Hoops Defeat Sagesse, 100-94
Hoops held off a competitive Sagesse squad to claim a hard-fought 100-94 D1M victory at Ghazir on Saturday, January 17. Trazarien White led the charge for Hoops with a game-high 36 points. It was an up-tempo, high-scoring affair with both teams combining for 194 points.
Hoops took a 59-44 lead into halftime. The second quarter was the decisive stretch, with Hoops outscoring their opponents 28-18 to swing the momentum in their favor. Sagesse closed the game strong with a 25-18 fourth-quarter effort.
The game featured several highlight plays. K. Johnson (Hoops) threw down a powerful dunk in the second quarter, one of 3 dunks in the game. W. Hodge (Sagesse) connected from beyond the arc in the second quarter during a crucial stretch. T. White was a force on the defensive end with 2 blocks.
Trazarien White was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 36 points, 7 rebounds in 40 minutes of action. He shot 11-of-28 (39%) from the field, 4-of-10 (40%) from three-point range, 10-of-14 (71%) from the free-throw line. Georges Yves Daaboul provided valuable support with 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals. Kedrian Johnson also chipped in with 14 points off the starting lineup.
Hoops's bench was a major factor, contributing 25 points off the pine. Ahmad Ekkawi was the standout reserve, providing 14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists in a spark-plug role. Hoops also generated 12 second-chance points and 30 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Both teams shot similarly from the field — Hoops at 48% and Sagesse at 50%. From beyond the arc, Hoops connected on 8-of-21 (38%) while Sagesse managed just 11-of-26 (42%). Hoops also had the advantage at the charity stripe, converting 22 free throws to Sagesse's 29.
Sagesse committed 26 turnovers compared to Hoops's 16, leading to 28 points off turnovers for Hoops. Hoops owned the paint with 44 points inside to Sagesse's 24. Hoops was in control for much of the game, building a lead of up to 22 points and putting together a 15-0 scoring run.
The biggest momentum shift came when Hoops put together a 15-0 run in the first quarter, leaving their opponents scrambling to respond. Hoops answered with a 10-0 run of their own, keeping the contest competitive.
Down the stretch, Hoops came up clutch when it mattered most. A. Kelly nailed a clutch free throw with 00:01 remaining to help seal the victory.
Despite the result, Walter Hodge showed his quality for Sagesse, contributing 39 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals. Paris Bass added 16 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.