The Nicaragua men’s team continued undefeated in the wheelchair basketball discipline of the II Para Central American Games, Managua 2018.
On the third day of competition, the men's team faced the Panama team, who during the first quarter kept pace with the host, but it was the home side who edged by three points, 19-16 at the first break. In the second quarter, Nicaragua tightened their defence and broke pushed ahead 15 – 2 to give themselves space some breathing space. Nicaragua maintained the pressure throughout the second half and their strong attack ensured them another comfortable win, 76-31.
Top scorers for Nicaragua were Richard Hodgson with 24 points ably assisted by captain Carlos Algeria’s 18 points and Aaron Cruz’s 16 points, whilst Panama’s captain Luis Espinosa top-scored for them with 8 points.
Honduras were left still looking for their first win of the Games, after they suffered their third loss 18-55 against El Salvador, with quarter scores of 4-15, 2-16, 6 -11 and 6 -13. El Salvador’s Moises Martinez proved influential top scoring with 16 points. Jorge Rivera again top-scored for Honduras with 8 points.
In the other men’s game, Costa Rica defeated Guatemala 51-35. Thanks to some impressive shooting, Costa Rica stormed out to lead 27-14 by the end of the first half. Despite the second half being much more even with only a two-point difference, 23-21, the damage had already been done and Costa Rica saw out the game to go 2-1.
Costa Rica’s Kenneth Gonzalez continued his impressive form top scoring with 25 points, whilst Wilder Castellanos top-scored for Guatemala with 14 points.
There were two games in the women's 3x3 competition, hosts Nicaragua dominated both quarters of their match against Honduras to win 6-1. El Salvador also had a tough day, losing 8-2 against Guatemala, which meant Guatemala stayed top of the pool and remained undefeated 4-0.
DAY THREE RESULTS
G13 – W – 10:00 – NICARAGUA
6 – 1
HONDURAS
G14 – W – 11:00 – EL SALVADOR
2 – 8
GUATEMALA
G15 – M – 12:00 – HONDURAS
18 – 55
EL SALVADOR
G16 – M – 14:00 – COSTA RICA
50 – 35
GUATEMALA
G17 – M – 16:00 – NICARAGUA
76 – 31
PANAMA
More details and full schedule.
Photo credit: Comité Paralímpico Guatemalteco