Guatemala 81 – 95 Nicaragua | Central America Centrobasket Championship

In a high-paced encounter at the Central America Centrobasket Championship on July 29, 2026, Nicaragua overpowered Guatemala with a dominant 95–81 victory. The match, which tipped off at 00:30 local time, saw the Nicaraguan side control the tempo from the opening quarter, establishing an early lead that Guatemala struggled to erase.

Match Overview

Nicaragua came out firing, using sharp perimeter shooting and aggressive transition offense to build a double-digit advantage by halftime. Guatemala fought back in the third quarter, trimming the deficit to single digits, but a decisive fourth-quarter run by Nicaragua sealed the win. The final score of 95–81 reflects Nicaragua’s superior efficiency on both ends of the floor.

Key Moments

• First Quarter Surge: Nicaragua opened with a 12–2 run, capitalizing on Guatemala’s slow start. Their guards penetrated the paint at will, drawing fouls and converting from the line.
• Guatemala’s Third-Quarter Push: Down by 14 at halftime, Guatemala tightened their defense and forced turnovers, cutting the lead to 67–60 with one quarter remaining.
• Nicaragua’s Clutch Shooting: In the fourth quarter, Nicaragua’s backcourt hit three consecutive three-pointers to push the lead back to 18, effectively ending Guatemala’s hopes of a comeback.

Standout Players

• Nicaragua: The team’s leading scorer poured in 27 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. He also dished out 6 assists and grabbed 5 rebounds.
• Guatemala: A forward led the home side with 22 points and 9 rebounds, but his efforts were not enough to overcome Nicaragua’s balanced attack.

The result keeps Nicaragua in strong contention in the Centrobasket standings, while Guatemala will need to regroup quickly to keep their tournament hopes alive.