Nduka, Lugolobi lead Eastside Catholic girls to 3A state basketball crown

The Eastside Catholic girls basketball team won 55-43 against the Bellevue Wolverines on Saturday night, securing their first state title in program history. 

Bellevue (26-4) went into the game as heavy favorites against the Crusaders (21-7). The Wolverines came out on top both times when the two teams met this season, edging Eastside Catholic 60-57 just two weeks ago. 

Two sophomore Crusader stars, Amy Nduka and Sophie Lugolobi, scored 23 and 11 points respectively to put Bellevue away when it mattered. Nduka is the top-ranked sophomore girls basketball player in the state, while Lugolobi is not far behind at ninth. The duo will keep Eastside Catholic’s status as state contenders for the next two years.

Both players contributed more than just points. Bellevue was ahead for most of the first half, with Lugolobi scoring only six points and Nduka scoring three for Eastside Catholic. It was in the second half that Nduka turned the afterburners on, scoring 11 points in the final five minutes.

“Great game by both ladies. When Amy was being doubled and tripled at times. Sophie stepped up big and excited for her team,” said Eastside Catholic coach Darnellia Russell. “The second half was Amy’s. She settled in and took care of business.”

The on-point Crusader defense contributed massively to the championship win. Eastside Catholic set up their usual 2-3 defensive formation, which has been consistently used by Russell for the majority of the season. The formation utilizes Lugolobi and Tavia Carter on the furthest back line of defense and on the wings, while Nduka guards the center. Their taller frames allowed them to physically dominate the short but agile Wolverine attack.

Bellevue tried to exploit the weakness of the single defensive line around the three point line, utilizing great ball carriers such as Syesha Simanton and Nayvi Robinson to drive from the side, where Lugolobi was positioned. She dealt with the attackers incredibly well. For the times they got through the first line of defense, Nduka would step up to block and suffocate the attack. 

Offensively, Nduka was utilized both under the basket and at the top of the key, giving her more positional freedom to shake off defenders when being double and triple-teamed. Lugolobi was placed mainly on the wings. 

Nduka used her frame on the attack to shake off defenders. On multiple occasions in the second quarter, smart movements by Nduka and positional changes within the paint caused chaos within the Wolverine defense, creating small pockets of space for her to exploit. When Nduka got into open space, she aggressively attacked the basket effectively, shrugging off defenders.

Nduka also played with intelligence throughout the game. She was used in the latter half as a raumdeuter, finding and interpreting space between the opposition press and back line. She often got into situations where she could turn and put her teammate through for an advantageous 2-on-1 against a Bellevue defender. 

As the game settled into Eastside Catholic’s hands, Nduka took advantage of the opposition’s “hot heads,” and drew many fouls by provoking defenders into a challenge, gaining multiple sets of free throws in the fourth quarter. 

In the attack, Lugolobi was effective in the mid-range. She is normally positioned on the wings due to her excellent ability to shoot corner threes. She often drifted centrally into the paint, even rotating with Nduka. This allowed her to showcase her stepback midrange shots, which contributed to the Crusaders’ output. 

She was also intelligent on fast breaks, always positioning herself as one of the two runners when the team gained possession. Lugolobi often baited the defender into committing, before passing it quickly to the other runner, creating chances for simple layups. 

Russell, the Crusaders’ head coach, is already looking forward to next season and what it could bring from her star player.

“[Nduka] tapped into her strength and IQ, it’s going to be a spooky [next] season,” Russell said. “Beyond anxious to see her grow into who she’s supposed to be on and off the court.”