Th3 Swish edge out Eldonets as heavy rains disrupt basketball action

KPA and Th3 Swish players in action during their Kenya Basketball Federation Women’s Premier League match at Ulinzi Sports Complex yesterday. [KPA Media]

Th3 Swish yesterday held their nerves to outlive their hosts, Eldonets, in a Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Women’s Premier League match played at Uasin Gishu High School, Eldoret.

The Men’s Premier League duel pitting defending champions Nairobi City Thunder and Eldonets Platinum, set for the same venue, was not played due to a heavy downpour. A good start gave the visitors an edge over the home as they won by the 10-point advantage they had gained in the first 10 minutes.

Th3 Swish, who are keen to end the first leg within the play-offs bracket, were lethal in the first period, winning it 19-9.

Eldonets improved their game in an evenly contested second quarter that saw them score 18 points, one more than Th3 Swish, for a 36-27 halftime score. Eldonets were stronger in the second half, fighting on to score 40 points against Th3 Swish’s 35, but it was too late to salvage the game as they succumbed to their fifth defeat.

In the Women's Division One League,  Kisumu Lakeside registered mixed results as they won one and lost one in matches played at the United States International University of Africa (USIU-A) Grounds. They started their day on a bright note, dismissing the National Youth Service (NYS) 62-40, but fell to Strathmore University Swords development side 51-54 in their second match of the day.

Against NYS, a solid show in the first half saw Lakeside cruise to victory against the NYS service women, whose dull start proved costly.

After winning the first and second quarters 21-9 and 20-10, Lakeside seemed to be home and dry with a 22-point halftime advantage, for all they needed to do was to protect their lead.

Convinced that they had made it impossible for NYS to salvage the game, they were under no pressure, taking the third quarter 12-7 to extend their lead to 53-26. They relaxed in the fourth quarter as NYS fought on to win the period 14-9 in a damage control effort. In another encounter, Don Bosco beat Foot Prints 46-38.

In the Men’s Division One title hunt, last season’s champions Snipers, who failed to secure their promotion to the Premier League due to technicalities, thrashed Strathmore Blades' second side 54-32.