The Hindu : Sport / Basketball : Idukki makes last eight

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Saturday, Nov 25, 2006
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Idukki makes last eight

Principal Correspondent

MANJERI: Idukki men jolted holder Ernakulam 97-83 and stormed into the quarterfinals as group winners of pool 'A' in the State senior basketball championships at the GBHSS floodlit court on Friday.

Idukki, effectively the BSNL side which is the new force in State basketball, surprised Ernakulam with its relentless aggression and dogged defence. In a close match, the difference between the two sides was the number of clean baskets which Idukki managed to net from acute angles. The trio of Bobit Mathew, Monish Wilson and T.S. Abhilash were fairly accurate with their shooting.

On the other hand, Ernakulam's star players were screened effectively and they rarely found room. Idukki's rebound collection, especially the defensive rebounds, was better than that of its rival. Idukki was able to check the smooth flowing game of Ernakulam, which slipped behind from the start. Idukki had nosed ahead to 49-44 at half-time. Idukki didn't drop the pace and showed more keenness and urge to win in the second half.

It went from strength to strength to post a fine win that will pitchfork it as the favourite for the title. Ernakulam, regardless of the defeat also made it into the quarterfinals.

Last year's runner-up Thiruvananthapuram men topped Pool `B' and breezed into the quarterfinals. Thiruvananthapuram played like conserving its energy for the needle clashes ahead yet it was streets ahead of a listless Kozhikode which it thrashed 81-45 to maintain an all-win record in the group. However, Kozhikode, which edged out Kasargod 62-60, also made it to the next round.

Kannur qualified from pool `C' after getting past Kottayam 66-62. Wayand defeated Alappuzha to qualify from pool `C' as the group winner.

The results (league) Men: Idukki 97 (Monish Wilson 24, Bobit Mathew 18 ) bt Ernakulam 83 (Santosh John 24, Vivek 18); Thiruvananthapuram 95 (K.Hareesh 22, R. Manoj 23, Deepu 16) bt Pathanamthitta 73 (Sinumon Augustine 20, A.S. Akbar 12, Anish Jose 10); Kozhikode 62 (R.J. Vishnu 18, K. Sreekanth 15) bt Kasargod 60 (C.V. Ratheesh 14, Gopalakrishnan 12,); Ernakulam 66 Santosh John 25, V. Vivek 16) bt Thrissur 34 (Jeralad P. Titus 12); Idukki 66 (T.S. Abhilash 16, Bobit Mathew 16, Vijobi Vakkachan 13) bt Palakkad 50 (Ajish 22); Kannur 66 (Jevin Raju 24) bt Kottayam 62 (Bobin Mathew 15); Wayand 60 (P.V. Sujith Kumar 15) bt Alappuzha 49 (G. Edison 12); Thiruvananthapuram 81 (J.S. Deepu 16, K. Hareesh 14 bt Kozhikode 45 (Nelson Jose 12).

Women: Ernakulam bt Malappuram 30-12.

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