The StarTimes Falcons are ready to challenge for the National Basketball League this year. The record league champions beat the defending champions, City Oilers 81-66 on Friday night at YMCA.
Forward, Steven Omony scored game high 24 points and picked 7 rebounds to lead the way for Falcons. Points guard, Joseph Ouma added 15 points.
“I think we played every way we had planned and the result came in hand. They (City Oilers) played well but i think we just did a few things better than them” Falcons’ Steven Omony told Kawowo Sports. “Its a well deserved win, great effort from everybody and I'm proud of everyone” he added.
Falcons got off a big start outscoring Oilers 18-11 in the first quarter but gave away many second chances to Oilers and the back-to-back champions got back into the game – going into halftime trailing Falcons by just a point (35-36).
However, the Falcons solidified on defense while keeping the consistence on offense – limiting City Oilers to 10 third quarter points and scored 24 on the other end taking the lead into double figure and Falcons did not look back.
“I think certain things dont go according to plan but i think the biggest part of our plan was executed. We lost a couple of rebounds that brought them back into the game but we corrected that and we were back ontrack” Omony said.
Ariel Okall contributed 14 points and 8 rebounds for Falcons, Derrick Mbusi had 9 points and 8 rebounds, Peter Elungant chipped in with 10 points.
City Oilers’ 'dependables' and bigs got into foul trouble early in the third which made the worker even easier for Falcons in the final period.
“I felt Falcons played very good defense in the second half and we didn't have consistent scorers on our side and that made a very big difference especially in the second half” Oilers’ coach, Mandy Juruni said. "Kami (Kabange) and Okello (James) were scoring and put us back in the game but later on in the third and fourth quarter we didn't have that” he added.
Kami Kabange scored team high 18 points and 9 rebounds for Oilers, James Okello big night ended with 16 points and 8 rebounds, Daniel Jjuko contributed 12 points and MVP Jimmy Enabu had 9 points on his off night.
“We stopped taking the ball to the hoop, our shooting was very low today from the outside, on the free throws and our defense on the guards was not good.” Juruni said.
“Falcons did everything they wanted on us. They were scoring, dishing and driving to the hoop. They had a lot of freedom today and the desire and attitude of our players was not right today” Juruni, concluded.
