Kirtipur Basketball Team defeated South Siders Basketball Club 74-71 for their third victory in the Nepal Basketball League on Thursday.

In a match between two already-eliminated teams, Anil Khadgi Shahi scored 22 points, took six rebounds and made three steals as Kirtipur approached towards a positive ending in their league campaign. With two match to go, a young Kirtipur side will have their head held high having collected 15 points from 12 games.

South Siders are certain to finish the tournament at the pit bottom team with just one victory, which came at home to Kirtipur, out of 13 matches played so far. They will wrap up the league campaign with a match against another lower-ranked outfits Royal Basketball Club on June 2. Royal have two victories from nine games.

It was South Siders who took a 26-22 lead in the match and stretched it to five points adding another 11 in a low scoring second period when Kirtipur netted just 10. Kirtipur led the third quarter 15-14 leaving the game wide open and the hosts bounced back in the final quarter in which they prevailed 27-20.

Suraj Khadgi also netted 18 points for Kirtipur and Paras Yonjan rolled in 11. Rabin Gautam top scored in the match with 25 points and Missan Gurung scored 12. On Thursday, Times International Club will take on Royal who will now play four consecutive home games.