Despite the constant threat of rain and Beagles’ huge reputation, Viveknagar went off the block in a fine fashion. However, they could not sustain the flow for a long period as they lost 23-36 at the Sree Kanteerava stadium.
Viveknagar’s powerful shooting-guard Reeth (11) preferred to play post on top -- at the free throw-line -- and managed to dictate the terms with her skillful ways as Viveknagar ended the first quarter with a 9-5 lead.
Point-guard Sandhya could not touch her usual high while trying to score, but her ability to find an unmarked colleague at the right juncture helped Beagles tie the game at 14-14 before taking a 15-14 lead at the end of the second quarter.
With significant change in their offensive formation at the start of the third quarter, Beagles looked every bit the side that has dominated State basketball over the years.
Under board aggression from Sushma, who scored a match-high 12 points, Sanjana’s long range shooting skills and Sandhya’s last-minute return to form extended Beagles lead to 27-14 at the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Tejaswini (6) and Reeth tried to revive Viveknagar’s fortunes but with the clock ticking away and Beagles’ defence refusing to budge, visions of a twist of tale vanished quickly.
Other results: Boys, club division: Mounts Club Lakers: 66 (Dev 11, Rahul 10) bt Grace Basketball Club Mavericks: 20; Bharat Sports Club Suns: 49 bt Ulsoor Union Club Nuggets: 39; Greens Club Trailblazers: 43 (Vikram 20) bt National Games Village Jazz: 9; San Antonio Spurs (bye).
Women, club: IBBC dream: 49 (Aliya Khan 26) bt JSC Mystics: 26 (Anusha 9); Mounts Fever 66 bt Bharath Mercury: 18; Sports Hostel Suns: 49 bt NGV Liberty: 26.
Girls, school division: Frank Anthony School Mystics: 46 (Trishala 7, Shalaka 7) bt Vidyaniketan School Dream: 15; New Horizon Pulic School Sky: 42 (Priyanka 14) bt Gear
Innovative International School Storm: 14; National Public School Rajajinagar Lynx: 28 (Aiswarya 8) bt Green Woods High School Sparks: 9; Bishop Cotton Fever: 51 (Ashika 21, Ritika 16, Aman 8) bt Delhi Public School South Mercury: 12; Sports School Vidyanagar Shock: 66 (Manjula 15, Praneetha 8) bt Kensri School Stars: 2; Aditi International Liberty: 30 bt Mary Immaculate Suns: 29.
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