In the Himalayan Java Basketball League (HJBL), Hounds Academy picked up their sixth win of the season with a close 88-83 victory over Kirtipur on Tuesday at the Kirtipur Covered Hall.
Despite losing the first quarter 24-23, Hounds Academy made a strong comeback in the second quarter, winning it 24-20 and leading 47-44 by halftime. They extended their lead in the third quarter with a 24-18 score, heading into the final quarter at 71-62. Although Kirtipur won the last quarter 21-17, it wasn’t enough to stop Hounds from sealing the win.
Saurav Shrestha from Hounds was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the match. Teammate Bijay Burja scored a team-high 22 points, while Kirtipur’s Nishchal Maharjan netted 28 points but couldn’t guide his team to victory.
Hounds now top the table with 13 points from 7 matches. Kirtipur sits fifth with 9 points from the same number of games.
Samakhushi claim first win of HJBL season
In another match on Tuesday, Samakhushi Youth Club finally recorded their first win in the Himalayan Java Basketball League, beating Royal Basketball Club 87-80.
Both teams scored 18 points in the first quarter. Royal edged the second quarter 25-23, taking a slim 43-41 lead at halftime. But Samakhushi responded strongly in the second half—winning the third quarter 20-14 and the fourth 27-23—to clinch the match.
Prajwal Maharjan was declared the MVP for Samakhushi after scoring 23 points. For Royal, Prasang Dhwaj Maske’s 26-point effort went in vain.
Despite the win, Samakhushi remains at the bottom of the table with 8 points from 7 games. Royal, who now have five losses from seven games, sit in fourth place with 9 points.
What’s next in HJBL?
As the Himalayan Java Basketball League continues, Hounds Academy will look to maintain their top form, while Samakhushi aim to build on their momentum after breaking their losing streak.