Franz Joseph Secondary School's goalkeeper Leila Said attempts to clear the ball with her foot as her defender Grace Mutua (left) looks on as they played against defending champions Matuga Girls High School in one of the girls hockey match during the Kwale County Term One Ball Games at their home grounds, March 05, 2015. [PHOTO9 BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].
Former national champions Mombasa Baptist High School turned the tables as Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa, surrendered the boys’ basketball title during the Mombasa County Secondary Schools Term One Games at Shimo La Tewa High School.
It was a bitter pill for the defending champions to swallow as they had dominated the final match only for Baptist High School to apply their tricks in the dying minutes of the game to win the match by two baskets, 74-70.
The see-saw match was tense right from the first whistle, with both coaches optimistic about winning.
“I had prepared well and deserved the win,” said Baptist coach Zadock Osogo.
“We started preparing for the games last year so the victory was no fluke although we faced an equally good team. It will be another ‘Tsunami’ at the Coast region games in Malindi,” said Waswa Butete, patron of the winning team.
Aga Khan coach Jimnah Kimani conceded defeat and vowed they would fight another day.
“We gave our best and I thank my young team for making it to the final,” said Kimani.
En route to the final, Baptist beat Tumaini 64-36, while Aga Khan stopped Shimo La Tewa 69-35.
In girls’ basketball final, Aga Khan successfully retained the title despite being pushed to the wall.
The Aga Khan girls edged out Mama Ngina 31-30 in a tight final. The former had beaten Mbaraki Girls High School 79-4, while Mama Ngina thrashed Tumaini 98-6 in the other semi-final. Tumaini beat Mbaraki 21-7 for the third slot.
In rugby, Khamis High School became the new champions after defeating Shimo La Tewa 10-9 in the final.
NEW CHAMPIONS
The immediate former champions, Kajembe Secondary School, fell by the wayside, paving the way for new champions.
And in the Kwale County games, new champions were crowned in boys’ basketball when Mazeras upset pre-match favourites St Mary’s Seminary 84-61 in the final.
Shimba Hills High School retained the girls’ basketball title after humiliating Kaya Tiwi Secondary School 171-8 in the final.
However, both teams (Shimba and Kaya Tiwi) will go on to participate in the Coast region games from March 25 to 29 in Malindi, as Shimba will be defending the title.
In hockey, Matuga Girls High School were declared the winners while Shimba Hills retained both the boys’ hockey and rugby titles.
-enzioka@standardmedia.co.ke
