Natives in bright start in Kisumu basketball league
Kisii Vipers’ Iddi Sadique (right) attempts to take a shot as Mbale Saints' Brian Ombima watches during their Kisumu County Basketball League match at Magadi Primary School in Kisumu on May 20, 2018. PHOTO | ONDARI OGEGA |
What you need to know:
- A total of eleven teams are taking part in this year’s KCBL league, making it the most competitive since it started in 2015. Only seven teams took part in last year’s competition.
- In their opening tie, Natives took control of the match establishing a 13-6 lead in the first quarter, but their hard-fighting opponents overpowered them in the second quarter to outscore Natives 11-8.
- With Natives taking a 20-17 lead at halftime, the third quarter was charged with players from both sides putting their best foot forward.
Two-time finalists Natives began their 2018 Kisumu County Basketball League (KCBL) on the right note winning two matches played over the weekend at Magadi Primary School in Kisumu.
Natives edged newcomers Vipers of Kisii University 35-34 in a closely contested match. In their second match, they overcame last year’s league toppers Kisumu All-Stars 56 - 47 to make it two wins on the trot.
Following the results, Natives coach Jeff Omwadho said: “We escaped in our first game, we never wanted a repeat of that and that’s why we improved in the second one. The two wins is a good start for us and we hope this will be our year."
Native are favourites to claim this year’s title after champions Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) Suns bowed out of the competition as they are on recess.
A total of eleven teams are taking part in this year’s KCBL league, making it the most competitive since it started in 2015. Only seven teams took part in last year’s competition.
In their opening tie, Natives took control of the match establishing a 13-6 lead in the first quarter, but their hard-fighting opponents overpowered them in the second quarter to outscore Natives 11-8.
With Natives taking a 20-17 lead at halftime, the third quarter was charged with players from both sides putting their best foot forward.
Natives' Isaiah Kiyaka three-pointer set the ball rolling for a 10-6 lead at the end of the quarter.
But again, they were outscored in the last quarter 4 -11 after Vipers staged an impressive comeback in attempts to win the match but unfortunately lost out with half a basket.
In their second meeting against last year’s league toppers Kisumu All-Stars, Natives outscored their opponents in the first three quarters 15-9, 17-14 and 12-9 respectively before they slipped in the final quarter as their opponents led 15-12.
Vipers overcame their earlier downfall against Natives as they beat Kisumu Tritons 41-36 and Maranda School 59-28, as All Stars also beat the 2017 Biro Lich Basketball Tournament first runners up Team Wazee 43-38 to record their first win of the season.
