Kassa finished the game with a game-high 20 points despite his team fading down the stretch to lose 76-64.
Wednesday night’s clash between KIU Titans and JKL Dolphins was highlighted by the performance of guard Ahmed Kassa.
The shooting guard was coming up against a KIU Titans side that rendered him surplus to requirement after a three-year stint.
Kassa joined the Kansanga outfit from Kampala University in 2020 but spent the large part of the first round on the bench before the team decided to waive him ahead of the second round.
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He had played just six games and averaged a paltry three points, but JKL were quick to pick him up for the rest of the season.
His first game with the Dolphins came last Saturday in a win over UPDF Tomahawks, in which the guard shot four-for-nine from downtown en route to a respectable 14-point debut.
The second game in JKL colours could not have come against a better opponent for the pint-sized shooter.
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Maker joined James Okello and Francis Azolibe to form a solid frontcourt for the champions before leaving the club to return to South Sudan.
KIU were looking to complete the double over JKL and eventually got the result, but it was more complex than many would have thought.
And Kassa finished the game with a game-high 20 points despite his team fading down the stretch to lose 76-64.
Kassa shot six-for-13 from the field and had six points and three assists in against his former employers.
Strong start
Julius Lutwama’s Titans got off to a perfect start, with shots falling from all over the floor. KIU led 29-18 at the end of the first quarter and took the second frame 21-14 to take an 18-point advantage into the long break.
JKL then relied on a 13-0 run at the start of the third quarter to make the game a contest, but the Titans had the quality to get over the line with good execution down the stretch.
Stanly Mugerwa’s nine points, 12 rebounds and two assists saw him named Player of the Game.
Isaiah Ater Mabeny and Saidi Amisi scored 14 apiece for KIU, while Innocent Ochera added 13 as the team improved to a 10-2 record.
For JKL, Fadhil Chuma scored 13 points, gathered 12 rebounds and added five assists, while Derrick Katumba got 10 points and seven rebounds.
The defeat saw JKL drop to a 4-9 record in their fight to move up the table.
National Basketball League
Wednesday results
Nabisunsa 49-53 A1 Challenge
JKL Dolphins 64-76 KIU Titans