Rivers Hoopers Dominate Stade Malien, Clinch BAL Playoff Spot with Big Kalahari Conference Win

Rivers Hoopers Dominate Stade Malien, Clinch BAL Playoff Spot with Ruthless Kalahari Conference Statement

In a game that felt over long before the final buzzer, Rivers Hoopers sent a powerful message to the rest of the Basketball Africa League on Friday night. With a commanding 79-59 win over Stade Malien, the Nigerian squad punched their ticket to the BAL Playoffs in Pretoria, wrapping up their Kalahari Conference campaign with a strong 4-2 record.

This wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. From the opening possession, Rivers Hoopers controlled the tempo, dictated the rhythm, and never looked back. For Stade Malien, it was another frustrating night in a tournament that has seen them fall far short of expectations.

The Hoopers wasted no time in asserting themselves. They lit up the first quarter with a barrage of offensive firepower, taking a 27-21 lead. While Stade Malien stayed within reach early on, the second quarter is where things started to unravel. Rivers tightened their defence, cutting off passing lanes and contesting every shot, holding the Malians to just 10 points while adding 17 of their own.

By halftime, the message was clear: this was Rivers’ game to lose. And they weren’t about to let it slip.

The third quarter saw the Nigerians crank up the intensity to another level. They outscored Stade Malien 20-7 in a stretch that felt like the knockout punch. Their defence suffocated every offensive effort, forcing turnovers and converting them into easy transition buckets. At one point, the lead ballooned to 26 points, and the game seemed all but sealed before the final period even began.

To their credit, Stade Malien didn't fold completely. In the fourth quarter, they showed a flicker of grit that carried them to a third-place finish in the 2023 BAL. They outscored Rivers 21-15 in the final stretch, finally finding some rhythm on offence. But it was a case of too little, too late. The gap they needed to close was simply too wide.

Despite the lopsided scoreboard, Stade Malien had moments of individual brilliance. Hinda Mady Tounkara led the way with 14 points, four rebounds, and two steals, showing poise and effort on both ends of the court. Mouhamed Doumbya chipped in with 10 points and five rebounds, fighting on the glass and trying to spark his team back to life. However, overcoming a performance where the collective energy never matched the Hoopers' intensity was not enough.

Rivers Hoopers didn't just win—they executed. Their performance was a well-balanced mix of efficient scoring, tight defence, and smart basketball. Raphael Rashad Putney led the charge, who dropped 15 points, shot 50% from three (3 of 6), and added three rebounds and three steals. His presence on both ends of the floor set the tone for the night.

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Alongside him, Maduc Akec scored 14 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out three assists in a performance that blended hustle with finesse. Micheal Afuwape was the defensive anchor, tallying 13 points, five steals, two rebounds, and two assists. His active hands and court vision disrupted Malien's possessions all game long.

Statistically, the Hoopers dominated. They converted 23 points off turnovers compared to just 12 for Stade Malien, proving how critical their defensive pressure was to their offensive flow. They were just as ruthless in the paint, scoring 36 points inside compared to 20 from the Bamako-based squad.

Though Stade Malien managed to win the rebounding battle 55-41, it had little impact on the outcome. The Hoopers' control of pace, decision-making, and execution overshadowed any second-chance opportunities the Malians could muster.

After the final buzzer, Putney acknowledged the team's solid performance—but also stressed the need for more focus moving forward:

"We need to be more disciplined and not let ourselves get carried away," he said, adding that while the win was satisfying, the job isn't done yet.

He also spoke highly of the Kalahari Conference experience and the unpredictable nature of BAL:

"We're loving it. We can win one day and lose on the next."

On the Hoopers' journey so far, Putney was candid but optimistic:

"We did better than we expected. Only thing is we lost to a tough opponent. But I'm happy because we came on top of ourselves."

The contrast between these two teams couldn’t have been more stark. Stade Malien, once a BAL finalist and a podium finisher just last year, now find themselves on the outside looking in—winless at 0-5, with questions about their identity and direction.

For Rivers Hoopers, it’s an entirely different story. Their confidence is growing, their chemistry is clicking, and they’re eyeing Pretoria with clear intent with a playoff berth now secured.

[Photography Courtesy of Cheick Haidara/FIBA/BAL]

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