Beirut Beat Champville, 87-80
Beirut held off a competitive Champville squad to claim a hard-fought 87-80 D1M victory at Maristes Club on Sunday, October 26. Elijah Richard Thomas led the charge for Beirut with a game-high 20 points and 8 rebounds.
Beirut took a 54-43 lead into halftime.
The game featured several highlight plays. T. Mitchel (Beirut) threw down a powerful dunk in the first quarter, one of 3 dunks in the game. A. English (Beirut) connected from beyond the arc in the first quarter during a crucial stretch. J. Bou Samra was a force on the defensive end with 12 blocks.
Elijah Richard Thomas was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 20 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks in 29 minutes of action. He shot 8-of-11 (73%) from the field, 4-of-4 (100%) from the free-throw line. Joe Abou Samra provided valuable support with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals. Albert James English also chipped in with 16 points off the starting lineup.
Beirut's bench was a major factor, contributing 15 points off the pine. Jimmy Nakhle was the standout reserve, providing 8 points in a spark-plug role. Beirut also generated 24 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Beirut held a significant edge in field goal shooting at 45% compared to Champville's 40%.
Beirut owned the paint with 46 points inside to Champville's 32. Beirut's ball movement was superior with 27 assists to Champville's 20. Beirut was in control for much of the game, building a lead of up to 17 points and putting together a 10-0 scoring run.
The biggest momentum shift came when Beirut put together a 10-0 run in the first quarter, leaving their opponents scrambling to respond. Champville answered with a 10-0 run of their own, keeping the contest competitive.
Down the stretch, Beirut came up clutch when it mattered most. T. Mitchel nailed a clutch free throw with 00:25 remaining to help seal the victory.
Despite the result, Jimmy Salem showed his quality for Champville, contributing 12 points, 8 rebounds, 6 steals. Stedmon Lemon added 18 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 blocks, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.