Basketball in Africa

by Sollo Kiragu And Philip Onyango
Nairobi

Rift Valley Secondary Schools reigning champions in boys' and girls' basketball, Laiser Hill from Kajiado, romped into the quarter-finals during the term one games at the Kericho Teachers Training College grounds, Tuesday.
Laiser Hill girls won two straight matches to book a quarter-final ticket in the preliminaries.
The girls drubbed Kituro of Baringo 25-9 in their opening match with Yvonne Mashedi leading the onslaught with 18 points.
They then thrashed Emining 68-20 in their second match, and again, it was Mashedi who starred with 40 points.

Bahati Girls have also made it to the quarters after beating Kipsigis Girls 23-8 and Masai Girls 29-6.
In other matches, Manor House walloped Moi-Isinya 40-06, Kiuani beat Chebara 18-12, while Kaptagat dismissed Njorwa 26-16.
In boys' basketball, Laiser Hill began their title defence on a sound note when they drubbed Weaver Bird of Trans-Nzioa 67-21.

Settled for draw

Laiser Hill had led 32-7 in the first half in a match they controlled from the opening whistle. Makau Kiunagua scored 18 points, while team-mate Innocent Oduor scored 17 points.
Weaver Bird's Boniface Wanyama and George Otieno scored 12 and 9 points respectively.
Hosts Kabianga High lost to Mother of Apostle 20-30, while Laikipia Boys and Laboret also made it to the last four. In girls' hockey, defending champions settled for a barren draw with St Monica at the Kipsigis Girls High school grounds.

In the boys' category, Nakuru's Menengai tied 1-1 with champions St Antony's in a thrilling match. St Anthony's Kelvin Kibengwa opened the score sheet in the third minute, before Menengai pulled level through Joseph Ochieng.
In another match, Kaplong beat Laikipia 1-0 in a Pool "A" clash.
At the Coast, defending champions face little oppositions in the opening matches as the Coast Secondary Schools Term one games get under way at Dr Aggrey Secondary in Wundanyi this morning.

Divided into pools

Defending boys' basketball champions Shimba Hills square it out with Taru Secondary from Kinango District, while the girls' defending champions Mombasa High clash with little-known Eldoro from Taveta in the opening Pool A matches.
In Pool B of girls' basketball matches, Mbaraki Girls from Mombasa take on Kinango Secondary, while Waa Boys from Kwale will clash with Barani from Malindi.

The girls' teams have been divided into two pools of five each with Pool A comprising Mombasa High, Bura Girls, Eldoro, Changamwe Secondary and Shimba Hills, while Pool B has Mbaraki Girls, Mwasere Secondary, Kinango Secondary, St Johns Kaloleni and Jaribuni.
The boys' teams have been divided into four pools of three teams each with Pool A comprising bitter rivals Shimba Hills Secondary, Shimo La Tewa Secondary and Taru, Pool B has Waa Boys, Sokoke secondary, and Barani, Pool C has Kenyatta High School Mwatate,St Georges and Timbila while Pool D has Dr Aggrey secondary, Lamu Boys and Changamwe secondary.