By Tibo Onesimus Joel
USSSA Ball Games II 2026 – Day Five: St Michael HS Sonde Win Maiden National Title, St Mary’s Kitende Crowned Basketball 3X3 Girls’ Champions
Basketball action came to an end at World Embrace, Gulu, with the semifinal, third-place playoff, and final games. The games were intense, competitive and exciting to watch, with plenty of skill, talent and hustle on display.
Semifinals
Girls
– Buddo SS 10–19 St Noa Girls’ School
– St Mary’s Kitende 13–11 Seroma Christian High School
St Noa Girls’ School and St Mary’s Kitende advanced to the final.
Boys
– St Michael HS Sonde 21–10 Seroma Christian High School
– Buddo SS 19–18 Elite High School
Buddo SS sealed their place in the final with a buzzer-beater.
Finals
The girls’ final was played first, with St Mary’s Kitende narrowly edging St Noa Girls’ School 14–13. Kitende completed a three-point comeback and scored the winning basket with just 2.9 seconds remaining.
In the boys’ final, St Michael HS Sonde claimed their maiden USSSA Basketball 3X3 national title after finishing as first runners-up at the USSSA Ball Games I 2026 in Mukono. A series of two-point baskets helped them fight back from a big deficit to defeat Buddo SS 19–18.
Third-Place Playoffs
Girls
– Buddo SS 18–16 Seroma Christian High School
Boys
– Elite High School 16–13 Seroma Christian High School
Both Buddo SS (girls) and Elite High School (boys) secured bronze medals and qualified for the FEASSA Games.
Final Standings
Boys
– 1st: St Michael HS Sonde
– 2nd: Buddo SS
– 3rd: Elite High School
Girls
– 1st: St Mary’s Kitende
– 2nd: St Noa Girls’ School
– 3rd: Buddo SS
All podium teams will be awarded during tomorrow’s closing ceremony.
The top three teams in each category have qualified for the FEASSA East African Games, which will be held in Morogoro, Tanzania, starting on 12th August.
