Basketball in Africa

National champions KCB Lions, Co-operative Bank of Kenya, Posta and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) made it to the play off semi fianals following matches played over the weekend in Nairobi and Mombasa.

Lions mauled Strathmore University 72-48 after taking a 31-22 half time lead. Tobias Onyango scored 20 points, Juma Ikapian made 14 as did Roy Kahure. The Blades had 1 game high 19 from Paul Nyakinda.

Posta crushed Masinde Muliro University of Agricluture and Technology (MMUST) 90-52 in a one sided show stamped their authority with a quick first quarter points and never looked back.

They were up 48-21 at half time and maintained the tempo after the break while connecting with ease.
Ben Oluoch made a three point play and swished two foul shots to propel the advantage to 48-21 and it was all too easy.

With coach Ronny Owino making easy substitutions Posta were on a roll in the last two quarters. Ancette Wafula shot 22 points, Desmond Owili made 17 and Samuel Mogeshi added 12.

The students free shooting in the last quarter saw them cut the huge lead to 27 but Posta's game plan was too much for the. Leading their scoring chart was Martin Gitonga who had 19 and Alex Mugasi 16.

Strathmore University humiliated Sprite Storms 56-25 with Faith Owich doing the damage. Blades needed to win by over seven points and the got more than what coach Sylvia "Sly" Njeri had prayed for.

They took the first quarter 16-8, and the second 12-7, Playing a tight defense that restricted their rivals to under 10 10 pints in all quarter, Swords were staggering. Owich had 20 and Grace Wanjiku 13.

At the Makande Welfare Hall in Mombasa, Kenya Ports Authority hit International Christian Center (ICC) 69-57. KPA took the first three quarters 13-5, 17-8 and 21-16 before ICC ran away with the last 28-18.

Dan Okwirri led the KPA charge with 26 points and Javan Odhiambo shot another 13. For the visiting Nairobi team, James Omune managed 26 with James Rapori making another 12.

Game Two was abandoned with KPA leading 66-53. ICC walked out of this tie with 6:41 minutes already played. Efforts to restore sanity was fruitless.

Hilda Indasi collected a play off high of 43 points to lift KPA ladies to a 100-25 whipping of Kenya College of Accountancy (KCA) University. KPA were up 55-15 at the break. Lucy Machuma hit 10 for the loser.

KPA had clobbered KCA 111-22 in lopsided show. The porters had won the first match 100-25. Indasi scored 27 points, Hellen Oketch 19, Makungu 18 and Agnes Anyango 13.

Dann OWERRE
FIBA AFrica