Basketball in Africa

Six-time champions Ulinzi Warriors kept a clean record in three outings with a 71-61 victory over Lions in the Kenya Basketball Federation men’s basketball league.

The victory saw Warriors, who last won the title in 2006, claim the league summit with six points.

Ulinzi failed to win a seventh title last year, losing 3-2 to champions KPA in the best-of-five series play-offs final. Warriors opened the season with a 64-53 win over USIU-A Tigers before beating Umoja 77-68.

Thunder, who had their worst season last year where they failed to make the eight-team post-season play-offs, have bounced back strongly in the new season.

Second-placed Thunder, with four points in the league, have won two matches and lost one. They beat Co-op Bank 60-55 and KAA 59-47 but went down 64-53 to Warriors.

Last year’s play-offs semi-finalists USIU Tigers recovered to beat Mennonites 98-52 and stay third with three points.