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Throughout the tournament, Sarr has got big performances from players like Tetero Odile.
Rwanda might have lost all her games at the ongoing Fiba women’s Zone V AfroBasket Qualifiers in Kampala, Uganda but head coach Cheikh Sarr has seen progress.
The last game for the Rwandan side came against neighbours and hosts Uganda, and it brought the best out of them, hitting the 70-point mark for the first time in three games.
Defeats against Egypt and Kenya were largely one-sided and had Rwanda on the wrong end of the result from start to finish. But there were flashes of the good team Rwanda can be when they came up against South Sudan and Uganda despite losing.
“We were gritty and that is a positive,” Sarr said after his side’s 78-70 loss to Uganda on Saturday.
“Our expectation coming here was to improve every day,” he added.
Throughout the tournament, Sarr has got big performances from players like Tetero Odile, who scored 17 points against Uganda and is averaging 11 points, three rebounds and two assists in 28 minutes.
The point guard embodies the never-give-up attitude of the team and has led from the front the entire tournament.
Assouma Uwizeye got a double-double od 19 points and 11 rebounds on Saturday and has also been one of the top performers for Rwanda, just like Marie Imanizabayo, who came off the bench for 15 points and five rebounds.
Diamond Richardson has also been great and had 13 points in Rwanda’s commendable show on Saturday.
“We played a very tough team, Uganda. They are very strong, have size, speed, great shooter and leader Otto (Jannon),” Sarr noted.
“The girls did everything to attack the 3-2 zone.
“It was a good match up.
“We lack experience. The turnovers in the last quarter gave them the lead.
“I’m very proud of my players. They improved every day and they have gained something going forward.”
Next on the schedule for Rwanda is the Fiba women’s AfroBasket in front of their own fans in Kigali, Rwanda.
The team has an automatic ticket as hosts and will hope to put up a much better show than they did in Kampala when that time comes.
The AfroBasket will be played between July 28th and August 6th.
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