Dmark Power 71-68 Kyambogo Warriors
DMark Power held off Kyambogo Warriors late surge for a 71-68 win at YMCA on Friday night in the Airtel National Basketball League. The Defending champions started slow, but solid denfensive display sealed the win. Warriors (8-1) opened the game with a 13-4 run and Power called for a time out with 4:43 to the end of the period, on return scored 16 points and trailed 20-23 at the end of the quarter. Power (8-0) scored the first four of the second and went up 24-23 but their slippery hands in the period that saw them cough the ball up on four consecutive possessions gave Warriors the green light to take a 44-36 lead to halftime.
Power came back in the third quarter tied the game at 50 with 2:38 and added 9 points and never trailed again. “We did whatever we could to win the game. We started slow but got through”, Jimmy Enabu (17 points) told Kawowo Sports after the game.
Warriors went through a shooting slump in the second half as their 3-point play did not work out. 25 shorts from beyond the arc hit the steel and away. Norman Blick (12 points) was 3-for-12 on 3-point field goals. “We missed alot of free throws and our shooting from the 3-point line was really bad” Warriors’ guard, Ronnie Kasewu said. Warriors’ poor shooting cut across to the free throw line. Last season’s losing finalists missed 22 of the 33 throws. Bigman Micheal Kariuki was 4-for-15 on the foul shots. It was the first time this season Warriors scored under 70 points.
“Power came back strong in the second half and when they went ahead we did not get back. We missed alot of free throws, our energy was not good and everything else”, Mande Juruni, the Warriors coach said of the performance.
Power’s bigman Isaac Afidra was given extended time in his second game. He scored 12 points and picked 9 rebounds in the 19:42 minutes. Ben Komakech scored game high 17 points, fellow back court and Power’s leading scorer, Isaac Lugude was 1-for-12 on field goals. Henry Malinga paced Warriors with 12 points and pulled down a whooping 16 rebounds.
In the women’s devision, Judith Nansobya’s game high 20 points powered KIU Rangers to a 69-22 win over MUK Sparks. Florence Nanyonga added 13 points and 10 rebounds and Mercie Etyang chipped in with 13 points. Chalin Kalungi led sparks with 6 points.
