Basketball in Africa

Caxton Apollo and Richard Mwangi
Nairobi

Champions Nairobi started their East and Central Africa Inter-Cities men's basketball championship ton a high note with a 77-35 win over Mwanza at Nyayo Stadium on Wednesday night.

Nairobi

Nairobi City's Carolyne Achieng grabs a rebound ahead of Kampala City Council's Linda Tamale (in yellow) during their East and Central Africa Inter-Cities basketball championships match at the Nyayo National Stadium on Wednesday.

women, however, found the going tough when they went down 71-64 to Kampala City Council.

Nairobi men have won the championship six times. International Ancette Wafula set the ball rolling for Nairobi with two well executed three-pointers. Yoni Wanambiro also sink two baskets as Nairobi went up 10-0.

Coach Gitau Waringo of Nairobi paraded his top cream - Wanambiro, Wafula, Moses Shida, Dan Okwiri and Lewis Muya. It took Mwanza five minutes before Francis Shilinde's name went down on the score sheet. Kizito Bahati, who was ejected in the last quarter, fired a three-pointer but Mwanza still trailed 16-6.

Nairobi led 23-10 in the first quarter. Guard Dan Okwiri and Wanambiro were rested for Ben Oluoch and Patrick Kirui as Nairobi led 42-24 at half-time.

Double figures

Nairobi then led 17-4 and 18-7 in the third and fourth quarters. Wafula shot 16 points, Wanambiro hit 12 and team-mate Muya 10 for Nairobi. None of the Mwanza players scored in double figures with Bahati replying with nine points.

In the women's match, KCC Leopards' Balidawa Agatha top scored with 24 points while Akullo Berry had 14 points.

Nairobi's highest scorers were Hilela Luvadwa with 17 while Joyce Makhunga had 10 points.

KCC

Leopards led 33-22 at half time. Nairobi levelled 38-38 in the third quarter. However, Kampala had a last laugh as they took the fourth quarter, 41-38. Arusha lost 87-28 by Nairobi Universities Combined.

However, the varsities women's team lost 61-54 to Dar es Salaam.

Dar es Salaam led 19-16 in the first quarter and 27-26 at half time. The third quarter saw Dar lead by 11 points. The varsities team lead 19-16 in the last quarter but still lost the match. Lucy Otieno was Varsities highest scorer with 16 points followed by Everlyne Nora with 14.

# posted by afrbk : 22:06