A1 CHALLENGE: 57
MAKERERE SPARKS: 41
Game four in the second round and teams seem to be getting their rhythm back after the month break. A case in point is A1 Challenge which was humbled by the KCC Leopards in their first game into the round two ending their long unbeaten run but have since come back hard winning their next games consecutively.
In the absence of Khisa Mary who is out for about 3 months following the end of the university holidays and Kyomugisha Gloria who is out of the country, Mulwana Olivia took over the point guard role which goes to show the depth in the squad.
As for Makerere Sparks apart from Kalanguka Bridget who is also making a return to university down in Mbarara for probably the next 4 months, the squad is still the intact with Sharlene and Hellen leading the ladies once again.
The last time these two teams clashed in round one it was all over by the time the second quarter was through. Makerere Sparks this time had a game plan and their centre forward Sharlene was all threading their offensive game moves giving a little head ache to the A1 defense.
It was a close game by the end of the second quarter into half-time. Makerere Sparks Hellen was nailing all sorts of brilliant points from rebounds and jump shots and was also helping in the defense.
A problem that was clearly seen in the A1 Challenge camp was that the gel that we are all used to when they bring their A game was hardly displayed. Apart from Betty clad in Jersey Number 5 who was having the game of her life, there was something wrong in their offensive game. However, the quick shift from defense to offense and the other way round was quite a spectacle as Mulwana Olivia and Carol Mugasha stood their ground in the defense.
After Vicky, who had had a great game in the A1 defense was fouled out, Namayega Josephine was brought on and her aggressive defense game was a plus, totally chocking the Sparks offense in the fourth quarter except for a few individual brilliant displays by Hellen.
By the end of the fourth quarter the defense of A1 was running the show. It was a great spectacle for the fans. Mulwana Olivia on the 3-point line for a foul on her ended the game making free throws.
Another crucial win for A1 Challenge and like I always say its back to the drawing board for the Makerere Sparks.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
A1 CHALLENGE'S SCINTILLATING UNBEATEN RUN ENDS
A1 CHALLENGE: 48
KCC LEOPARDS: 55
Friday evening saw the return of basketball’s second round after a number of adjournments which didn't quite go down well with the fans and a few of the other stakeholder’s. By 5:30pm all the excuses were thrown out of the window and the games were embraced.
The kick-off fixture was at 5:30 pm but was delayed a little. A1 Challenge was up against KCC Leopards. A1 Challenge was looking to stretch further its unbeaten run, while the defending champions KCC Leopards were hungry for revenge after that bad loss to A1 Challenge in the first round. The stage was set, the crowd was reeling on and the players were ready for action.
A1 welcomed the services of Mulwana Olivia and Dorothy to further beef up the options in the tactical aspect. Off went the whistle and the game begun. The first quarter was closely contested but KCC Leopards got the better of A1 Challenge in the first quarter. Helen and Baby were at it again as they orchestrated the KCC Leopard offense.
KCC Leopards were missing the services of Miriam Hamala who was inspirational in guiding them to the title last season. But that wasn’t a factor for the KCC ladies. They brought with them enough tenacity, grit and brains. They gelled well enough to outsmart the A1 Challenge ladies for the first two quarters.
By the third quarter A1 Challenge was playing catch-up for most of the time. Every second on the clock mattered and they seemed to get their tactics right, till a nearly fatal fall cost them one of their best defensive players on the day clad in “Number 11”. After the safety call break made by the umpire, KCC Leopards continued from where they had stopped. They stretched their lead with Baby getting a good number of 3-pointer shots and Helen grabbing crucial rebounds.
A1 Challenge was disjointed as opposed to their fluidity in first round. Overwhelmed with the KCC Leopard offense and well organized defense, A1 kept pushing and pushing but fell short on the day. After speaking with a few of the players they said that the loss come definitely as a wake up call to the entire A1 camp, promising to get their act together in their next game.
Well let’s wait and see.
KJ
KCC LEOPARDS: 55
Friday evening saw the return of basketball’s second round after a number of adjournments which didn't quite go down well with the fans and a few of the other stakeholder’s. By 5:30pm all the excuses were thrown out of the window and the games were embraced.
The kick-off fixture was at 5:30 pm but was delayed a little. A1 Challenge was up against KCC Leopards. A1 Challenge was looking to stretch further its unbeaten run, while the defending champions KCC Leopards were hungry for revenge after that bad loss to A1 Challenge in the first round. The stage was set, the crowd was reeling on and the players were ready for action.
A1 welcomed the services of Mulwana Olivia and Dorothy to further beef up the options in the tactical aspect. Off went the whistle and the game begun. The first quarter was closely contested but KCC Leopards got the better of A1 Challenge in the first quarter. Helen and Baby were at it again as they orchestrated the KCC Leopard offense.
KCC Leopards were missing the services of Miriam Hamala who was inspirational in guiding them to the title last season. But that wasn’t a factor for the KCC ladies. They brought with them enough tenacity, grit and brains. They gelled well enough to outsmart the A1 Challenge ladies for the first two quarters.
By the third quarter A1 Challenge was playing catch-up for most of the time. Every second on the clock mattered and they seemed to get their tactics right, till a nearly fatal fall cost them one of their best defensive players on the day clad in “Number 11”. After the safety call break made by the umpire, KCC Leopards continued from where they had stopped. They stretched their lead with Baby getting a good number of 3-pointer shots and Helen grabbing crucial rebounds.
A1 Challenge was disjointed as opposed to their fluidity in first round. Overwhelmed with the KCC Leopard offense and well organized defense, A1 kept pushing and pushing but fell short on the day. After speaking with a few of the players they said that the loss come definitely as a wake up call to the entire A1 camp, promising to get their act together in their next game.
Well let’s wait and see.
KJ
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