Friday, June 10
•Uganda U18 Girls 62-65 St Noa Zzana

Uganda’s National Under 18 Girls Basketball team, the Junior Gazelles, lost 65-62 to St Noa Girls on Friday in a practice match at Lugogo.

It was a real check for the Junior Gazelles who are preparing for the 2022 FIBA U18 Zone Five Afrobasket Qualifiers.

The tournament that has attracted Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda, is due June 13-18 at Lugogo.

The winners in both (Girls and Boys) categories book a ticket to U18 Afrobasket finals in Madagascar.

“They (St Noa) gave us a good challenge,” admitted Junior Gazelles assistant coach Rogers Serunyingo. “St Noa Girls are a hard working and organised team, they out rebounded us, they dared anyone to shoot the ball, and they came strong in terms of drives and lay ups.”

“It’s a good check, it’s the first time all these girls are playing together, and it’s a good thing to have ourselves checked out. And we can only get better.”

Junior Gazelles, after trailing 13-14 in the first quarter, fought back to lead 40-30 at halftime. But They were 53-48 up in the third before being out played in the last quarter to lose by three points.

“The things we have seen down here on the floor today are good enough for us to correct. The girls should be ready by Monday” Sserunyigo added.

“We are still preparing and getting them in shape to play a couple of set offensive plays, there is still more work to be done. Though time has never been enough, but we can do what we can do in these remaining days.”

It should be noted that St Noa are reigning silver medalists of the Fresh Diary Secondary School Games having lost the final 37-32 to Kitende.