Sagesse Take Down Tadamon Hrajel, 99-87
Sagesse pulled away for a convincing 99-87 D1M win over Tadamon Hrajel at Kahraba Club on Saturday, January 31. Gerard Hadidian led the charge for Sagesse with a game-high 22 points and 12 rebounds. Sagesse built a commanding lead of up to 24 points and never looked back.
Sagesse took a 50-41 lead into halftime. The first quarter was the decisive stretch, with Sagesse outscoring their opponents 33-20 to swing the momentum in their favor.
The game featured several highlight plays. The game featured 9 dunks in total, with P. Bass (Sagesse) throwing down a powerful slam in the first quarter. K. Murphy (Sagesse) connected from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter. P. Bass was a force on the defensive end with 2 blocks.
Gerard Hadidian was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 22 points, 12 rebounds, 3 steals in 27 minutes of action. He shot 5-of-10 (50%) from the field, 12-of-15 (80%) from the free-throw line. The double-double effort underlined his all-around impact on the game. The team was a remarkable +15 with him on the floor. Paris Bass provided valuable support with 17 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals. Walter Hodge also chipped in with 21 points off the starting lineup.
The Sagesse bench added 9 points to the cause. Sagesse also generated 10 second-chance points and 39 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Both teams shot similarly from the field — Sagesse at 48% and Tadamon Hrajel at 47%. Sagesse also had the advantage at the charity stripe, converting 22 free throws to Tadamon Hrajel's 5.
Tadamon Hrajel committed 19 turnovers compared to Sagesse's 13, leading to 19 points off turnovers for Sagesse. Sagesse's ball movement was superior with 30 assists to Tadamon Hrajel's 22. Sagesse was in control for much of the game, building a lead of up to 24 points and putting together a 14-0 scoring run.
The biggest momentum shift came when Sagesse put together a 14-0 run in the first quarter, leaving their opponents scrambling to respond. Tadamon Hrajel answered with a 10-0 run of their own, keeping the contest competitive.
For Tadamon Hrajel, Alex Alia was the standout performer in defeat with 26 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals. John Daher added 19 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.