Oluwafemi Adefeso 7y

Okiki Afuape's career high 25 points powers Customs past Hoopers

Sophomore guard Okiki Afuape posted a career-high 25 points to power last season's Premier League runners-up Customs Basketball to a 60-49 points victory over Rivers Hoopers.

Okiki was almost unstoppable as he blazed through the fourth quarter, scoring 10 points of that total in the final quarter. The pulsating encounter at the National Stadium Lagos - which was a match up between the 2nd and 3rd placed teams from last season - had all the fireworks to be expected when 2 of the best 3 teams in the land face off.

With 9 lead changes and the game tied not less than 7 times, Hoopers took the first 2 quarters 19-15 and 14-11 riding on strong plays from  Solomon Ajegbeyi who dropped major highlight reels on his former team with 2 monster dunks on his way to 10 points and 8 rebounds. Benjamin Ikechukwu added 9points.

Afuape and the Customs however had other things in mind in a scrappy 3rd quarter, thanks to an early 9-0 run after the break, outscoring Hoppers 17-9 in the 3rd and 17-7 in the final quarter to turn the match on its head and run home victors. "It wasn't Rivers Hoopers versus Customs today but Rivers Hoopers versus Okiki. There was no solution for stopping him," said Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu.

PLAYER OF THE GAME
Okiki Afuape recorded yet another career and season high 25 points, adding 7 rebounds and 3 assists. The second straight game he is leading the team in scoring.

KEY STATS

* Former Customs center Solomon Ajegbeyi now with Hoopers was 2 rebounds shy of his first double double of the season. He ended up with 10 points and 8 rebounds.
* Okiki Afuape increased his career high in back to back games 18points vs Police on April 14th, now 25points. The first player to do so in quick succession.
* Rivers Hoopers recorded the lowest 3points shooting percentage of the Kwesé Premier Basketball League this season shooting 9.5% (2/21)
* Both teams combined for a record 46 turnovers - 23 apiece. A Kwesé premier league record.
* Customs won the 6th game in the last 7 meeting against Rivers Hoopers over the past 2 seasons.

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