A 95-71 whipping is not the start national boys’ basketball champions Dr Aggrey wished for, but it happened yesterday as this year’s Brookside Secondary Schools National Term One games got underway at Shanzu Teachers College and Shimo La Tewa High School, Mombasa.
Reduced to just six players, Dr Aggrey put up a spirited fight, but were outclassed by their opponents, who outnumbered them despite also fielding 10 players.
Not even home advantage would save them from defeat as six out of their 12 players were not cleared to compete due to irregularities in their documents.
The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA), put stringent measures to curb age cheating by ensuring that all participants are duly registered students in their respective schools.
Despite being reduced to just six, Dr Aggrey had a good start taking the first quarter 18-14. They, however, unlike their opponents who had more numbers, had to put in twice the effort which would take a toll on them in the second quarter.
They were totally subdued, with Dagoretti scoring 25 against their 12 to take a 39-30 half-time lead.
On resumption, Dagoretti made good use of their numbers as they took the third and fourth quarters 21-17 and 35-24.
Gift Fidel starred for Dagoretti with 32 points with Daniel Mutambo adding 20 points. Jacub Kitaka top scored for Dr Aggrey with 30 points with Deng Akok Kuot sinking 26.
Dagoretti captain Noah Wafula said the victory had boosted their confidence and desire to excel at this year’s competition.
“It is always important to start with victory and extra special when you defeat the champions. They are a very strong side but it was our day and we made the best out of it,” Wafula said.
Dagoretti will today clash with Western Region champions Friends School Kamusinga, who beat Pioneer School from Central Region 82-46 in the other pool encounter yesterday. A win for either side will guarantee them a place in the semis.
In rugby 15s, former national and East Africa champions Upper Hill announced their return to the nationals with a bang thumping Mang’u High School fronm Central 24-5 in Group A.
Upper Hill led 14-5 at the break thanks to tries from Braxton Bwasheshe and Livingstone Odhiambo, with Benjamin Ecereni adding the extras.
In the second half, Evans Yaa and Hosea Simiyu touched down with Ecereni and Michael Carrick making conversions to seal the much-needed victory.
Today, champions All Saints, who forced a slim 3-0 win over Serani Secondary School from Coast will face off with Upper Hill while Serani will take on Mang’u.
Elizabeth Mburugu
| Apr 09, 2025