Basketball in Africa: UGANDA : Inspirational Blick gives Miracle lead

21 November 2011

UGANDA : Inspirational Blick gives Miracle lead

Miracle Eagles beat Power 80-65 to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five semifinal playoff series at YMCA court on Saturday night, leaving the champions in an uncomfortbale situation. In the Women’s Division, KCC Leopards took a similar stride with a 70-58 victory over KIU Rangers.

The former still have major worries as guard Flavia Oketcho went off early with a minor shoulder problem.
Martha Soigi scored a game-high 22 points and 31 rebounds to stop the KIU fight back which had Judith Nanyonga score 17 off the bench in its tracks.“I have not seen us play that bad,” said Power coach Bernice Ankunda after a torrid night where they were nothing better than second best. “They (Power players) lacked confidence.” Game Two is tomorrow.

Miracle took the first quarter 18-11, the second 14-10, lost the third 16-20 and rounded off 32-24 in a high-scoring decisive period. It’s not often that Power finish games, in defeat or triumph, without many positives.

They have lots to think about. They lost the rebound contest 24-44, shot only 17 of 43 from the field and managed three of 25 from downtown. Power were as bad as Miracle were brilliant. Stephen Omony made a double-double. The Miracle skipper scored 19 points and 10 rebounds including a perfect 11 from 11 on the foul line. However, it was Norman Blick who really separated the sides.

Having been at Power for the past two years before crossing, Blick perhaps banked on inside knowledge to bag 19 points, five rebounds and eight assists. His importance was particularly underlined by Omony getting into early foul trouble with four in the third period and point guard Colin Mukiza being ejected.“I think we handled ourselves very well in every situation,” Blick said. Francis Kasekende added 17 and nine boards while Edwin Kateregga contributed 10 for the playoff debutants. “I have never seen such rubbish. We were pathetic. The pressure of playoffs got to us,” Ankunda summed it up. Only Jimmy Enabu (13) and Ben Komakech (12) got to double figures.

Power star Isaac Afidra equated this to his “worst game ever”. He finished with six points and looked offbeat entirely.

In the other semifinal, Warriors found themselves in a situation similar to Power’s after losing 65-52 to UCU Canons.

Game Two between the two sides was scheduled for last night

# posted by afrbk : 09:50