Basketball in Africa

Ulinzi Warriors caused a major upset in the national classic league beating host Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) 73-66 at the Makande Gymnasium, Mombasa on Saturday.
This was Ulinzi’s second major upset of the season having earlier shattered Co-operative Bank’s unbeaten run in the league. It was KPAs second loss at home this season after earlier defeat to the bankers. Their second game of the weekend ended in a 97-68 win over Thunder.
In Nairobi, Co-op Bank won the Sunday contest against Lions with a 57-52 score at the Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium.
James Mwangi led the scores for bankers with 11 points plus 10 rebounds while Brian Busu grabbed 8 rebounds.
Co-op Bank enjoyed a 29-23 halftime lead with 12-10 and 17-13 wins in the opening quarters. They extended the lead with a 16-12 win in the third quarter but Lions grabbed the consolation fourth 17-12.
Out of 14 attempts, Co-op Bank scored 7 free-throws and managed to make only two 3-point shots from 11 attempts. Lions scored nine points from the 3-point line and 14 from free-throws with Denis Opiyo top scoring with 20 points.
The bankers won away on Saturday beating Nakuru Club 62-56. Equity bank bounced back from their last week’s loss to Nakuru Club with a 67-51 win over Mennonite. Brian Obimbo scored 25 points for the bankers with Felix Odhiambo scoring 18 for Mennonite.
Both teams measured up well in shooting. Equity scored a total of 11 free-throws all in the second, third and fourth quarters while Mennonite had 12 in similar quarters. Equity made four 3-point shots while Mennonite had three. Strathmore University prevailed over Blazers winning 64-33.
Peter Shilton made five 3-point shots in his game high 23 points for Strathmore who had an overall of eight 3-point shots and 8 free-throws.
Denis Nyamichaba scored 12 points for Blazers with the team scoring 3 free-throws and made two 3-point shots. Strathmore won the first three quarters 24-12, 16-7 and 15-4 while Blazers won the fourth 10-9.
USIU stop Eagles
In women premier, United States International University- Africa (USIU-A) outmaneuvered Eagle Wings with a 58-38 win. Sarah Chan top scored for the students with 17 points while Magnifique Magnifique added 13.
Evelyne Nora was the highest scorer for Eagles with 11 points as the team scored 9 free-throws and made one 3-point shot compared to USIUs 9 free-throws and two 3-point shots.
Both teams tied 25-all at the breather with Eagles winning 13-11 in the first quarter and USIU 14-12 in the second.
The students had the upper hand in second half with 16-10 and 17-3 scores in the third and fourth quarters respectively. KPA beat Safe Spaces 81-32 in Mombasa while Co-op Bank was 63-22 winners over Mennonite.
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) was the biggest casualty in division one giving away two games against Lakeside and Kakamega Nebulas.
The institution was closed down early Saturday following a night of students unrest thus failed to show up for the two games. Upper Hill suffered two defeats losing 43-55 to Barclays Bank on Saturday and 45-53 to Nebulas on Sunday.
Nebulas completed a weekend double beating Barclays Bank 62-55 while Kenya College of Accountancy- University (KCA-U) beat Baraka Xtreme 44-28.
Results: Equity Bank 67 Mennonite 51, USIU Flames 58 Eagle Wings 38, Blazers 33 Strathmore University 64, Barclays Bank 55 Nebulas 62, Upper Hill 45 Nebulas 53, Baraka Xtreme 28 KCA-U 44, JKUAT 0 Lakeside 20, Co-op Bank 57 Lions 52, Eldonets 53 Umoja 62, JKUAT 0 Nebulas 20, Zetech 78 Lakeside 57, Barclays Bank 55 Upper Hill 43, Mennonite Ladies 22 Co-op Bank 63, KPA 66 Ulinzi Warriors 73, KPA 97 Thunder 68, KPA 81 Safe Spaces 32.