NAGPUR: On a day of fluctuating fortunes, Kerala men flattered only to deceive against an experienced Services side while their women cruised along to their third victory on the trot as on Day 4 of the 65th IMG-Reliance Senior National Basketball Championship at Bhilwara, Rajasthan, on Thursday.

On the opening day of 2015, Kerala's international guards Jeena PS and Neenumol gelled well to share 47 points between them and help their side post an exciting 15-point (84-69) win over Maharashtra.

While Jeena scored a team-high 25 points and pulled 13 rebounds for yet another double-double in the senior nationals, Neenumol played a pivotal role with 22 points. A game-high 26-point effort with 13 rebounds for Maharashtra skipper and India's experienced shooting guard Manish Dange went in vain.

For starters, Kerala were seemingly in control as they took the first and second quarters 23-12 and 19-18 respectively. However, Maharashtra girls regrouped after the lemon break, though they took the third period 21-18 to bring down the lead, a tightened Kerala defense helped the later to claim the last period 25-18 and register their third triumph in succession.

Earlier, Kerala men failed to get the better of Services to go down fighting 67-80. An aggressive start helped Kerala claim the first quarter 20-17 but they failed to carry the momentum going as Services dominated the second period 24-9 to take a handy 12-point advantage at the breather.

The change of ends changed the fortunes in Kerala's favour as they took the third quarter 27-17 to bring down the lead to just two points (58-56) at the end. Services always had that class when it matter the most as the men from the armed forces defended well in the last period to claim the same 22-11 and post a 13-point win.

For the winners, Jairam Jat recorded a double-double with 19 points and 16 rebounds, Dalip K (19) and Narender Grewal (13) did the bulk of the shooting. For Kerala, a game high 22-point effort of Manoj R went in vain as Subash Shenoy (17) and Albin Baby (11) did well.

RESULTS

Women: Delhi (Pratima Singh 31, Prashanti Singh 17) bt Tamil Nadu (R Ramya 18, P Divya 16) 72-64 (14-10, 18-16, 19-25, 21-13); Kerala (Jeena PS 28, Neenumol PS 25, Stephy Nixon 17) bt Maharashtra (Manisha Dange 23, Sruthi Menon 14) 84-69 (23-12, 19-18, 18-21, 24-18); Indian Railways (Renu Maurya 16, Bharti Netam 16, Sitamani Tudu 15, Appoorva Muralinath 14) bt Punjab (Samrithi 18, Kirandeep Kaur 15, Nagma Mirza 12) 113-54 (41-9, 23-20, 21-16, 28-9).

Men: Services (Jairam Jat 19, Dalip K 19, Narender Grewal 13, Ramesh K 10) bt Kerala (Manoj R 22, Subash Shenoy 17, Albin Baby 11) 80-67 (17-20, 24-9, 17-17, 22-11), Tamil Nadu (Prasanna Venkatesh 23, Amjyot Singh 19, Pratham Singh 17, G Sivabalan 13, Arvind A 11) bt Haryana (Himanshu S 17, Deepak R 11, Vikas K 11, Hemant S 10) 91-66 (28-20, 24-19, 28-19, 11-8); Uttarakhand (Trideep Rai 27, Amritpal Singh 23, Vishesh Bhriguvanshi 18) bt Indian Railways (Prakash Mishra 14) 88-50 (21-11, 25-13, 26-13, 16-13); Delhi (Pravin Dovan 22, Ajay Singh 18, Gaurav Ohlan 12) bt Maharashtra (Raj Kalbhor 29, Amit Gahlot 16) 78-69 (15-12, 19-12, 24-19, 20-26).