Shimba Hills roar: Upper Hill end Mang’u title hopes in basketball as St Georges hold Narok in hockey

By ERNEST NDUNDA

Maryanne Akinyi (right) of Shimba Hills attempts to block Sophia Dorka of Kirigara Girls during their Brookside sponsored Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association Term One games at Shimo La Tewa High School, yesterday.  [Photo: GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD]

Defending champs Shimba Hills of Mombasa Region stormed into the semi-finals in style as the Brookeside National Secondary Schools first term games entered second day in Mombasa.

Shimba Hills, who are also the reigning East and Central Africa basketball champions, were in a class of their own as they crashed Kirigara Girls of Northern Region 111-15 at Shimo La Tewa High School.

Kirigara were taught the basics as they had little to offer against the champions. At one point, Shimba Hills,  coached by Philip Onyango, withdrew their first team and brought in their second string side but still tormented the Northern girls who looked exhausted.

Berlyne Akoth was the top scorer for Shimba Hills with 24 points, Esther Mwashumbe contributed 10 while Elsy Khabose bagged six points for the losers.

Penultimate stage

Shimba Hills made it to the semi-finals after registering two straight wins, having beaten rivals Tigoi Girls 68-25 in the opening match on Tuesday.

Kirigara were automatically bundled out of title contention having lost their first match 66-16 to Moi Girls Eldoret of Nakuru.

Earlier, Tigoi kept their chances of advancing to the semi-finals alive after beating Moi Girls Eldoret 60-41. Daisy Ayodi and Lavender Adhiambo scored 19 and 16 respectively for the winners while Bilha Cherono bagged 11 points Moi Girls.

In boys’ basketball, Kangaru were eliminated after they lost their second match of the campaign.

Yesterday, Kangaru who had lost 53-33 to Mangu, were once again beaten by Kirobon of Nakuru Region 91-45. Chol Deng scored 31 points for Kirobon before Collins Kipkurui added eight while David Muthiya bagged 10 for the losers.

Metropolitan reign

In another boys match, defending champions Upper Hill of Metropolitan Region, who are coached by Ronny Owino, made it to the semi-finals after they edged out Mang’u of Aberdare Region  64-46. Upper Hill beat Kirobon 77-25 in the opening match.

In boys’ hockey, Narok of Nakuru Region, who had beaten Mang’u 4-0 in the opening match, were forced to a 0-0 draw by St Georges of Mombasa Region at Shanzu Teachers Training College.

Defending champions Friends School Kamusinga rolled to the semi-finals after squeezing a 2-1 win over Mang’u 2-1. Kamusinga had beaten St Georges 1-0.

In girls’ hockey, St Cecilia Misikhu of Nzoia Region cruised to the semi-final after clobbering Matuga of Mombasa 3-0. Sharlet Akinyi scored twice in the ninth and 20th minute before Elizabeth Sitati added the third in the 57th minute to lock out Matuga from the tournament.