Round 2 of the 2024 NBL started spectacularly, with top individual and team performances.

The JKL Lady Dolphins started from where they stopped in round one and they registered a huge 50-79 victory against the UCU Lady Canons. The Lady Dolphins dominated from the tip-off and the Lady Canons kept making turnovers all through which cost them dearly. UCU had 38 turnovers, their highest in a game this season and JKL got 28 points from turnovers.

Ekone Brenda led the scoring with 17 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Hope Akello finished with 16 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 7 steals and 1 block. Evelyne Nakiyinji impacted off the bench, with 13 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.

There was no player for the UCU Lady Canons with double-digit scores. Shakirah Nanvubya had a team-high 7 points and Shillah Lamunu Aber had a team-high 10 rebounds.

It was a very slow first half between the UCU Canons and KIU Titans producing a combined 44 points. The Titans had 6 points in the second quarter, their lowest in any quarter this season and it looked like they would fall to the Canons.

The Canons led by 5 to start the final quarter but with a strong fourth quarter performance from the KIU Titans, they managed to turn the tables around and won the fiery fixture.

Edgar Munaba led the scoring with 18 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block.  Mpiya Juf recorded 12 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block double-double.

A1 Challenge clinched victory in overtime against YMCA Lady Hamstars who fought to the death. A1 led the game by 20 at halftime but a horrendous third quarter ensued, where they scored just 6 points compared to YMCA’s 18. The Lady Hamstars cut the lead to just 8 and they tied the game barely 2 minutes into the fourth quarter. Stella Kiberenge and Sharua Nakirya made huge free throws in overtime and A1 Challenge sealed the victory.

Stella Kiberenge had a stellar performance dropping 19 points, 18 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal. Sera Yaweh came in huge with a game-high 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists while YMCA’s Njeru Agnes was on top of her game finishing with 20 points, 16 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Rose Adhiambo was an offensive weapon and she finished with 16 points.

The JT Lady Jaguars put in another great defensive shift and they were rewarded with a victory against YMCA to start round two. Jaguars were in control from the first quarter getting an 11 point lead by half time. It was the same story in the second and they won by 20 points.

Sandra Ayikoru Wangeshi came off the bench to score a game-high 17 points while Annet Among bagged 16 points. Akello Scovia made a game-high 4 3-point shots and finished with 14 points while Rose Adhiambo Musundi scored 13.

The KCCA Leopards returned to winning ways after getting victory against the UPDF Lady Tomahawks. The Lady Tomahawks who had conceded 100 in round one were out to get revenge and in the first half, they applied pressure trailing by just 6 at the break. The gas ran out the tank and KCCA had their way for the remainder of the game. They outscored UPDF by 17 in the second half to finish off the game.

Uwineza Ninette scored 17 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals amd 1 block. Leanne Nalunkuma added 15 off the bench while Stella Marris Lunkuse had a team high 14 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists for UPDF. Linda Michelle Aber put up a great defensive shift with 5 blocks, 10 rebounds and 8 points.

The KCCA Panthers bagged an easy win against Livingstone to make 8 wins for the season. The game was tied 18 a piece after the first quarter but what had promised to be a pound-for-pound fight turned into a one-way traffic thereafter. KCCA outscored Livingstone by 10 in the second quarter and the momentum carried on throughout the entire game.

Caesar Kizito returned to the court and he led scoring with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists. Okumu Demunu added 15 points on 63% FG. Livingstone’s Bismarck Okot (18 points, 12 rebs, 1 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl) and Bruce Okullo (15 pts, 11 rebs,2 ast, 3 stl) both made ouble-doubles.

The Kampala Rockets got revenge against the Ndejje Angels after a dominating the second quarter. It was a 9-point led at half time but Ndejje cut it to 5 after the third. The Rockets soared in the fourth and managed to secure the win.

Kampala Rockets had 4 players in double digits, Puati Ozias with (19 pts, 18 rebs, 2 ast, 7 stl, 2 blk), Kur Garang ( 13 pts, 3 rebs, 1 ast), Ola Simon (11 pts, 6 rebs, 1 ast, 3 stl) and Christian Ndibu (10 pts, 10 rebs, 2 ast). Ndejje had 3 players in double digits, Bolton Rujumba (16 pts,9 reb), Cikom Monybai (14, pts, 7 reb, 3 stl), and Benon Wobusobozi (11, 3 reb, 2 ast).

The JKL Dolphins returned to winning ways after upsetting the 5-time champions Power. JKL looked the better side from the first quarter and despite Power outscoring them in the second quarter, they still had a 5-point lead at half time.

Power scored just 15 points in the second half and JKL ran away with a 26-point win. Martin Buluma was sensational with 23 points, 22 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals while Austin Odiwour bagged 22 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals. Isaac Afidra and Clinton Omondi each scored 10 for Power who had 0 assists registered for the whole game.

The Miracle Ravens who had just 6 players available had to fight tooth and nail to get a win against Nabisunsa. Nabisunsa led at halftime but they went off the trail in the third which Miracle capitalized on and took a 4-point lead heading into the final 10 minutes. Despite being within touching distance, Nabisunsa were unable to catch Miracle Ravens in the fourth quarter.

Captain Brenda Alyano led from the front bagging 30 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Lilian Cherotich and Susan Amito became the first pair of teammates to each collect 20+ rebounds in the same game with both collecting 21 rebounds. Lilian Cherotich also had 13 blocks, the highest ever registered in the NBL in a single game.

Martha Yikiru returned from injury and she recorded a 15 points, 15 rebounds double-double. Mpoza Abigail scored 15 points while Sarah Namale got 14 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 blocks.

With a 5-point lead at halftime, the JT Jaguars looked like they were onto something but the UCU Canons took the lead to close the third quarter after a 9:0 run. It was end-to-end action in the final quarter with the game tied a couple of times but the standout player was Lwabaga Ibanda. He scored 15 of UCU’s 17 points with 11 coming from the Free throw line.

He finished with a game-high 21 points and 3 rebounds. Kayiira Joel (10 pts, 18 rebs, 2 blk)  contributed with a double-double. George Agasi put in another great shift with 17 points, 16 rebounds and 1 assist. Ian Lubwama (13 pts, 6 reb) and Chuma Fadhili (12 pts, 7 rebs, 5 ast, 2 stl) also contributed highly.

The KIU Titans put in an impressive performance this week, winning both of their games, including a convincing victory over Our Savior. By halftime, the Titans had built up a considerable 15-point lead, which they extended to a substantial 29-point lead after the third quarter. The Titans’ teamwork was exceptional, as evidenced by their 24 assists, and their shooting was on point, netting them 12 out of 29 three-point shots.

Kasereka Tembo (25 pts, 2 reb, 1 ast) and Ahmed Kassa (23 pts, 5 rebs) both came off the bench ro score 20+ with 50+% FG. Joel Lukoji became the first men’s player to register 10+ assists in a game while Stanley Mugerwa had a double-double 10 points, 15 rebounds.

Our Savior had 3 players in double digits, Kenneth Mesho (12 pts, 14 reb, 1 stl, 1 blk), Icumar Joel (13 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl) and Pol Samuel (12 pts, 2 reb, 4 ast, and 2 stl).

Full Results

UCU Lady Canons 50:79 JKL Lady Dolphins

UCU Canons 48:50 KIU Titans

A1 Challenge 71:62 YMCA Lady Hamstars

KCCA Leopards 71:48 UPDF Lady Tomahawks

KCCA Panthers 80:59 Livingstone

Ndejje Angels 55:65 Kampala Rockets

D-Mark Power 46:72 JKL Dolphins

YMCA Lady Hamstars 46:66 JT Lady Jaguars

Nabisunsa 52:56 Miracle Ravens

UCU Canons 59:56 JT Jaguars

KIU Titans 87:61 Our Savior