RSSB Tigers making their mark

The Rwandan side, confirmed to participate in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) just two weeks before the tournament tipped off, has already made history.

Their clash against Dar City from Tanzania was nothing short of a standout performance. Leading the charge was Craig Randall Jr., who made an immediate impact by putting up 25 points in the first half alone.

By the fourth quarter, Randall had already broken the BAL record for most points scored by a single player, surpassing 43 points. But he wasn’t done yet. He went on to extend that tally to an incredible 54 points by the final whistle, setting a new benchmark in BAL history.

The game ended with a commanding scoreline:

RSSB Tigers 104 – 92 Dar City

Coach Henry Mwinuka and Craig Randall Jr

Head coach Henry Mwinuka acknowledged the unique composition of his squad. While some players come from APR — a Rwandan team that previously featured talents like Chasson Randle, now playing for the London Lions, and Axel Mpoyo, who is currently with the Tigers, he emphasized the challenges of building cohesion.

With less than two weeks to prepare, the team brought together players from smaller clubs across Rwanda, as well as APR players who were not part of this season’s BAL campaign. Despite these challenges, Mwinuka praised his team’s determination and focus, noting that they remain committed to maintaining their momentum throughout the tournament.

He also highlighted the addition of an APR coach, James Mayr to the Tigers’ technical team, explaining that it was a practical decision to include him as an assistant coach given his familiarity with several players.

Randall expressed his excitement after the game, describing the achievement as a major milestone. In addition to breaking the record for most points in a single game, he also set a new record for most three-pointers. He noted that this moment represents a turning point in BAL history, especially for a team that entered the tournament as underdogs.

On the other side, Dar City’s coach pointed to key absences as a major factor in the loss. The team was without players like David Michineau due to injury, and the absence of Michael Foster also had a significant impact on their performance. He added that while the team is still relatively young, having been established just three years ago, they are continuing to grow and learn from experiences like this.

Image credit: BAL