Don Bosco Lionesses beat JKT Stars 54-48 in the Dar es Salaam regional basketball women category league match played at the National Indoor Stadium on Sunday to qualify for the finals.
Amina Ahmed scored 22 points and Nina Mliga had 12 points including two three-pointers to guide Don Bosco Lionesses into the finals where they will play Jeshi Stars.
Jeshi Stars, who mostly comprised ageing players, failed to cope with their opponents’ speed and it was not surprising to see the army ladies struggle to catch up for the better part of the game.
Don Bosco Lionesses opted for high pace game and tight marking and the trick paid off as they successfully contained JKT Stars, who were yet to find their rhythm when Don Bosco led by 16-11 at the end of the first quarter.
JKT Stars, however, slowly reorganised themselves and relied on the experience of their seasoned players Nelly Anyingisye, Evodia Kazinja Muhoja Nyawawa and Lulu Joseph to minimise the score margin. Their effort helped them cut Don Bosco’s lead to only two points in the second quarter before Anyingisye’s lay-up saw them lead 42-40 in the third quarter.
Don Bosco Lionesses were still a side that dominated the proceedings in the second and third quarters despite dictating a slim 26-24 lead and trailing JKT Stars in the third quarter.
Ahmed posed more threat in front of JKT Stars’ hoop every time she pushed forward, prompting the latter’s defense to foul her frequentlyand the player carefully exploited the free-throws she won to put Don Bosco Lionesses in command.
Although JKT Stars pressed hard in the last quarter in an effort to reverse the score, they were let down by poor finishing. Veterans Anyingisye, Kazinja and Joseph clearly lost their scoring touch, missing several attempts on Don Bosco’s hoop as time ticked by.
Anyingisye scored 19 points and took seven rebounds, Kazinja had seven points and two assists while Mwajuma Shaaban scored six points for JKT Stars.
Don Bosco’s Mliga capped her impressive spell with seven rebounds and four assists while other team mates Jasmin Bablia and Kalambo added nine and four points respectively.
JKT will therefore play Police Dar es Salaam in a third place play-off on Saturday with two semi-final matches in the men’s category also taking place the same day. Savio meet Oilers while ABC and Pazi will lock horns shortly thereafter. Finals will be played the subsequent Sunday.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN