Mumbai Warriors produce a combined fighting performance and emerged champions quashing the challenge from Nashik Lions by carving out a 69-62 victory in the junior boys’ final of the Basketball Network Academy (BNA) organised Junior Basketball League 2022 for the ageasFEDERAL Trophy, at the Dr. Muthukumar Basketball Court, Indian Gymkhana. The tournament is being conducted under the auspices of the Maharashtra State Basketball Association & in association with Indian Gymkhana.
Chief Guest, Govind Muthukumar (4th from left), Hon. Secretary, Maharashtra State Basketball Association, hands over the winners’ trophy to Mumbai Warriors captain Siddhant Doshi and the other players.
The leading shooters for Mumbai was Dev Premi 18 points, Mahesh Prajapati 16 points, captain Siddhant Doshi 15 points, and Shaikh Basit 11 points, while Nashik Lions scored through Shivraj Patil 20 points, Rudani Romit 12 points, and Bharat Vanjare 10 points.
The Mumbai outfit started with a flourish racing to a 14-6 lead in the first quarter, and although the Pune boys fought back in the second, they managed to maintain the advantage and went into the break with a 30-25 half-time lead. The Pune side also shot better in the third and managed to cut Mumbai’s lead to just three points and trailed 44-47.
However, in the final period the Mumbai youngsters rose to the challenge and managed to outshine the Nashik boys 22-18 in the fourth to complete a deserving victory.
Mumbai Warriors (Dev Premi 18, Mahesh Prajapati 16, Siddhant Doshi 15, Shaikh Basit 11) beat Nashik Lions (Shivraj Patil 20, Rudani Romit 12, Bharat Vanjare 10) — 69-62 (half-time 30-25).
Earlier in the third place match, Aurangabad Eagles finished with a consolation win easily defeating Pune Panthers 88-63 point margin. The Aurangabad lads played well from the start and dominated all the four quarters and enjoyed a commanding 49-29 point half-time lead.
Aagam Jain 24 points, Rakesh Jaiswar 19 points, and Yash Mathapati 19 points were Aurangabad’s leading scorers, while for the Pune Panthers outfit Zanan Ahmed scored a high 30 points.
Results – Junior Boys (final): Mumbai Warriors (Dev Premi 18, Mahesh Prajapati 16, Siddhant Doshi 15, Shaikh Basit 11) beat Nashik Lions (Shivraj Patil 20, Rudani Romit 12, Bharat Vanjare 10) — 69-62 (half-time 30-25).
Third place: Aurangabad Eagles (Aagam Jain 24, Rakesh Jaiswar 19, Yash Mathapati 19) beat Pune Panthers (Zanan Ahmed 30) — 88-63 (half-time 49-29).