GLASGOW — It was a day of contrasting fortunes for Team South Africa’s 3×3 wheelchair basketball squads at SEC Hall 4 on Sunday. The men’s team delivered a stunning upset victory over tournament favourites Wales to bounce back from their opening defeat, while the women’s side faced a tough 20-5 loss against a highly efficient Australian outfit.
AmaWheelaBoys Bounce Back to Stun Wales
Following a hard-fought 15-9 defeat to host nation Scotland on Saturday morning, the South African men entered their Pool B clash against Wales as distinct underdogs. However, they produced a highly disciplined and efficient offensive performance to secure a 16-12 victory.
Zakhele Shelembe led the charge for South Africa, finding his shooting rhythm to score six points on an accurate 6-for-10 from the field. Playmaker Shane Williams was instrumental in controlling the tempo of the game, contributing five points, securing a team-high six rebounds, and distributing three assists. Simanga Mbhele provided crucial support, adding four points and three assists.
South Africa’s ball movement proved to be the deciding factor in the upset. The team tallied eight key assists compared to Wales’s three, allowing them to shoot an impressive 63% from one-point range.
Defensively, South Africa managed to contain a Welsh squad led by Alexander Marshall-Wilson, who scored a game-high eight points. By committing just seven turnovers to Wales’s nine and matching their opponents physically on the boards, South Africa managed the clock perfectly to close out the victory.
Women Show Fight Against Clinical Australia
In the women’s Pool A division, South Africa faced a formidable Australian team that wasted no time establishing control. Australia ultimately secured a 20-5 victory, anchored by a dominant all-around performance from Georgia Munro-Cook.
Munro-Cook controlled the paint on both ends of the floor, recording 10 points, 14 rebounds, and five key assists. Ebony Stevenson added five points on efficient shooting to keep the South African defence under constant pressure.
Despite the challenging scoreline, South Africa demonstrated resilience against the highly-rated opposition. Asive Gilifile led the scoring for Team SA, securing three points and two rebounds. Michelle Moganedi added a point alongside four defensive rebounds and three drives, while Ongezwa Hagu also contributed a point.
Australia’s statistical dominance was evident in their 58% shooting efficiency from one-point range, compared to South Africa’s 33%. The Australians also controlled the boards, out-rebounding South Africa 20 to 13, and capitalised on 13 turnovers to seal the comprehensive victory.
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