Basketball in Africa

National Secondary Schools basketball champions Maseno School yesterday begun the defence of their title badly when they stumbled to a 70-64 defeat by Laiser Hill High School at the Shimo-La-Tewa High grounds.

Laser Hill, who are the Nairobi champions, started the game on slowly, but their opponents stormed off the blocks with gusto, terrorising the city side with several three pointers in the first quarter.

And even within the spectators, the mood suggested that the defending champions would carry the day due to their opponents' unconvincing start. But that was not to be.

Laiser Hill, despite dragging their feet in the initial stages, were the first to open the scoring when Victor Zakaro scored a half a basket after he was fouled three minutes into the game.

But Maseno captain, Augustine Munica, inspired his charges who put up a spirited fight with a number of three pointers and by the end of the quarter, the defending champions were leading 19-17. In the second quarter, Laiser Hill resumed with vigour after sealing the loopholes that made them vulnerable to their opponents, making it a seasaw battle.

The quarter swung this way and that before Laiser Hill led 28-26 at the end. Richard Ndong inspired his city side when he made six easy points with two three pointers to keep Laiser Hill in front.

But with just four minutes to the end of the quarter, Maseno's Edwin Otula, who was his side's top scorer, fought gallantly to bring the game to a 31-31 tie. In the third quarter, the skills in the game moved a notch higher as both sides displayed great flair to get the edge.

The quarter was evenly contested, although Maseno had a few difficulties pushing the game to their opponents. But the champions, kept reclaiming the lead and at one time were 63-56 ahead.

But in the final quarter, Laiser Hill made quick baskets in succession and brought the match to a 63-63 tie. They then maintained the pressure on the champions from then on.

With three minutes to go, Laiser Hill had taken command of the match and by the last whistle, the score board was reading 70-64 in their favour.

Maseno coach, Paul Otula, was quite philosophical in defeat and said that his boys approached the match with great confidence, but that key players Tiberis Mwenye and Edwin Otulla sprained their ankles and this affected them.

"I'm confident we will win the rest of the remaining matches so we can get to the semi-finals and retain our title," he said.One of Laiser Hill's coaches, Antony Kirimi, said the boys realised Maseno's mistakes and capitalised on them.

"It was a tough match for the boys, but they handled it quite well. My boys were also partly affected by the weather," he said.

In another match, Aquinas High School thrashed St Charles Lwanga 105-27 at the same venue. By the end of the first break, Aquinas were already up 46-15.