Chief Handler Maja and Joel provided a near carbon-copy to their performance in their quarter-final qualification, combining effectively for the remaining 15 quarter points to dispatch off Maamobi-Nima and Cantonment and earn a semifinal ticket over the weekend.
It’s gradually becoming palpably clear that young Ferrani Olulonyo has crafted a formidable squad capable of winning the ultimate with swash-buckling display on the Prisons court, Cantonment.
They lit up the venue with quick inter-positional display that made their opponent looked ‘useless’ on the court with chief architect Joel and Maja exhibiting total firepower in the game to silence Cantonment 56-45 in their opening game before victory over Maamobi-Nima ensured their dominance on the day.
Acid-tongue coach of Cantonment, Daniel Sowah was made to eat humble pie as his side looked too ordinarily, unable to connect decent passes in the game as they were white-washed by both Dansoman and Maamobi-Nima to miss out on the semi-final slot.
In a game that had seen the lead change four times and scores tied on a further three occasions, Joel will finally give Dansoman the break they needed against a resolute Nima side, picking up two big offensive rebounds before hitting two jump shots from under the hoop late in the third quarter to give Dansoman the break they needed. Maja would then come off the bench with two minutes to go in the quarter, claiming four quick points to set up the stage for the main act to come on.
“We are very happy to be qualifying to the semi-final stage of the competition. It was our goal coming here. We’re taking one game after the other and trust me we’re title contenders’. Dansoman tactician Olunloyo said in post-interview.
As he has done throughout the tournament Joel was once more leading Dansoman to glory but perhaps the bigger story was the support he was receiving from his team mates in comparison to CEPS Star Meme Falconer.
Going unnoticed in three minutes of playing time in the opening quarter Michael Peterson roared to life in the first five minutes of the second frame in the game against Cantonment, picking up five blocks and four points to see his side out to a 40-31 lead.
But with a minute and a half to play, it was too little too late for the maiden winners as Maamobi-Nima dished a great performance to win their other semi-final ticket to leave their opponent licking their wounds.
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We all need to do all we can to make Community Dunks a truly U-18 competition. Personally I’ve been disappointed by some of the players that have been presented by some of the coaches and that have been declared eligible to play by the screening team!