Round 6 of Varsity Basketball continued with its surprises to leave the final permutations up for debate.
NWU LEAVE UCT SHORT OF ANSWERS
The first game of the penultimate round saw UCT start the better of the two sides, with NWU taking quite a bit of time to get into their groove. This saw the Capetonians claim the quarter 14-11. The second quarter was a highly intense period as the lead exchanged hands but it was UCT who remained in command until moments before the break, where quick breaks from defensive positions saw NWU break off well, to finish their lay ups and claim vital two-pointers that saw that teams deadlocked at 21 all in the quarter but with UCT edging the game 35-32 at the break.
The third quarter was much of the same, with both sides in a very tightly contested duel that saw the quarter play out to another stalemate, this time around it was 19-all, with UCT still leading with a slender three points overall. The final quarter was what defined the outcome of the game as NWU made their substitutes at the right time, which rejuvenated their team to a comeback that saw them claim a come-from-behind 77-76 win. The result sees both teams out of the running for the title but NWU will be proud of their display, upsetting the 2018 finalists.
UWC NO MATCH FOR TUKS
Tuks, who’ve done their fair share of ‘upsetting’ this tournament, were then up next against UWC, in a must-win for the Tshwane outfit. This time around however they were quite clear about their intentions in the game from the first quarter, enjoying a commanding 26-14 lead. UWC did manage to bounce back in the second quarter defensively, making it tougher for Tuks to score three-pointers freely. This also gave UWC confidence going forward, which eventually saw a much improved period of play end with UP-Tuks up 44-24.
UWC took confidence from the second quarter into the final two quarters, really playing some of their best basketball of the tournament but, unfortunately fo them, it still wasn’t enough as Tuks marched away as 86-75 victors… to stay in the hunt for Sunday’s final.
UJ VS VUT DELIVERS
The game of the day between contenders UJ (the log leaders) and VUT was one that saw both fight tooth and nail for victory, with a late onslaught proving the difference. There was very little to tell between the two sides inside the first three quarters, with the game even seeing the teams having to settle for a 29-29 scoreline at the interval. The third quarter still couldn’t separate the two, with the score at 45-all going into the final quarter.
The fourth and final quarter is where UJ really asserted themselves into the game, after having fallen behind, they fought hard to claw their way back into the game, even taking full advantage of the Power play. Nathan Baruti was impressive for UJ both defensively and in attack, even capping off his night with a slam dunk that made sure the victory went to the Orange Army, 69-58, when the hooter eventually sounded.
WITS DENT UKZN’S HOPES
The evening ended with an incredible game between hosts Wits and UKZN in front of a packed arena. The home side played with a lot of energy after having fallen 11 points behind in the first quarter, before slowly taking control of the game late on. UKZN did, however, look the stronger side in most parts, with their talisman Thabo Sithole always threatening going forward and never shying away from looking for the three-pointers.
The big shift in power came in the third quarter, where Wits managed to land 36 points to UKZN’s 15, thanks to a Power play that came about at the right moment for the Witsies. After acquiring a good enough points difference between themselves and UKZN, the fourth period was more about game management for the hosts, as they did that exceptionally well to eventually see them secure a vital 68-64 win ahead of a tough battle with VUT.
TABLE MAKES FOR INTRIGUING READING
The Varsity Basketball mens log ahead of Saturday’s final round of action, sees UJ keep top spot with 11 points, with Wits, Tuks, UKZN and VUT a point behind to leave a tasty battle for the final.
Saturday’s match ups will see UCT and Tuks take to the court first at 10:00, to be followed by out-of-contention UWC and NWU at 11.30. The third game of the day is a humdinger that will see log leaders UJ look to emulate their neighbours Wits, when they meet UKZN at 14.30. The final round robin battle will pit hosts Wits against VUT with the latter needing a blowout victory at 17.30 if earlier results have gone their way.
By S’fiso Nyawo
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