WEST COAST HOOPS DEFEATS TOOFAN IN TRIPLE OVERTIME 46-43

by NBAA

May 31st, 2007 Orange county California

The 7- time Afghan basketball champions West Coast Hoops took the floor against a very poised Toofan team in hopes of stealing one away. West Coast Hoops always a crowd favorite in Southern California playing together with its core nucleus plus the addition of Bilal Aziz a late addition from Team Payaam based in San Diego and Northern California.

West Coast Hoops after defeating Afghan Ballers in a heart breaker continued on to the championship game where they would meet Toofan. Toofan under the leadership of Coach Jamal Nuristani has always been a contender in these Afghan Basketball Tournaments no matter who faces them on the floor. Coach Nuristani has developed a level of excellence for Toofan and especially with emphasis on team morale. Coach Nuristani is not just a coach but also one of thee most intelligent General Managers in Afghan basketball. In this tournament he managed to pry away a bunch of great Afghan basketball players from different teams in hopes of winning another tournament with Toofan. Nuristani brought in MVP pro-to-type Nafi Mashriqi, along with the very clever-ball handler Safi Mojadedhi to give Toofan a serious 1-2 punch. In addition to those players Nuristani wasn't done yet he also managed to steal away a bulked up Masood Etemadi, and another strong guard in Raddai Mashriqi to seal the deal.

Toofan came in and terrorized their opponents beating their initial opponents to a pulp, however one thing everyone from these basketball tournaments has realized is to never doubt the heart of a repeat champion. Enter Yousof Etemadi leading his team of West Coast Hoopers into battle against Toofan was a feat only 3-4 teams could even manage. Etemadi wasn't nervous and the game was played. It was a nail bitter to the bitter end, shot after shot was exchanged excellent play by Bilal Aziz in the paint caused serious trouble for Toofan who managed to bounce back and take the lead several times. Yousof Etemadi, and Bilal Aziz lead West Coast Hoops with team high, and Massood Etemadi, along with Nafi Mashriqi lead Toofan with team highs in points. The game was intense down to the wire Etemadi of West Coast Hoops got the ball inbounded to him by team-mate Omar Sekandar with a 1.9 seconds remaining in regulation. Yousof Etemadi ran a simple pick from the opposite side of the floor cut across the free throw line to the lef side of the baseline with Raddai Mashriqi defending him and Shafi Mashriqi lingering on the side. Etemadi got free and a free open shot with 1.9 on the clock and nailed it. Etemadi hit another buzzer beater to save his team from Defeat sending the game into overtime 43-43.

In overtime Mashriqi and Toofan won the tap, Toofan came down in a hurry lobbed the ball up to an out-stretched Nafi Mashriqi who couldn't get the tough lob in, WCH rebounded the ball drove down court Etemadi passed the ball to Mamoon Amiri who drove to the hole and was lost control. Safi Mojadedhi picked up the loose ball and crossed half court and called a quick timeout with 45.7 seconds remaining in the 1st overtime.

Toofan then inbounds the ball with Raddai Mashriqi at the handles. Toofan drains the clock down 7.1 seconds where Raddai Mashriqi takes a good shot at an open 3 pointer, its hits the front of the rim at goes out of bounds with 6.6 seconds remaining on the clock. Yousof Etemadi quickly inbounds the ball with slowly regrouping Toofan defense goes full court crosses over Raddai Mashriqi just before half court gets open and meets Nafi Mashriqi at the 3 point and take the shot over 6-7 Defender. The ball rattles in and out and the game heads to double overtime. Etemadi biting his teeth in anguish after hitting the shot so many times over so many other defenders turns up short this time.

With the scored tied at 43 a piece, both teams head back to center court for another tap off. Nafi Mashriqi of Toofan beats Bilal Aziz for the tap, and Raddai Mashriqi of Toofan brings the ball across half court. Toofan instructed by Coach Nuristani is directed to drain the clock again and not allow West Coast Hoops any opportunity at the ball. Following Coach N's instruction Toofan continues to drain the 2 minute ticker down to the wire. The boo's from the Afghan crowd can heard loud and glorious however Coach is sticking to his game plan to now allow WCH any opportunity. Mojadedhi continues to drain the clock with Amiri defending 1:26 left on the ticker. Safi Mojadedhi with 9.6 seconds remaining on the ticker calls a final timeout for Toofan.

The boos are even louder now, and Mojadedhi flaps his arms in the air shrugging off any feelings of opposition to Toofan's grand scheme. Toofan comes out from the timeout, and inbounds the ball. Mojadedhi brings the ball across half court get a pick from teammate Nafi Mashriqi and shoots a floater baseline for the game winner. The shot rolls in and out as the clock expires. Both teams are now headed to triple over time.

Head Organizer Edris Miskinyar along with the referees have now decided that the game be decided on sudden death. The first team to score will win with no shot clock. The decision also erupted the crowd into boos however, it deterred any one team from draining the clock for one shot. Again Bilal Aziz meets Nafi Mashriqi for the 3rd overtime tap at center court and again Nafi Mashriqi wins the tap out to Safi Mojadedhi. Mojadedhi brings the ball up court. Massood Etemadi cuts around the defender Osman Azizi and gets the ball from teammate Mojadedhi. Massood Etemadi then squares up and takes what seems to be a good looking 3 pointer from the right side of the arc and bricks hard.

Omar Sekandar from WCH quickly rebounds the ball out to Yousof Etemadi who is met by defender Raddai Mashriqi. Etemadi of WCH quickly pushes the ball up court. He outlets it back to Omar Sekandar across half court who quickly passes back to Etemadi of WCH. Etemadi of WCH passes to a baselined Amiri who is met by the solid defense of Safi Mojadedhi. Amiri with no room to move passes back to Etemadi at the top of key who is being defended by Raddai Mashriqi. Etemadi sizes up the defender Raddai Mashriqi of Toofan pushes off one arm and steps back taking the 3 point shot and hits it in triple overtime. West Coast Hoops prevails once again on the out-standing play of Yousof Etemadi who led who with team high and two buzzer beating shots to give WCH their 8th champions in 4 years. MVP honors went to Yousof Etemadi.

The final score was 46-43 West Coast Hoops.

NBAA News Desk @ Copyright 2007