Games leave former champions bruised

KSSSA TERM 1 GAMES . Upper Hill's Elisha Ogacha clash with Onesmas Biketi (left) Goalkeeper of St Anthony in their final match during Kenya Secondary Schools Term 1 games at Nairobi School on Saturday, April 15, 2017. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Kaya Tiwi survive as focus now shifts to East Africa secondary school games in August.

The battle for tickets to the East Africa games ended at the weekend as curtains fell on this year's Brookside Secondary Schools National Term One Games at Aga Khan School, State House Girls and Nairobi School.

Former champions reclaimed what they thought was their rightful titles during one of the most competitive championships in recent years.

Kaya Tiwi, from Coast Region, were the only 2016 champions who remained standing after they successfully defended their girls' basketball crown. Tiwi survived an early scare to rally from behind and beat St Brigid's Kiminini 48-35.

Last year's winners Upper Hill (boys' basketball) and Sinyolo (girls' hockey) could not defend their gongs. Hockey champions Friends School Kamusinga and last year's rugby holders Bungoma High relinquished their crowns earlier in the campaign after they failed to make it past the Western Region.

But for Laiser Hill Academy, it was a sweet return to the nationals after a four-year absence. They defeated rivals Upper Hill 51-43 in boys' basketball for their first title since 2012.
Laiser Hill's Elvis Ssentongo and Tiwi's Maria Komba bagged basketball boys' and girls' Most Valuable Player (MVP) titles.

Laiser, who are undoubtedly the most successful school in basketball with seven East Africa and now six national titles, spent four years in the cold in the Metropolitan Region finals.

When facing Upper Hill in the finals, the results always went one way; the Upper Hill way. However, Lady Luck smiled on them this year when they returned to their Rift Valley Region after the boundaries were revised.

Playing at the nationals, the Kajiado County students grabbed the opportunity with both hands. The basketball gods had presented them with a chance to reclaim the national title and they were not ready to let that chance slip through their fingers.