Basketball in Africa

Kenya national women's basketball team cruised to the quarter-finals after beating Zimbabwe 66-35 yesterday. The Kenyan girls had little opposition as they ran rings around them for the entire session. Amid cheers from a handful of Kenyans, who included National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Noc-K) chairman Kipchoge Keino and secretary general FK. Paul.

The Kenya team went into the offensive immediately after the whistle and led all the way to the finish. The first quarter was the most interesting as Kenyans led by Rose Ouma reduced the Zims to mere passengers. The Kenyan girls sealed the first quarter 20-9 to set the rhythm for the game. They came back in the second quarter more forceful with accurate passes and went into the break 30-14 up.

Zimbabwe tried to turn the tide in the third quarter but the Kenyan girls upped the tempo to increase the tally to 44-23. The fourth quarter was a mere formality for Kenya as they raced to an impressive 66-35 win. Coach Cliff Collins Owuor said as much as they have already made it to the quarters with two matches in hand, they will still play their usual game in their remaining fixtures.
Kenyans face Nigeria and Mozambique in their remaining matches and coach Owuor said there will be no room for complacency. "The more we win the better for us and that is the way we want to go. We are taking the remaining matches very seriously," he said. The coach said they have been improving with every much and hope to be even better in the quarters. Rose Ouma top scored for Kenya with 17 points while Hilda Luvandwa and Angie Akoth tied on 10 each. Silale Shani had 7. G. Givondu topscored for Zimbabwe with 7 points.