Shimba Hills and Kakamega stay on title course

St Brigids from Nzoia Bianca Nyambura dribbles past Shimba Hills of Mombasa Esther Samba on 19th April 2013 during their Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association Nationals Basketball Semi-finals played at Mang'u High School. Shimba Hills won 109-39. Photo/CHRIS OMOLLO

What you need to know:

  • Defending rugby champs take on St Mary’s Yala while the women basketball queens face Buruburu in the finals
  • All finalists earn ticket to east Africa games

Protocol was duly observed on the penultimate day of the ongoing Brookside sponsored Kenya Secondary School Term One championships at Mangu High School, as defending champions and tourney favourites stormed through to the finals scheduled for Saturday.

The finalist teams also secured a ticket to represent Kenya at the East African Schools’ contest in Uganda later this year.

In basketball, Shimba Hills beat St Brigits 109-39, and they will now face Buruburu who dominated Bahati Girls 66-43. Maseno beat Kamusinga 67-37 to set up a meet with Upperhill who thrashed Mang’u 72-29. Kamusinga will take on Mang’u in play-offs.

Routine, straightforward win

In rugby, reigning champions, Kakamega, seemed on course to retain the overall title, cruising to a routine 29-0 win over Nakuru Day.

The boys from Western strolled to a comfortable 19-0 half-time lead with tries from Harris Mwaka in the fourth minute and Bush Mwale in the 9th and 18th .

Sensing a straight-forward triumph, Kakamega High School coach, Mike Ashimosi, eye firmly set in today’s final, refreshed his squad, bringing in Mike Mwendwa who had been replaced by Hamis Mwaka

Nakuru Day, looking to salvage the game, retaliated by replacing Dennis Omondi for Reegan Ochieng’, but their efforts amounted to nought, with frustration creeping in as evidenced by David Mieno’s sin-bin in the game’s dying moments.

Michael Ochieng and Timothy Okuli thereafter wrapped up the game with late tries. Standing between Kakemega and the title is St Mary’s Yala, who came from behind to beat Kangaru 22-5 in the other semi-final.

Surprise lead

Kangaru grabbed a surprise lead in the match inside two minutes through Kelvin Njagi, but that only worked as a motivator for Yala, under the hands of the experienced Timothy Okullu.

Henry Demba, Felix Juma, Minove Oyugi and Joshua Otieno led the comeback with tries, while Levy Amonge managed a conversion.

After the semis, St Mary’s coach, Job Omollo, had this to say: “We always had a chance of winning this match as we played a quick passing game and kicked into their territory early enough. I don’t want to think about our final with Kakamega.”

In netball, Shimba Hills from Mombasa and the Lake region’s Obambo easily booked final berths.

Shimba, earned their final berth and, with it a re-match against Obambo in a re-enactment of last year’s bout.

Selected results: Rugby: Kakamega High 29-0 Nakuru Day; St Mary’s Yala 22-5 Kangaru High. Net-ball: Shimba Hills 41-25 St Cecilia Misikhu; Obambo 49-16 Tetu. Basketball: men - Upper Hill 72-29 Mang’u; Maseno 67-37 Kamusinga. Women - Buruburu 66-43 Bahati; Shimba Hills 109-39 St Bridgit.