By: Brian Kawalya
National Basketball League
UPDF 30-50 Ndejje
Ndejje University outlasted UPDF with a 50-30 victory in the 2017 Men’s National Basketball league game played at an almost empty YMCA court in Wandegeya.
Like Dan Frisby once said, “Basketball is like Photography, if you don’t focus, all u have is the negative”, surely, you could be forced to believe that he completely referred to UPDF Tomahawks, whose slow start yielded a dry spell completing the first quarter without a single basket.
The Tomahawks were trailing 14-0 as Ndejje fired on all cylinders by the end of the first quarter.
The struggling Tomahawks looked like they were not ready for the show as their target man Henry Okoth missed the chance to get their first point of the game failing to convert a free throw at the start of the second quarter.
With the introduction of Herman Matovu and Joseph Dramaza from the substitute bench, UPDF started to find shape as they started to pressure their opponents from the perimeter which gradually paid off.
Okoth’s shot from the far corner of the front court outside the 3-point line gave them their first basket of the night as the scoreboard brightly read 23:3 with 4:02 remaining to the end of the second quarter.
The University Angels looked like they had run out of steam in the 3rd quarter registering 11 points to UPDF’s 13 but the now rejuvenated Tomahawks needed more than that to overturn the big deficit.
Baker Kyambadde’s Tomahawks continued to press but their 30 points total on the night proved inadequate as they lost by a 20 point margin with Deng Maker leading the way with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Lineups
Ndejje
Nunda Kiryowe, Otieno Micheal, Lupundu Pitchou, Chaka Jeje, Ajack Samuel, Ochera Innocent, Okello David, Baderha Gauthier, Deng Maker, Katumba Derrick, Kisily Salim, Buluma Martin.
Coach – Walker Obedi.
Ass. Coach – John Omondi
UPDF Tomahawks
Muhumuza Moses, Okello Emma, Ogwang Daniel, Matovu Herman, Okoth Henry, Okot Andrew, Dramaza Joseph, Wakorach Stephen, Guma James, Mityero Abel, Mutawe Dalton.
Coach – Baker Kyambadde
Referee – Ivan Ssemanda.
Umpire – Edmond Lumu.
Commissioner – Brian Ssebalamu.