Ittihad on top, Ohud second
25 Dec 2017
By Umar Abdul Salam
JEDDAH — Week Five of the Saudi Basketball League saw Ittihad and Ohud remain undefeated with five wins each.
Ittihad hosted Ansar at the Prince Abdullah Basketball Hall in Jeddah. Ittihad started the game penetrating and scoring from inside. At the end of the first quarter Ittihad was up 22-14. By half time, it led 46-35.
Ittihad’s coach Ali played import Jordan Williams (25 points, 9 rebounds) only in the first half and gave Randy Reed time in the second half. He contributed with 31 points 10 rebounds. Mohammed Hassan added 12 points, 5 rebounds and Methana Hassan 9 points with 7 rebounds.
The final score read: Ittihad 89 Ansar 72.
For Ansar, Mustalafa Alsari had 21 points and 8 rebounds, Yazeed Hausawi 14 points, Mohammed Abdul Azim 11 and Haitem Hausawi 10.
Ohud beat Khualdiah 105-84 to stay in second place. Ohud’s imports Fredy Lee Nicholas hit 30 and Mohammed Enani Moraco 20 points. Fahad AlSalik had 18, Nasser Abu Jalas and Ayoub AlSari, 13 points each. Khualdiah’s imports Lewis Kraft collected 35 points and Ulysses Thomas 25. Ahmed Wasi added 14.
Nasser landed in third spot, beating Safa 95-66. Nasser’s Jeremy had 30 points and Dosary 20. Safa’s Andrew hit 18 and Salman Naif had 16 and 8 rebounds.
The fourth-placed Fateh won over Wehdah 95-54. Fateh’s Damilo Mitrovit contributed 23 points and Ali Jamal 13. Wehdah’s high man was Hesam Bagaidi with 12 points and Mohammed Adam 9.
The fifth-placed Ahli edged out Hilal 89-88. Ahli’s Mazook Mouled scored 18, Taylor Brown 16 and Emanual Jones 13. Hilal’s Karim Hussain Gee poured in 28 points and Mohammed Al-Sualam 20. Hilal stayed sixth with 3 wins and 2 losses, Ansar seventh with 2 wins 3 losses and Al-Safa eighth with 1 win 4 losses. Wehdah stood ninth and Khualdiah 10th (no wins but 5 losses each).
Week Six schedule: Ittihad vs. Ahli at 8 p.m. Thursday and Ohud vs. Hilal at 5:30 p.m.