KISUMU, Kenya, April 17- Defending national secondary schools boys’ and girls’ basketball champions started with mixed results in the opening matches as the event got under way at Maseno High School on Tuesday.
Laiser Boys who are the titleholders in the boys’ category won their opening game against the hosts Maseno while Tigoi Girls lost to Coast’s Shimba Hills.
Laiser edged out host Maseno 61-42 in a hotly and tension packed match watched by a sizeable number of supporters.
The crown holders easily won the first set 25-6 but Maseno came back in the second rejuvenated and narrowly went down 10-8. In the third Laiser again had a daunting task by winning 14-12 while in the final quarter, the teams tied 14-14.
Vanon Obonyo of Maseno scored the highest with 18 points while Oscar Muge was second for the same team with nine. Heri Mwalimu was Laiser’s top scorer with 17 followed by Rodgers Kauma on 13.
In another boy’s match, Shimba Hills from Coast thrashed Garissa Boys 139-12.
In the girl’s division, defending champions Tigoi started their defense on a losing note going down 102-22 to rivals Shimba Hills in a one sided game which failed to live up to expectations.
Shimba won 31-7 in the first quarter, 17-12 in the second, 36-11 in the third and 18-12 in the fourth.
The winning coach Phillip Onyango says his side has the best players and will work hard to get the trophy.
In another clash, Buruburu Girls walloped NEP Girls a record 136-2 while Kapkolei from Rift Valley beat Barazani 60-37.
