Basketball: Bad day in office for Kenyan teams

Kaya Tiwi High School Basketball team are the champions of Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association Term 1 games at State House Girls School on Saturday, April 15, 2017. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Champions Kaya Tiwi, Tigoi, and Laiser Hill Academy yesterday all lost their respective girls’ and boys’ basketball matches in the ongoing Brookside East Africa Secondary Schools games at Kaunda Grounds in Gulu, Uganda.

The loss reduced Kenya’s hopes of retaining the girls’ title won by Tiwi last year as well as reclaiming the boys’ gong that Upper Hill last won in 2013.

Tiwi could not match Buddo Secondary School’s strength, losing 37-47, which reduced their chances of advancing to the semifinals. The match was a balanced affair in the first quarter, with Buddo leading 24-16 at half time.

On resumption, Tiwi intensified their hunt for points, winning the third quarter 12-9 and drowing 9-9 in the final quarter, which was too little too late as they suffered their first loss in the championships. Tiwi captain Maurine Olayo remained confident that they will recover and successfully defend their title.

“We fell but all is not lost because I believe we will bounce back. All we need to do is look back and improve on areas we under-performed and we will surely win our remaining matches,” Olayo said.

Laiser Hill lost 68-78 to Rwandans P S Baptiste.

[Elizabeth Mburugu]