Kenyan U18 basketball sides settle for bronze in Afrobasket qualifiers as Uganda dominate

Kenyan U-18 basketball sides Junior Morans and their female counterparts Junior Lionesses missed out on a chance to feature at this year's U18 Afrobasket after finishing third in the Zone 5 qualifiers. 

The six-day championship hosted in Kampala, Uganda, had brought together four teams in each category with Uganda emerging victorious in both categories. 

In the third-place playoff matches Kenya won in both categories, against their Tanzanian counterparts, the girls' match ending 70-63 while the boys' match was a 79-71 outcome. 

Mariam Wangari led the charge for Kenya in the girls' category scoring 18 with 9 rebounds as Violet Atieno and Valentine Korir added 13 and 12 points respectively. 

The Rose Mshila-coached Kenyan side raced to a quick 27-19 start which was their saving grace as Tanzania kept the other quarters close in 21-17, 9-10, 17-13 outcomes. 

The boys' match saw Kenya take the opening quarters 17-14, the second ending all-square in 25-25.

Kenya then dominated for 29-15 to take a 17-point lead to the final period. Tanzania, however, turned the tables and went on a 17-8 rampage, putting Kenya under pressure but it was not enough to turn the tide in their favour.

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Meanwhile, Uganda Junior Gazelles and Junior Silverbacks, booked the tickets to the Afrobasket slated for August in South Africa, after defeating Rwanda.  

In a clutch boys final that witnessed nine lead changes and five ties, a match that had the team's march pound for pound on almost all stats but for the bench contributions where Rwanda went 21-06, only three points separated the two sides. 

Uganda carried a slight 19-17 advantage to the second quarter where Rwanda took charge, going ahead 17-10 to lead 34-29 at the half-time break. 

Uganda, however, came off the locker rooms guns blazing and threw everything at Rwanda, who still led 60-56 with five minutes to play. Uganda snatched victory in a dramatic second half 22-16, 18-16 performance.

"This was a battle. It was not easy but we are just happy to have won and for qualifying," Gideon Ekukwai said after the victory. 

On his part, Rwanda's Dylan Kayijuka blamed the loss on costly turnovers that he bore responsibility for. 

"The game was tight and exciting. Uganda are a great team, very aggressive. We played great but in the end, made some costly mistakes and I gave the blame for it. All in all, I am proud of my team. We fought hard and executed. Kudos to them for the win," he offered. 

In the girls' category, Resty Nanangwe and Shiphrah Kiranda powered the Junior Gazelles to a dominant 82-52 display in the final to assure themselves of the ticket. 

"We have done it, just like we kept promising. It is a happy moment for me and my teammates to win and qualify for the AfroBasket in South Africa. We have also picked valuable lessons and experience that will make us better in the continental competition," an elated Nanangwe said after the win.