23 June 2013
KENYA : Akinyi steers Storms past Mennonite, Thunder strikes Aviation
Suzanne Akinyi scored a game high of 35 points to help Sprite Storms beat struggling Mennonite 68-32 in a national classic league match played at the Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium on Saturday.
Akinyi, formerly of NYTA-Shimba, single-handedly run the show for Storms in the match they were expected to win with a more convincing margin.
The loss leaves Mennonite winless this season but the Edson Mugisha’s side will draw some positives from their display against the experienced opponents.
So vital was Akinyi’s contribution in the match that she accounted for all the scores her side registered in the first quarter.
She managed four baskets and two free throws. Tabitha Mutheu replied for Mennonite with two three-pointers with Viviane Akinyi and Bella Wangwe scoring a basket each to level the quarter at 10-10.
Storms recovered from the early scare to win the second quarter 21-7 and take a 31-17 lead to the breather. By the close of the third quarter, Mennonite was completely frozen out losing 17-0 before succumbing to a 20-15 loss in the fourth quarter. Mutheu top scored for the losers with 8 points while Mary Wangui added 6.
Kenya College of Accountancy- University (KCA-U), recorded their first win of the season after beating fellow strugglers Kenyatta University Oryx 36-34.
It was a tight match that saw both teams keep a close check of each other denying any side the opportunity to open up a commanding lead. Oryx squandered a deserved 17-11 halftime lead to allow KCA stage a comeback in the second half and carry home maximum points.
Betty Kananu had 19 points for Oryx while Rebecca Nkatha top scored for KCA with 17. In the men premier, Thunder came down from 14 points to beat Nairobi Aviation College 58-52 in an action packed encounter at the same venue.
Ulinzi see off Nakuru
Aviation seemed destined for a comfortable win but lost stamina in the closing moments of the match. Thunder is now top of the log with 17 points one ahead of champions Co-operative Bank.
Thunder had a slow start trailing the first quarter 15-9 but regained their strength to win the second 16-9 and enjoy a slim four point lead at halftime.
They then conceded more baskets in the third quarter to lose 22-13 as Aviation took full control of the match. In the fourth quarter, Thunder regrouped to win 20-9.
Their calculations were even made better with the ejection of Aviation’s key player Ben Oluoch on five fouls which seemed to weaken their game plan.
Griffin Ligare had 26 points for Thunder and eight rebounds while Franklin Delano and Job Byron top scored for Aviation with 13 and 10 points respectively.
Ulinzi Warriors reaped hugely from their tour of Rift Valley beating host Nakuru Club 58-41. Collins Ouko and Michael Kariuki top scored for Ulinzi and Nakuru respectively with 13 points apiece.
The soldiers took an early 27-18 lead going to the breather after winning 19-7 and 18-11 in the first two quarters.
Upon resumption, Nakuru struggled to win the third quarter 16-8 and cut the soldiers’ lead to just a point. Ulinzi run riot in the final quarter with a 13-7 win to ensure they return to Nairobi with maximum points.
The win will boost their confidence as they prepare to face Blazers on Sunday in Nairobi. Umoja continued from where they left it last weekend with a slender 67-65 win over Kenyatta University Pirates in division one.
Pirates were leading 31-25 at halftime and will remain to rue the missed chances especially in the second half.
Their poor passing and lack of communication was clearly evident. Pirates won the first quarter 22-15 with Umoja winning the second 10-9. The third quarter went to Umoja 18-10 while the fourth ended in a tie of 24-24.
With seven seconds remaining on the clock and scores reading 67-65 in favor of Umoja, the students had a chance to level and trigger extra time after Jackton Agunda was fouled by Rodgers Ombati.
He, however, missed the resultant free throws. Eric Reuben scored 15 points for Umoja with Eric Etemesi adding 13.
For Pirates, Douglas Momanyi top scored with 18 while Gilbert Obiero had 15. Little Prince beat World Hope 60-55 after leading 27-25 at halftime.
Elvis Mwangi hit 19 points for Little Prince and Fidel Muga added 12. Maxwell Oduor and Augustine Mumila scored 13 and 12 points respectively for World Hope.
Results: Storms 68 Mennonite 32, World Hope 55 Little Prince 60, Nakuru Club 41 Ulinzi 58, KU Oryx 34 KCA-U 36, Umoja 67 KU Pirates 65, Nairobi Aviation College 52 Thunder 58. By Francis Marangu
Akinyi, formerly of NYTA-Shimba, single-handedly run the show for Storms in the match they were expected to win with a more convincing margin.
The loss leaves Mennonite winless this season but the Edson Mugisha’s side will draw some positives from their display against the experienced opponents.
So vital was Akinyi’s contribution in the match that she accounted for all the scores her side registered in the first quarter.
She managed four baskets and two free throws. Tabitha Mutheu replied for Mennonite with two three-pointers with Viviane Akinyi and Bella Wangwe scoring a basket each to level the quarter at 10-10.
Storms recovered from the early scare to win the second quarter 21-7 and take a 31-17 lead to the breather. By the close of the third quarter, Mennonite was completely frozen out losing 17-0 before succumbing to a 20-15 loss in the fourth quarter. Mutheu top scored for the losers with 8 points while Mary Wangui added 6.
Kenya College of Accountancy- University (KCA-U), recorded their first win of the season after beating fellow strugglers Kenyatta University Oryx 36-34.
It was a tight match that saw both teams keep a close check of each other denying any side the opportunity to open up a commanding lead. Oryx squandered a deserved 17-11 halftime lead to allow KCA stage a comeback in the second half and carry home maximum points.
Betty Kananu had 19 points for Oryx while Rebecca Nkatha top scored for KCA with 17. In the men premier, Thunder came down from 14 points to beat Nairobi Aviation College 58-52 in an action packed encounter at the same venue.
Ulinzi see off Nakuru
Aviation seemed destined for a comfortable win but lost stamina in the closing moments of the match. Thunder is now top of the log with 17 points one ahead of champions Co-operative Bank.
Thunder had a slow start trailing the first quarter 15-9 but regained their strength to win the second 16-9 and enjoy a slim four point lead at halftime.
They then conceded more baskets in the third quarter to lose 22-13 as Aviation took full control of the match. In the fourth quarter, Thunder regrouped to win 20-9.
Their calculations were even made better with the ejection of Aviation’s key player Ben Oluoch on five fouls which seemed to weaken their game plan.
Griffin Ligare had 26 points for Thunder and eight rebounds while Franklin Delano and Job Byron top scored for Aviation with 13 and 10 points respectively.
Ulinzi Warriors reaped hugely from their tour of Rift Valley beating host Nakuru Club 58-41. Collins Ouko and Michael Kariuki top scored for Ulinzi and Nakuru respectively with 13 points apiece.
The soldiers took an early 27-18 lead going to the breather after winning 19-7 and 18-11 in the first two quarters.
Upon resumption, Nakuru struggled to win the third quarter 16-8 and cut the soldiers’ lead to just a point. Ulinzi run riot in the final quarter with a 13-7 win to ensure they return to Nairobi with maximum points.
The win will boost their confidence as they prepare to face Blazers on Sunday in Nairobi. Umoja continued from where they left it last weekend with a slender 67-65 win over Kenyatta University Pirates in division one.
Pirates were leading 31-25 at halftime and will remain to rue the missed chances especially in the second half.
Their poor passing and lack of communication was clearly evident. Pirates won the first quarter 22-15 with Umoja winning the second 10-9. The third quarter went to Umoja 18-10 while the fourth ended in a tie of 24-24.
With seven seconds remaining on the clock and scores reading 67-65 in favor of Umoja, the students had a chance to level and trigger extra time after Jackton Agunda was fouled by Rodgers Ombati.
He, however, missed the resultant free throws. Eric Reuben scored 15 points for Umoja with Eric Etemesi adding 13.
For Pirates, Douglas Momanyi top scored with 18 while Gilbert Obiero had 15. Little Prince beat World Hope 60-55 after leading 27-25 at halftime.
Elvis Mwangi hit 19 points for Little Prince and Fidel Muga added 12. Maxwell Oduor and Augustine Mumila scored 13 and 12 points respectively for World Hope.
Results: Storms 68 Mennonite 32, World Hope 55 Little Prince 60, Nakuru Club 41 Ulinzi 58, KU Oryx 34 KCA-U 36, Umoja 67 KU Pirates 65, Nairobi Aviation College 52 Thunder 58. By Francis Marangu
# posted by afrbk : 21:44
