Fofana calls game-winning shot the best of his career

Mike Fofana came up with the best shot of his career, helping AS Douanes to a 56-54 win over Rivers Hoopers on Thursday.

With the win, the hosts of the 2024 Sahara Conference improved their record to 2-2, but the low-scoring game went to the wire

Rivers Hoopers guard Will Perry tied the game at 54-54 with four seconds remaining after a technical foul on AS Douanes’ bench, but the 2023 BAL Coach of the Year Mamadou Gueye wasn’t prepared to go down without a fight.

Going to overtime was never an option for Gueye who called a time-out, drew a play that eventually determined the final score.

“That was the exact play. [Coach Gueye] He drew it for me to set down the screen, catch-and-shoot, and I just made the play,” said Mike Fofana who hit the game-winning buzzer-beater shot.

“This is the biggest shot of my career, easily. This is my first walk-out game. I will never forget this one,” added Fofana who finished with 6 points.

The win ended Rivers Hoopers three-game winning streak with two games remaining in the conference.

It was all about team effort, Fofana revealed: “[Coach Gueye] He believed in me. I was on the bench for the last four minutes of the game and he called my number; I came through and I made him look good.”

AS Douanes have improved to 2-2 while Rivers Hoopers remain top of the conference with a 3-1 mark.

Madut Akec finished with a team-high of 17 points, Abdoulaye Harouna and Adama Diakhite contributed 15 and 12 points respectively as the Senegalese side bounced back from a disappointing loss to APR on Tuesday.

Despite their first loss of the season, Rivers Hoopers center Peter Olisemeka says that they will be back better and stronger on Saturday against APR.

“It’s one of those nights where things don’t always go as planned,” said Olisemeka who recorded his first BAL double-double of 16 points and 18 rebounds.

“We are going to come back stronger,” he added.

AS Douanes will face US Monastir on Saturday.