Belgian league tips off
The Belgium league season opened for business on Friday evening with two encounters serving as the regular season curtain raiser. Both host teams came away with victories to get their season off to a good start, while both visitors go home empty handed. The rest of the Belgium league round 1 will be completed on Saturday, October 4th.
Proximus Spirou Charleroi vs. Telenet BC Oostende, 75-69
Current Belgium league and cup winners Telenet Oostende got their title defence off to a bad start by losing to rivals Spirou on the road. However, the hosts needed overtime to get the job done but will be pleased to have dealt an early blow to one of the other 2014/2015 championship contenders. Spirou looked the livelier team through a cautious first quarter, taking the first frame 15-11. Oostende gained confidence in the second quarter to mount a mini comeback, winning the stanza 13-16 for a 28-27 halftime score.
In the second half the champions continued to ascend and crashed home 22 points while stopping Spirou at 17, enough for a 45-49 lead after 30 minutes. The hosts fought hard in the fourth quarter to stop the Oostende threat and turn the deficit around, tying the game 64 apiece at the end of regulation. In the overtime section Spirou took their momentum from Q4 to outpace the visitors 11-5 to claim a morale boosting early victory.
Zabian Dowdell led the scoring with 21 points for Spirou, while Will Hudson scored 17 points and claimed 14 boards in a double-double effort. Rounding out the double digit scorers for the winners was Dylan Page with 16 points.
Gregory Echenique paced Oostende with 16 points and was backed up by Wes Wilkinson with 13 points.
Hubo Limburg United vs. Belfius Mons-Hainaut, 85-67
Home team Limburg didn’t lose a single quarter as they looked comfortable throughout while beating Mons-Hainaut in their opening Belgium League encounter of the season. The hosts took charge in the first quarter and opened a ten point lead through the period, leading 22-12 at the first interval. The visitors were finding it hard to break down the Limburg defence and while the home team eased off the scoring in the second quarter they managed to seal the stanza 18-14. Heading into the locker room, Hubo Limburg United were in total control with a 14 point lead at 40-26.
Mons-Hainaut improved their scoring in the third quarter, but the hosts seemed to move through the gears as well, once again outscoring their opponents. At the final split and with 30 minutes on the clock, Limburg had extended to 18 points as the scoreboard read 64-46. Any hope the away team had was gone and the team went basket for basket through the fourth quarter as Limburg capped a very good display with a cruising finale.
Scott Thomas set the tone for the winning effort with 20 points, while Seamus Boxley and Barry Stewart shared 14 points apiece. Nick Celis added 12 points in the success.
Mike Smith scored 19 points in the losing team, with Austin Nicholas grabbing 18, and Jason Love and Royce Parran sharing 20 points with 10 each. Love added to his scoring with 10 rebounds in a double-double game.