Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, May 22: The Jammu & Kashmir Junior Men’s Basketball team made a strong start to their campaign in the 76th Junior National Basketball Championship at Puducherry by defeating West Bengal 81-59 in their opening match.
West Bengal began on a dominant note and took a commanding 28-10 lead in the first quarter. However, the J&K team staged a remarkable comeback in the second quarter, reducing the margin with a 19-10 performance.
The momentum shifted completely in the third quarter as Jammu & Kashmir displayed outstanding defensive and attacking coordination, outscoring West Bengal 23-4. Maintaining the same intensity, J&K continued their dominance in the final quarter and sealed the match with a 29-17 finish.
Neeraj and Manish were the top scorers for J&K with 24 and 23 points respectively, while Anees and Kartik contributed 12 points each. Sahildeep also played a key role under the boards, adding 9 crucial points. The victory reflected the team’s resilience, discipline and excellent teamwork after a slow start.
The team is being coached by Sachin Dogra, SAI Basketball Coach, while Ashok Singh is accompanying the squad as Manager. Officials of the Jammu & Kashmir Basketball Association, including Secretary Aman Sharma, congratulated the players and coaching staff for their outstanding performance.
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