Basketball in Africa

Lamunu tries to find her bearing on the best during Game 5 against UCU Lady Canons at YMCA on Friday night. Lamunu and KCCA Leopards will attempt to level the series today. Photo by Ismail Kezaala 

KAMPALA- Trailing the final series 3-1 prior to Friday’s Game Five against UCU Lady Canons at YMCA on Friday, KCCA Leopards coach Timothy Odeke knew there was only one option to stop their opponents from sealing this year’s title.

“We just have to find a way of stopping their centres,” Odeke said after Wednesday’s 83-74 National Basketball League finals Game Four loss. On Friday, in front of a sparse crowd at YMCA court, they did a great job on the inside en route to a 65-52 victory to force Game Six today in the best-of-seven final series at the same venue.

“Namuwaya Muhayimina tormented their offense and that gave us a chance,” Odeke said.

Namuwaya made 11 points but crucially picked 15 rebounds as KCCA restricted the Lady Canons’ ‘big men’ of Purity Odhiambo and Vilma Achieng to 13 and eight points respectively while picking a combined 17 rebounds. Achieng and Odhiambo had previously averaged 17.5 and 13.5 points respectively in their last two games. UCU led the opening two quarters 19-15 and 30-23.

KCCA, led by Claire Lamunu’s joint game high 17 points responded by winning the third 23-11 courtesy of an 8-0 run to go into the final session on top 46-41.
Flavia Okecho scored six of her 15 points in that 8-0 run as KCCA led for the first time and didn’t look back.

With all Lady Canons’ ‘big men’ in foul trouble, KCCA bossed the final quarter, clinching it 19-11.

Judith Nansobya led the UCU charge with 17 points while Maureen Amoding, who needed medical attention at the end of the game after a collision with KCCA’s Monica Siima, finished with 10 points. “Our guards were not in control from the start but we will return stronger in the next game,” Boniface Okello, the UCU coach, said.

NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Today at YMCA (Game 6 of 7)
KCCA Leopards vs. UCU Lady Canons (6:30pm)
(UCU lead series 3-2)
FRIDAY RESULTS
KCCA Leopards 65-52 UCU Lady Canons
essenono@@ug.nationmedia.com