09 April 2009

KENYA : Debutant’s Scare

By Oscar Pilipili

Nairobi champions St Austin’s Academy started off strongly after beating Nyeri High 78-58 in a boys’ basketball preliminary match at Kenya Secondary Schools Championships.

St Austin’s dangerman Kevin Ominde managed 31 points with other useful contribution from Michael Owino and Nelson Omondi who hit 10 points apiece in the event at Kangaru High, Embu. Ben Ithenya and Alvin Nyangweso scored 14 and 17 points for Nyeri.
St Austin’s took a six-point lead at 20-14 after the first quarter and remained ahead with 14-8, 17-15 and 27-21 in a closely contested match.
Laiser Hill from Rift Valley had an encouraging start after they overcame Meru School 121-22 in another boys’ match.

Maseno upset

Vincent Maina top-scored for Laiser Hill with 21 points with teammate Nelson Omondi hitting 19. Meru replied through Bristol Mutale who managed 11 points as Mathew Muriungi scored six. East Africa and National champions Maseno School were upset 75-64 in a tough pool.
Purity Adhiambo’s 44-point effort handed Shimba Hills a resounding 123-9 win over Manor House in a girls’ basketball match.
Susan Akinyi was equally impressive recording 36 points to her name during the encounter that reduced the Rift Valley champions to mere beginners.
"We’re not going to underrate any team, our goal is to go all out for big victories and win the championships without losing a match," Adhiambo said.

Manor House were overwhelmed by the new Coast champions who were in command throughout leading 26-2, 33-0, 37-0, 33-0. Mildred Juma’s six points was the highest score for Manor House in the match played yesterday.
This is the first time that Shimba Hills, who are coached by Philip Onyango, are playing in the games as champions of Coast Province.
They have been riding in the shadows of Mombasa High that was renamed Khumbar late last year.

First national trophy

An interesting aspect of Shimba Hills is that almost the entire squad won the championships while at Mombasa last year.
"Our desire is to see that Shimba Hills win their first national trophy and the time for that is now," declared Adhiambo.

North Eastern girls found the going tough after they were overwhelmed by hosts St Angelas 117-0 in a one-sided match.
The games that are sponsored by Brookside Dairy kicked off with pomp and colour with exuberant competitors, clad in the title sponsors’ colours expressing desire to excel.

The competing teams are not only eyeing national crowns but tickets to represent the country at the 2009 East African Championships to be held in Jinja, Uganda in August.

Kenya has dominated the regional games with high standards of the local championships cited as one of the reasons behind the success.

from the standard

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