Basketball in Africa

United States International University- Africa (USIU-A) men’s basketball team struggled without their high-scoring captain Kevin Kigotho losing 75-78 to Equity Bank on Saturdau at the Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium.
Kigotho’s missing contribution was visible during the men's Premier League game. In his absence, Joel Ntambwe was charged with the role of leading their offensive. He stayed on the court for long and was involved in most of their plays finishing with a game-high of 26 points.
The first quarter was balanced as both sides exchanged the lead. Equity led 2-0 before tying at 2-2. The students then opened a 6-2 lead before Equity clawed back to lead 9-8. USIU-A was on top again 10-9 before Equity led 13-12 to finish the quarter 17-12.
After 2:9 was played in second quarter, Equity opened an eleven points lead at 29-18 engineered by two three-pointers from Fred Lugasi. The students fought hard and reduced the scores to 33-31 with 1:20 remaining to halftime.
Ntambwe took the initiative to lead the comeback scoring eight crucial points from four free shots and two baskets. However, Equity restored their cushion going to the breather after a strong fightback with baskets from Luke Felix, Vincent Onsongo and Emmanuel Ochieng to lead 39-31.
They maintained the tempo winning third quarter 19-17 for a 10-points advantage at 58-48 going to the final quarter. USIU-A did not allow them an easy win fighting hard in fourth quarter.
USIU-A reduced the gap
After two minutes of the quarter, they had reduced the gap to just two points at 60-58. Ntambwe was again at the heart of the comeback with six points and Derrick Juma had three.
Equity held steady and led 63-60 at 5:08 when Alex Ramazani made a three-pointer for USIU-A to tie scores 63-63. Ochieng made a free shot and Dan Abuya a basket to restore Equity’s three points lead at 66-63.
When 0:30 was remaining to fulltime, Equity led 75-73 and USIU-A had the opportunity to tie after Ntambwe was fouled by Ochieng for two free shots. He missed both giving Equity the room to stretch their lead with two free shots from Richard Mutua and one from Luke.
Juma made a basket for the students. Luke top-scored for Equity with 15 points while Lugasi added 14 with 12 of the points coming off four three-pointers. Onsongo finished with 11 points.
Kenyatta University Pirates made a big stride in their quest to qualify for playoffs with a 63-47 win over Lions. Pirates endured a tough opening half to show dominance in second half. The first quarter was a close call as Lions narrowly won 11-10.
Lions led 1-0 from an early free shot but Pirates made a basket for 2-1. Lions then led 3-2 and dominated until Pirates was on top 8-7. Both teams then exchanged the lead with Lions leading 9-8, Pirates 10-9 before Lions had the last laugh at 11-10.
The second quarter was not different from the first as Lions won 7-5 after leading once at 16-14 all the way to 18-15 at halftime. Pirates also enjoyed the lead once at 12-11 and was tied 14-14.
In third quarter, Pirates took the lead at 20-18 and went on to win the quarter 25-12 as well as the fourth 23-17. Renson Moibi led scoring for Pirates with 14 points, Jacktone Agunda scored 11 while Ken Adodi had 10. Collins Odhiambo top scored for Lions with 18 points.
Co-operative Bank saw off Nakuru Club 63-52 with Japheth Areba scoring 11 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and one steal. Job Byron added 10 points with six rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Lewis Muya and Allan Ouma also scored 10 points each. Suleiman Gakure top scored for Nakuru with 10 points, Joe Okoth added 8 and Victor Orare had seven.
Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) beat Mennonite 70-39
Bad start for Sprite Storms
In women's Premier League, Sprite Storms beat Ulinzi Blades 72-49. They had a bad start with poor communication and lack of concentration working to the advantage of the soldiers.
They were forced to make their first substitution very early with Eunice Wangari paving way for Ashley Kingbischof. Storms led at 2-0, Ulinzi led at 3-2 before tying 6-6. Storms surged ahead 8-6 but tied again 8-8.
Angela Luchivya broke the tie with a free shot for Storms while Kingbischof and Sylvia Omollo made a three-pointer each to give Storms a 15-8 win for the quarter. Storms dominated to the end winning second, third and fourth quarters 17-9, 21-14 and 19-18 respectively.
Mercy Wanyama top scored for Storms with 18 points while Esther Butali was Ulinzi’s top scorer with 19. Bridgit Nanzala scored her first 8 points from free shots to finish with 12 for Ulinzi.
Eunice Ouma made three three-pointers and three free shots to top score for Eagle Wings with 19 points as they beat KU Oryx 50-30. Beryl Akoth scored 10 points for Oryx.
Saturday Results: Eagle Wings 50 KU Oryx 30, KAA 70 Mennonite 39, 4-Christ 58 Parklands Baptist 36, Barclays Bank 49 JKUAT 55, Upper Hill 60 Trailblazers 67, Blazers 52 Little Prince 44, Equity Bank 78 USIU Tigers 75, Co-op Bank 63 Nakuru Club 52, Lions 47 KU Pirates 63, Sprite Storms 72 Ulinzi Blades 49.