Makerere Sparks coach Mavita Ali had mixed feelings after the team’s 50:41 loss to Buddo Mystics in their second game of the season.

Makerere Sparks managed to get multiple defensive stops in 1v1 and 2v1 situations. They also played better as a unit while trying to fizzle out the offense.

A similar defensive performance was seen for spells in their season opener against Kibuli S.S and building on that is a positive for the team.

When it came to offense, the number of turnovers was the biggest problem. They recorded 26, same as Buddo but the high school side capitalized, scoring (20 points) 40% of their points from turnovers.

The Free-throw line was the biggest headache for the Makerere Sparks. They missed 21 of 29 attempts and had they made even just half, they could have made things much more difficult for Buddo who kept fouling them.

One of the biggest positives for the Sparks was Mercy Ageno who played the full game despite being injured and she registered a double-double, the first of the season for the Sparks. She has also scored double-digit points in back-to-back games and it’s a sign that she can be relied on for offense.

Coach Mavita believes that once the defense becomes very solid, they will begin to work more on offense as it takes far more to learn the different plays and movements for new players, that the sparks have.

With the increased confidence by the team, they ever look closer to registering a victory. They take on Seeta High School next, a side that they defeated in both fixtures last season. Getting a victory in this may ‘spark’ them to life.

Match Stats

Mercy Ageno 11 ptss, 10 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl

Ayak Madalene 9 pts, 5 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk

Denise Nabugasha 7 pts, 5 reb, 1 ast, 4 stl

Nakiryowa Belinda 8 pts, 3 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk