We played terribly in both games, but it was expected we have not played competitive basketball since we finished for the Basketball Africa League, so I didn’t expect anything less. We will keep working, getting better, and pushing hard.

The KingsMen were down by five with two minutes left to play but crawled their way back at crunch time to seal their spot in the quarterfinals.

‘It’s a great tournament, and we are using it to test ourselves and how far we can go. It is a good practice session for us ahead of the league later this month.

Odaudu made comparisons between their two opening games played on Wednesday and Thursday (today).

‘We didn’t play very well; yesterday’s game was more experienced than the team we played today. It was a lack of aggression on our part that happened today.”

The Hoopers boss said he has two targets for the CDS tournament and hopes to accomplish both.

‘Our goal is to see how our team is and to win the prize money attached to the tournament. It will be good to kill two birds with one stone.Test our team, get prepared for the league, and win the prize money, but every team comes with the intent of winning, and ours is a podium finish.

The KingsMen will play their last group game against Gilali on Friday.