By SAMUEL LUKHANDA –
Magic 64 Buffaloes 57
CHAMPIONS Matero Magic extended their winning streak to five and continued topping the Midlands Basketball Association (MBA) league standing, as Hawks kept up pace and UNZA Pacers stuttered.
In a rematch of the nationals finals match up, unstoppable Magic again triumphed 64-57 over Buffaloes to underline why they remain the team to beat this season having won all their five games this far to be on 10 points.
Buffaloes on the other hand have lost their second back-to-back game after losing to the Hawks last week and now occupy sixth position with seven points, following three loses and two wins.
Hawks 65 Blazers 58
Resurgent Hawks continued to pile pressure on the leaders with some memorable victories but this win against the ZCAS Blazers was expected, considering their form.
Buoyant after trouncing Buffaloes last week, the Hawks picked off the students and stand third on the log behind Magic and Hurricanes with nine points. Hurricanes edge them to second place on better score difference.
Blazers, who got promoted from the B league, need to start getting results if they want to beat the drop, as they lie second from the bottom with six points.
Looters 83 Pacers 77
LCC Looters picked up a shocking morale boosting win over MBA champions UNZA Pacers who are having a wobbly start to the season.
Looters are third from the bottom and will take the Pacers’ scalp as a motivation going forward, as they are still on six points.
Denvers 79 Hurricanes 82
The Evelyn Hone students team, Nishati Denvers, are the bottom team with six points and felt the full force of the second placed Hurricanes.
Elsewhere, Munali Suns rebounded from their loss last week to beat Green Eagles by a basket, winning 63-61 to be fifth with eight points, while the Zambia National Service side is sixth.
Nishati Shells lead the feminine league with a blow out of not so hot Hotspurs, winning 64-35 as Heroes Play United remains hot in the second tier.
Second placed Buffaloes beat LCC Lootresses 58-55 and have eight points. UNZA Honeys came back from a bye last week to beat Matero Magic Sparks 62-46.
Heroes are still unbeaten in the B league and top of the standings with 10 points, while Bulldogs are in second and Magic B in third.