30 September 2007

KENYA : Kenyans sink deeper at Africa tournament

Story by CAXTON APOLLO
Publication Date: 9/30/2007

Kenya lost 69-58 to Madagascar in the Africa women’s basketball championships’ classification match in Dakar, Senegal on Friday night.

As a result, Kenya were due to play Tunisia last night in their last match to determine the 11th and 12 positions of the 19th edition of the African tournament.

If they fall to Tunisia, Kenya will finish bottom in the 10-day championships. Tunisia crashed 79-72 to Cape Verde to book a date with the Kenyans.

Kenya played without purpose against Madagascar and trailed 38-19 at half-time. Miriam Awuor, who plays for Kenya Ports Authority, contributed 13 points for Kenya, while Joyce Makungu had eight and Brenda Odula six.

Agina Wesonga, the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) chairman, who is leading the delegation said: “The girls played badly against Madagascar due to fatigue and made little effort to win.’’

Kenya had finished fourth in the five-team Pool “B” which was based in Thies by virtue of having won the solitary (59-47) match against Cape Verde who finished bottom.

Champions Nigeria and Angola advanced to the semi-finals.

In Pool “A” that was based in Dakar, hosts Senegal and Mozambique were expected to scoop the top two positions to advance to yesterday’s semi-finals.

On the local scene, Brenda Angeshi scored 16 points while Irene Makori added 15 as Sprite Storms boosted their chances of making the play-offs when they beat Catholic Dream Team 76-36 yesterday.

The return leg tie was played at the Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium.

Storms, who had an upper hand in all the four quarters, connected 11 points through Makori to lead 19-11 in the first quarter. Sprite torms led 36-20 at half-time.Ann Njeri shot 11 points for the losers.

In the men’s Division One league tie, Kenya Ports Authority harvested maximum two points when they defeated African Nazarene University 77-56.

The dockmen, took charge from the word go to lead 33-20 at half-time.

It was only in the last quarter that the varsity lads scared the visitors to race a 20-19 lead.

Kenneth Otieno scored 11 points, Java Odhiambo and Samuel Ochola each managed 10 for the winners.

Telkom remained to course to finishing the pre-season in the top four when they whitewashed Nairobi Pentecostal Church 92-43.

Ancette Wafula fired 23 points which included four three-pointers to help Telkom take a 49-20 half-time lead.

Godfrey Abuya shot 16 points while Maxwell Kaunda added 11 for Telkom. Victor Makosewe had 15 points while Alvin Kimani replied with 13 points for NPC.


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