Nyanchwa Boys emerged victorious in a thrilling showdown against Kisii School, reclaiming the Kisii County Secondary Schools Sports Association boys’ basketball championship with a final score of 50-46.
The electrifying match, hosted at Cardinal Otunga High School, Mosocho, saw Nyanchwa take an early lead of 12-9 in the first quarter. However, Kisii School mounted a comeback, seizing control with a 21-16 lead in the second quarter.
At halftime, Kisii held a narrow 30-28 advantage. Yet, Nyanchwa’s coach, Kepher Mogire, rallied his team during the break, strategizing to rotate his players. This tactical adjustment paid dividends as Nyanchwa surged ahead with a 16-11 lead in the third quarter and a 06-05 advantage in the fourth.
Reflecting on the intense final, Mogire revealed his calculated approach, stating, “The final was intense and we expected a big fight from Kisii School, being the defending champions. However, I had a strategy. I fielded my second team in the first half and the first team in the second half.”
In the girls’ division, St. Angela’s Sengera, under the guidance of coach Kennedy Wekesa, secured their third consecutive title by overpowering Kereri Girls with a commanding 66-36 victory. Sengera had earlier dominated Igorera 58-09 in the semifinals, while Kereri Girls triumphed over Sameta Mixed 30-14.
The championship, spanning four days, was supported by Nyanza Sports Vibez, who generously provided trophies, medals, and officials’ equipment.
Moving to rugby, Kisii School, the reigning Nyanza region 15s champions, defended their title by defeating hosts Cardinal Otunga High School, Mosocho, with a resounding 46-03 victory. The finalists will advance to the regional championships scheduled for March 19 to 23 at Kisumu School.
In other sports, Nduru Boys retained the boys’ hockey title for the third consecutive year, clinching a hard-fought 2-1 victory in penalty flicks against Cardinal Otunga High School. Meanwhile, Amaiko Mixed Secondary reclaimed the girls’ hockey title with a 2-0 win over Kereri Girls.
Cardinal Otunga redeemed themselves in handball, securing the boys’ title with a thrilling 24-22 victory over Ndonyo. Conversely, Ndonyo triumphed in the girls’ category, retaining their title for the third consecutive year with a 22-14 win over Amaiko.
The tournament highlighted the resilience and talent of young athletes across various disciplines, setting the stage for future sporting endeavors.
