PRETORIA (South Africa) - Hosts South Africa continue winless two games into the FIBA U18 AfroBasket, while Rwanda shut down Morocco on Friday.
Here's a recap of Friday's two games of the biennial event taking place in Pretoria, South Africa.
Zambia clinch historic win
The battle of Southern African nations in Group C saw Zambia snatch a nine-point victory (70-61) against FIBA U18 AfroBasket 2024 hosts South Africa.
This win means a lot to us. - Blessed Wakunguma
Zambia's victory - on their tournament debut - at the University of Pretoria's Rembrandt Hall enhances their chances of making it to the final eight of the tournament.
The on-form Frank Siame and Kelvin Mulenga scored 15 points each, while Chomba Mulenga dropped 13.
"This win means a lot to us. After our previous loss (against Morocco), this win motivates us - now we want to focus on the next game (against Rwanda)," said Zambian player Blessed Wakunguma. "We learnt from our mistakes... We were focused - that is why we won the game."
South Africa's Chadley Hargreaves led the hosts in scoring (12 points), while team captain, Taite Hendricks, scored 11 points.
South Africa began the quarter with an 8-0 run, with Judah Townsend's three-pointer leading Zambia head coach Paul Mwale to call a time-out, two and a half minutes into the game.
Mwale's team talk did the trick for Zambia, who took the game to South Africa. Mulenga's six points and Siame's five contributed to Zambia's comeback. South Africa had no answers to their opponent's physical strength and ability score on the fast-break.
Zambia dominated the stat sheet, scoring seven points from turnovers and nine points from fast-break. They also dominated South Africa in the paint, scoring 20 points.
Zambia went into the first quarter 23-12 up. Going into the second quarter, they (Zambia) kept up the intensity, going on a six-zero run with Siame, BrightonKalizi and Wakunguma scoring buckets each to extend the lead (29-14).
After absorbing the Zambian pressure, South Africa began to push back with a 10-point scoring run. It started with a Zenzo Madlala three - in between single free throws from Sikwane and Mweli closed the gap. A Moja three-pointer completed the run, but Zambia still had the 29-24 lead.
Both teams traded points until the end of the quarter, but Zambia remained in the ascendancy 38-35.
The game went down to the wire in the second half, wire, especially in the fourth quarter. A Townsend three-pointer tied the 60-60 with three minutes remaining. Zambia responded with two unanswered buckets from Elijah Hantete, while South Africa could only manage a single free throw.
Zambia maintained their discipline and added six more points for the memorable victory.
Rwanda improve to 2-0
In the last game of Group C, Rwanda survived a late fourth-quarter Morocco fightback to win 56-51 and top the table with a 2-0 record.
Dylan Kayijuka's 20 points and 16 points from Sean Mwesigwa helped Rwanda clinch the encounter.
Morocco's Noah Baze was the game's leading scorer with 21 points. Baze's teammates Rayane Moukrim and Mohame Bahmad score 11 points each.
Rwanda had a slight lead (32-30) in the first half, with Kayijuka, the lead scorer with 11 points. The East Africans forced Morocco into committing turnovers, leading to 13 points in the half. Rayane Solhi's eight points, Rayane Moukrim (6) and Mohamed Bahmad (6) kept Morocco in the game.
Morocco was down nine points (40-31) in the third, but buckets from Solhi, Bahmad and a Baze three closed the gap to a single digit.
In the middle of the fourth quarter, Baez gave Morocco a temporary 48-47 lead, while a Solhi three extended the lead for the North Africans.
The adversity galvanised the Rwandans. Three-pointers from Sean Mwesigwa and Kayijuka swang the game. Singiza would put the game to bed after he grabbed a rebound-scored layup after Kayijuka missed a second free throw.
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