Sigalame and Butere dare to dream big

Butere Girls' Irene Onyango during Term 1 KSSS National games. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Sigalame High and Butere Girls will be seeking a perfect end to their fairy tale journey at this year’s Brookside Secondary Schools National Term One Games.

The two Western Region schools will today lock horns with defending champions Laiser Hill and Kaya Tiwi in boys and girls basketball finals as the 2018 edition ends at Kangaru School, Embu. 

In rugby 15s, new champions will be crowned as Upper Hill tackle Menengai High in the finals.

Menengai had no respect for 2017 winners  Kakamega ousting them 20-16 in the semis. City champions Upper Hill on the other hand beat Nyanza’s St Mary’s Yala 24-3 to set a last two clash with Menengai.

Sigalame and Butere have been  impressive in their national debut.

Giant killers Butere who subjected national champions Kaya Tiwi to their first defeat locally fell former national holders Bububuru in extra time to grab a ticket to the East Africa games. 

Butere proved their mettle as they stretched 2000 national winners Buruburu to extra time after their match ended 51-51 in regular time.

Butere were rejuvenated in extra time to secure their place in the finals with a 63-53 win.

Butere captain Irene Were starred for Butere with 33 points as Chantal Kiobe top scored for Buru with 27 points. 

An esctatic Were said that reaching the final is already an achievement and winning the title will be a bonus.

“Our resilience and never-say-die spirit has carried us all through and whatever the result tomorrow, we are already winners,” Were said. 

Kaya were lucky as they sneaked through to the final after a narrow 31-29 over Loreto.

And with Butere already beating Kaya 74-65  in the preliminary stage,  stakes are high in today’s clash. 

In the boys’ final,  Laiser Hill, who are hunting for a seventh title,  will be looking for their second win against Sigalame after downing the newcomers  76-57 in the preliminary stage. 

Laiser saw off Ambira Boys 55-23 in the semis while Sigalame clobbered Meru School 86-43 in the other tie.

Laiser’s Robert Jasire top scored for his side with 12 points with Stephen Taban leading Ambira with eight points.

Laiser Hill skipper Sheldon Ouma is confident they can successfully defend their title after another impressive run.

Laiser Hill led 17-6 in the first quarter before increasing their lead to 12-8 in the second quarter to take a 29-14 at halftime.