Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Jordanian girls took the advantage of their height to beat Sri Lankan lasses by 77 points to 50 in their FIBA Asia under-16 Level II preliminary round basketball match worked off at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium last evening. Local girls were given a tough challenge by visitors who dominated the game from the beginning. Local players did not perform well due to their poor shooting accuracy and teamwork. They missed some easy baskets at the start and opponents prospected on most of every given opportunity.

Jordanians scored 23 points while restricting locals to 11 points in the first quarter. Jordan who lost their first match against Indonesia on Saturday, came up with an excellent teamwork against Sri Lanaka. Even though local girls tried hard to make inroads in the following quarter fortune did not strike on them. Loads of Unnecessary fouls did not allow local players to play their usual game and conceded Jordanians many points on free shots. Visitors posted a nine-point lead at half time though local girls reduced the gap in the second quarter by scoring 20 points against 17.

Even in the second half Jordanians controlled the game as three of the Sri Lankan players were going on four fouls in the third quarter. Two local key players S.A. Sasanthi and Imeshi Fernando committed five fouls in the final quarter while two other teammates were on four fouls. Jordanians scored 14 and 22 points while locals added nine points and 10 points respectively in third and final quarters.

Tala sabbagh (21 points) and Liliana Abu Jbara (20 points) top scored for winners.

Tala collected 11 offensive rebounds and 18 turnovers. Liliana had three assists, three offensive rebounds and 10 turnovers in the match. Sasanthi (17 points) and Tyra Maria (10 points) were the best scorers for Sri Lanka.

Kazakhstan beat Hong Kong

Meanwhile Kazakhstan showed good improvement beating Hong Kong by 79 points to 52 in yesterday's first game. Thailand maintained consistency and beat Indonesia by 71 points to 42 and remained as Level II leaders winning two out of two matches (four points). They have defeated Kazakhstan on the opening day by 65 points to 36 points. Japan made their second victory in the tournament when they tame Chinese Taipei with a considerable 31-point lead (87-56) yesterday and shared the Level I points table lead with China obtaining equal four points after two days.

Japan earlier thrashed India by 112 points to 45 on the first day.

China too reached treble figures (109 points) against India (51 points) as the two teams battled it out yesterday.

China beat Korea by 82 points to 50 on the first day.

Local girls played a challenging game against Hong Kong but were unfortunate to lose their first game of the Level II preliminary round against strong Hong Kong by 46 points to 57 on Saturday.

A total of six preliminary round matches, including three Level I and three Level II games will be played today.

*DAILY ACWS