Uganda’s Junior Gazelles triumphed over Rwanda with a commanding 78-40 victory

Uganda’s Junior Gazelles triumphed over Rwanda with a commanding 78-40 victory in the FIBA Africa Zone V U-18 AfroBasket Qualifiers held at Lugogo.

The match began with both teams struggling to maintain control of the ball, a common issue among youth teams in the region. Despite committing 11 turnovers in the first quarter, Rwanda held a narrow 14-11 lead. The Junior Gazelles faced similar challenges, with 10 turnovers in the same period. However, a strategic shift to a full-court press in the second quarter significantly altered the game’s momentum.

Under the guidance of head coach John Omondi, Uganda identified their opponents’ difficulty in handling pressure and utilized the press for the remainder of the game. This tactic paid off immediately, as the Gazelles dominated the third quarter with a 31-13 run, largely fueled by turnovers forced by their defensive pressure. Remarkably, 45 of Uganda’s points resulted from these turnovers.

Rest Nanangwe led the charge with an impressive 24 points and 10 rebounds. Modesta Anyango also had a strong performance, adding 14 points to the scoreboard.

Contributions came from Angella Auma, Belinda Alaba, and Shiphrah Kiranda, each scoring 8 points, with Kiranda also securing a team-high 11 rebounds.

On the Rwandan side, Brigitte Nibishaka stood out with a team-high 20 points and a game-high 22 rebounds. However, she was heavily targeted by Uganda’s press, leading to 13 turnovers.