Coast sides Dr Aggrey and Kaya Tiwi in seventh heaven after win

National boys' basketball champions Dr Aggrey from Coast [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

When the national secondary school games started last Friday in Nakuru, nobody foresaw Coast Region dominating the games, especially in basketball.

Basketball is associated majorly with schools from Naiorbi and Nyanza region.

Even when you look at the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Premier League, majority of the teams playing in the league come from Nairobi.

The most dominant teams; Equity, Ulinzi Warriors and Thunder all come from Nairobi and many expected as was the norm, schools from Nairobi to dominate.

That was not the case, however, at Nakuru High School as newbies Dr Aggrey and former champions Kaya Tiwi borrowed a leaf from the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) basketball teams, who are the current men and women Premier League champions, to win the basketball titles.

Fact is, Coast region has risen to not only dominate basketball in the top tier leagues in the country, but also national secondary school games.

Kaya Tiwi yesterday reclaimed their Kenya Secondary School Sport Association (KSSSA) national games basketball title they lost to Buruburu Girls in 2019 after seeing off newbies Olympic Girls from Nairobi 60-54.

The win saw the Coastal region champions head to the East Africa games set for Arusha in Tanzania as champions.

In the first quarter, Kaya Tiwi took a ten-point lead after outscoring their opponents 17-7, but Olympic, under the tutelage of Dennis Orek, recovered to play a better second quarter where they scored 15-04 to cut their deficit and enjoy a one-point advantage at the break.

In the final half, the Coast side used their experience to outscore the debutants and be crowned winners.

In boys' basketball, newbies Dr Aggrey came from 11 points down in the first quarter to beat Dagoretti High School of Nairobi 70-64 and clinch their maiden national title.

Dagoretti High, who lost the 2019 title to Laiser Hill on their debut, will now travel to Arusha as runner-up for the second consecutive time.

Speaking after the win, Dagoretti coach Kelvin Aran said it was hard work and confidence that guided them to the top.

"Congratulations to the boys for showing their skills at the national level. Our goal, despite being underdogs, was to show people we can play and that has come to pass. Now focus turns to East Africa," said Aran.

Basketball champions girls Kaya Tiwi from coast celebrate with the trophy during the National Secondary school games at Nakuru High school on September 12,2022.[Kipsang Joseph,Standard]

In hockey, Rift Valley sides St Anthony's Boys Kitale and St Mary's Taachasis dominated the boys and girl's hockey finals.

St Anthony's Boys Kitale won the boys' title after narrowly seeing off Friends School Kamusinga from Bungoma 1-0.

On the other hand, Taachasis defeated nemesis Trans Nzoia 5-4 in post-match penalties in what was a repeat of the Rift Valley Regional finals. The match had ended 2-2 during regular time.

In handball, Moi School Kamusinga Girls reclaimed the title they lost in 2019 to St Joseph's Kirandich.

Kamusinga recovered from a slow start to edge out St Joseph's Kitale 17-11. St Joseph had defeated Kirandich at the regional level to make their maiden appearance at the national games.

A new winner was however crowned in boys' final after Hospital Hill Secondary School saw off Kimito Secondary School 30-25 in the final.

Nyanza Region's Kobala Mixed Secondary School won the netball title.