Basketball in Africa

By Dann O’were

University of Nairobi Terrorists over the weekend claimed the Pre-season tournament when they beat Co-operative Bank of Kenya 88-86 at KCB Sports Club, Ruaraka.

The varsity lads, who were spared relegation from the Premier League, were on fire, beating all top guns in this poorly-attended event that marked the start of the season.

The exciting final saw Terrorists and Co-op Bank go head to head before locking scores 74-74, prompting an extra five minutes. Moses Kamau was declared the best player.

To show that their win was not a flash in the pan, Terrorists, who have a young talented side, beat KCB Lions 67-60 and nailed Sprite Stormers 62-38 in their other two matches.

Co-op, on the other hand, had it easy against Stormers, winning 60-49 before crushing rivals KCB Lions 66-58.

The teams used the event to tune up for the league that starts on April 1. None of the women’s teams in the league and Division One players turned up for the tournament.

The Valentine and Memorial slated for last month, did not get off the ground.

Meanwhile, Upper Hill crushed Kahawa Garisson 56-32 in the quarter finals of the ongoing Nairobi Secondary Schools championships matches at Buru Buru Girls High School over the weekend. The victors took a 31-20 lead at the break and never looked back.

Neville Omondi hit game high 30 points while Sammy Ngengi, Ryan Migigo and Sammy Ngengi had 13 and 12 points.

In another game, St. Mary’s School nipped Highway Boys 69-68 in a closely-fought duel.Scorers were Abraham Kimeu, who had 23 points, David Ogolla (36) and the losers’ Moses Mugeni had 14 and Ibrahim Berete 14 points.

Gabriel Ingos’s Jaffrey’s Academy beat former national champions and his old team, St Austins Academy, 89-81. The victors led 51-42 at the breather.

The victors’ top scorers were David Sinda, who nailed 34 points and Charles Okoth who had 18, while the losers’ Boniface Okullo managed 20 points and Duncan Ndeda 18.

The semi-finals will be played at Hospital Hill school on March 25 from 10am to 2pm. Teams who have qualified are:

Girls — Kamukunji School vs Moi Nairobi Girls, St. George’s Girls vs Buruburu Girls; Boys — Jaffrey’s Academy vs Upper Hill; St. Mary’s School vs Aquinas/Lenana School. The final will be played on April 1 at Hospital Hill school.