Basketball in Africa

By Dann O’were

Defending champions, Nairobi women, romped into the finals of the East and Central Africa Inter-Cities basketball championship.
They blanked Dar es Salaam 86-46 in the semi-finals at Nyayo National Stadium. Finalists last year, Dar es Salaam men, squeezed a narrow 69-63 win over Nairobi Universities Select side to sail to the semis.
Kampala women made it to the final when they beat Nairobi Universities Select side 82-66.
Kampala will meet Nairobi women in a repeat of last year final held at Lugogo Stadium, Kampala.
Kampala who shocked Nairobi 71-64 in their preliminary round meeting will contend with the speed of Angela Luchivya, who missed the opener as she was away in South Africa.

Nairobi raced early to 25-6 in the first quarter and were up 47-24 at the break as Dar failed to offer a challenge.
In the third quarter, the losers moved closer 11-14, but were wrecked 25-11 as Nairobi took charge. Caroline Achieng led the way with 16 points, Angela Okoth made 14 and Hilda Luvandwa posted 13.

Hot shooting Abel Nson’s accurate three-pointers saw Nairobi Universities Select side race to a 16-point lead before going down 63-69 to Dar.
Dar did well to cut the advantage and only trailed to 37-42 at the breather. After resumption, Nson and team-mates ran out of shooting space.