Basketball in Africa

NAIROBI (Kenyan Premier League) - Reigning champions KCB Lions thrashed Strathmore University 72-53 while Posta were upended by International Christian Centre (ICC) 73-66 in the weekend's top ties played at Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium.

Lions were on top of things from the very start, recovering from the loss to Co-operative Bank of Kenya with a virtuoso show as they mauled the Blades.

The students trailed 19-9 at the end of the first quarter and 38-23 at halftime. They tried their best after the break, but were simply outplayed, getting outscored 40-24 over the last 20 minutes.

Tanky Anthony Mbori led the Lions with a game-high 24 points and Tobias Onyango added 16.

Paul Nyakinda had 16 of his own to pace the Blades while Emmanuel Odhiambo chipped in with 14.

Meanwhile, Posta had their fine run of four wins out of five game sbrought to an end by ICC.

The Mailmen got off to a slow start and trailed 20-11 at the end of the opening period but rallied back in the second and had the deficit down to three, 30-27, by halftime.

However, ICC once again were quickest out of the gate on resumption and they stretched their advantage to seven, 54-47.

Posta matched their opponents offensively in the fourth quarter but failed to get the necessary stops at the defensive end. They weren't helped by their free-throw shooting woes down the stretch.

The win was ICC's third in five games, which gives them eight points. Posta, dropping only their second out of six games, have 10 points and trail Lions by one.

Griffin Ligare at 25 points for ICC. Desmond Owili led Posta with 18.

Elsewhere, Kenya Ports Authority's (KPA) teams won their match-ups with United States International University (USIU) at the Makande Welfare hall. The men fought hard on their way to a 63-54 win over Tigers.

KPA women were rampant dismantling USIU Flames 123-34 after a 44-12 first half margin. The former champions have proved a hard nut to crack at home and are the only women's side to post century scores against some weak teams.

Yana maintained their top spot with a 59-44 win over Sprite Storms 59-44. They have 11 points from six games while their opponents on the day have six from five matches.

In another men's tie, Blazers edged out Lomboritz 66-63. The score was tied at 33 all at the break.

Dann OWERRE
FIBA Africa