Lagos beat Oyo again to win maiden South-West Basketball Showdown

Posted : 20 October 2024

Team Lagos has won the maiden edition of the South-West Basketball Showdown after beating Team Oyo 65-63.

In the final match of the competition, held at the Indoor Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan, the hosts could not avoid losing despite a strong finish.

Oyo dominated early, winning the opening quarter 20-18, but Lagos pulled ahead of the hosts in the second quarter, winning 22-8 to lead 40-28 at halftime.

However, Oyo fought back in the third quarter, gaining 11 points without allowing any to the opposition in the early minutes.

They won the quarter 18-17, even as Lagos fought back, reducing their opponents’ lead and turning the game into a tight contest.

They entered the final quarter with a score of 57-46 in favor of Lagos, but the eventual winners knew they only needed to hold on to secure the victory as the clock ran down.

Oyo won the final quarter 17-8, but it was not enough to stop Lagos from defeating them for the second time in the competition and returning home with the title.

Lagos played six matches in the competition and won all of them, while Oyo State lost two out of their six matches.

Team Ekiti won the third-place match to finish third in the competition, which also featured teams from Ogun, Osun, and Ondo States.

Speaking on the competition, Taiye Sobogun, the head coach of Team Oyo, said it was still a good outing for them despite the loss.

He noted that his players really tried their best, as it was not easy playing against a team that had been training since January.

“All those players we played against are on Lagos State's payroll, and they have been training for quite some time.

“During the break after the second quarter, I had to speak extensively with the players because they lost concentration after leading in the first quarter.

“So, I can only attribute this loss to a lack of concentration, and I don’t blame them, though. This team was assembled in three days,” he said.

Dossou Mensah, the coach of Team Lagos, stated that the game ended as a close contest because they had many turnovers and mistakes.

“We didn’t take care of the major aspects of our game when the match started, and for two to three minutes in the first quarter, we conceded several points.

“I had to call for a break to restrategize, and I must say Oyo State gave us a run for our money.

“Also, I must say it was a very good outing for us as we played six games and won all of them.

“But we still have a lot to work on as a team, and we hope to get better over time,” he said.

Mensah, however, warned that, with this being the fifth competition they have won this year, any team meeting them should know they are not easy to defeat.

“My team is fully ready for the 2024 National Sports Festival (NSF) qualifiers and the League, and we will keep working to improve our skills and style of play,” he said.

The competition was sponsored by Olumide Oyedeji, the former national captain, who provided feeding, kitting, and accommodation for all participants.

Lagos beat Oyo again to win maiden South-West Basketball Showdown

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