Dagoretti upset Upper Hill to win basketball crown
Upper Hill's Abutwalib Wesonga (right) charges forward against Lenana School during their rugby 15s final at the Nairobi Region Secondary School Term One Rugby Finals on March 11, 2018 at Nairobi School. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
What you need to know:
- Dagoretti High School upset last year’s champions Upper Hill 58-51 on Sunday to win the boys’ basketball title as the Nairobi Region Secondary Schools Term One Games ended at Nairobi School.
- And Buru Buru Girls retained the girls’ title after an impressive 57-27 win over hard-fighting Parklands Arya in the final.
- Upper Hill, however, retained the rugby 15s title as they hit Lenana School 43-6 and also reclaimed the boys’ hockey title after a 3-1 post-match penalty shoot-out win against last year’s winners Dr Ribeiro Parklands.
Dagoretti High School upset last year’s champions Upper Hill 58-51 on Sunday to win the boys’ basketball title as the Nairobi Region Secondary Schools Term One Games ended at Nairobi School.
And Buru Buru Girls retained the girls’ title after an impressive 57-27 win over hard-fighting Parklands Arya in the final.
Upper Hill, however, retained the rugby 15s title as they hit Lenana School 43-6 and also reclaimed the boys’ hockey title after a 3-1 post-match penalty shoot-out win against last year’s winners Dr Ribeiro Parklands.
The sides had played out a 1-1 draw in regular time. In the girls’ final, Mount Laverna upset last year’s champions Moi Girls Nairobi 1-0 to claim their maiden title.
Buru Buru Girls' Sylvia Anyango (right) vies for the ball with Parklands Arya's Zharia Robi during their final match at the Nairobi Region Secondary Schools Term One Games on March 11, 2018 at Nairobi School. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
New Jogoo Road retained their girls’ handball title as Lenana claimed the boys' prize as the three-day competition came to a close.
Thrilling final
In a thrilling boys’ basketball final that was delayed due to rain, Dagoretti, under former Upper Hill Principal Peter Orero, outplayed, outthought and outmuscled the highly-fancied Upper Hill.
The final whistle drew wild celebrations from Dagoretti players and fans alike. They will now have a chance of fighting for the national title during next month’s National Term One Games in Embu.
Guard Derrick Wandera, who put in a sterling performance in the sizzling contest with eight points, said their fighting spirit carried the day for them.
“Our good start worked for us and we had to dig deep in the last quarter as they came back strongly but we were able to hold on. We have a good squad capable of winning our first national title,” Wandera said.
Strong start
Dagoretti’s strong start surprised Upper Hill. They led 21-6 at the end of the first quarter to the delight of their fans. Upper Hill would improve in the second quarter, but Dagoretti’s skill was unmatched as they outscored them 17-15 to lead 38-21 at half time.
New Jogoo Road High School's Meloitrix Atieno is tackled by Buru Buru Girls' Sheila Njoki (right) during their match at the Nairobi Region Secondary Schools Term One Games on March 11th, 2018 at Nairobi School. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Upper Hill returned strongly in the third quarter as their coach Ronald Omangi made changes that appeared to bear fruit. Upper Hill outscored their opponents 18-12 in the quarter to set up a nail biting finish.
Drama was witnessed in the final quarter as Upper Hill reduced a nine-point deficit to a three-point game with five minutes left.
However, Dagoretti, who appeared to tire allowing Upper Hill to come at them, won crucial fouls that they took full advantage of to establish a six-point advantage with time running out.
