East Africa Secondary Schools games: Coast team only winner as Kenyans post mixed results

Lilian Atieno (left) of Kaya Tiwi Secondary School dribbles the ball past Nancy Opiyo of Bar Chando High School during their East Afrca Secondary School Games basketball match at Moi Girls High School, Uasin Gishu County on August 27, 2016.[PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

Butere, Kanyawanga and Sega lose opening matches to Uganda and Rwanda.

Former girls basketball champions Kaya Tiwi yesterday shook off a slow start to beat home girls Lycee De Kigali (LDK) 54-39 in their opening match of the ongoing Brookside East Africa Secondary Schools games in Musanze, Rwanda.

National games’ Most Valuable Player Teresa Othuon was once again key to Kaya Tiwi’s victory with 19 points while Julia Akoth scored 10.

Emerance Umuheba was LDK’s top scorer with nine points.

Kaya Tiwi captain Caroline Njeri praised her teammates for their good fight saying it was a tough match playing the home team in the opener.

“It is not easy to win against a home side because like today they had everything they needed to win but we refused to be intimidated by their fans. We put up a good fight and we look forward to our next match,” Njeri said.

The 2016 winners regained their footing after taking long to settle in the game and trailing LDK 0-7 in the first quarter. They fought relentlessly to level scores at 10-10 by the end of the first quarter.

There was no looking back for the Kenyan girls as they took the second quarter for a 30-14 lead at thr breather.

The third quarter was tightly contested but Kaya Tiwi took it 15-14 but allowed LDK to takd the fourth 9-11 but it was too late for the Rwandans as Kaya Tiwi bagged their first victory.

Debutants Butere were given a rude welcome to the regional scene by last years winners, St Mary’s Kitende from Uganda, who subjected them to a 70-27 thrashing in Group A. Butere were outclassed from the onset as the Ugandans took charge of the game taking the first quarter 18-6. The Kenyan girls tried to regain their footing in the second quarter, but their effort was not good enough as Kitende scored an impressive 19-7 to take a comfortable 37-13 lead at halftime.

The match was done and dusted by the end of the third quarter as Kitende consolidated their lead with a 12-4 score before completing the job 21-7. Despite losing their opening match, Butere captain Irene Were remained optimistic saying their goal of reaching the semi-finals was still achievable.

“We panicked and our opponents took advantage of our fear to punish us. Our game plan did not work and we kind of let them have it easy. However, all is not lost . We still have two matches and we are determined to win so we can advance to the semis.”

In the boys contest, champions APE Rugunga began their defence with a 56-46 victory against their Rwandan counterparts Eteni in Group A.

In the second match, Buddo Secondary School beat their compatriots Sseta Main 67-48.

Kanyawanga and St Anne’s Sega lost their respective boys and girls Group A handball matches. Kanyawanga went down 24-32 to homeboys Adegi while Sega lost 21-35 to defending champions Kibuli Secondary School from Uganda. Kanyawanga amd Sega must win today’s matches against Sseta Green from Uganda and Apega from Rwanda to revive their hopes of advancing to the semis.