Date:01/08/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/08/01/stories/2004080108101800.htm

Sport - Basketball

Koramangala, BEL in semifinals

BANGALORE, JULY 31. Koramangala Sports Club entered the semifinals of the State `B' division league basketball tournament with a thrilling 45-44 victory over Indiranagar Basketball Club here on Saturday.

Koramangala Sports Club streaked to a 14 point lead in the first quarter and led 31-16 at the half-way stage. IBBC staged a fight-back in the second half and had its best session in the third quarter but with less than a minute to go KSC had a four-point advantage. Nandith fired in a three pointer for IBBC but KSC held on to the ball to eke out a one point win. KSC will meet SAI (Dharwad) in the semifinal on Sunday morning.

In the second match, Bharat Electronics Limited beat Falcons 51-42 to make the semifinals. Bhimayya and Suresh Babu played well for the winner. BEL will meet Sports Hostel in the second semifinal.

Bangalore Sporting has been relegated to `C' division.

The results:

Kormangala SC 45 ( Rajesh Das 19, Sanjeev 17) bt IBBC 44 ( Japneet Singh 16, Nandith 13) HT 31-16.

BEL 51 ( Bhimayya 23, Suresh Babu 9) bt Falcons 42 ( Christopher 12, Shekar 14) HT 25-24.