Flawless Kaya Tiwi win Reachout tournament

Kaya Tiwi, the reigning national secondary schools girls’ basketball champions, started the season on a high beating Aga Khan Academy Mombasa 66-06 in the final of the inaugural Reachout Girls basketball tournament at the Aha Khan Academy indoor courts on Sunday.

Form One rookies Barbra Diana and Valerie Akinyi, who helped Nyanza region to win the national primary schools netball championships in Nyeri last year, were a joy to watch using their big frames to intimidate their opponents in their first competitive match as basketball players.

The 6ft 3' Barbra and the 6ft 5' Akinyi combined well with Kenyan junior internationals Lilian Ochola, Vidah Adhiambo and three-point specialist Daina Moraa to comfortably win the tournament that attracted ten schools.

After leading 12-02 in the first quarter, Kaya Tiwi engaged a higher gear outscoring their opponents 21-0 in the second quarter for a 33-02 score at the break thereby putting the game beyond reach for Aga Khan.

Barbra Diana top scored for Kaya Tiwi with 32 points, Lilian Ochola had 18 while Yvonne Atieno managed 10 points. Aga Khan replied through Victoria Stanley who had three points while Clemence Mwanjele had two.

Kaya Tiwi made light work of Mama Ngina Girls, St Johns Kaloleni B, Kajembe and Stars of the Sea Girls en-route the final.

Reachout Trust Executive Director Taib Abdulrahman - who presented winners with medals, certificates and trophies - said the event will now be held annually and promised to make next year's edition bigger by including volleyball and netball. The theme for this year's edition was "Empowering the Girl Child Through Sports".

Elsewhere in Siaya, Ng'iya Girls High School shocked former Nyanza region champions Raliew Secondary beating them 24-14 to win the girls' title of the Ochieng' Okumu tournament at Maranda High School on Sunday.

Ng'iya had stunned Nyanza champions Barchando Secondary 28-18 at the semi-final stage. Raliew, on the other hand, had beaten Kandaria Secondary 27-11 in the other semi.

Nyangori Boys from Western won the boys' title beating hosts Maranda Boys 36-22 in the final.

Nyangori had outclassed St Benedicts Budalangi 35-10 in the semi-finals while Maranda overpowered Bondo Teachers College 53-14 in the other semi.