EYES ON NATIONALS

Onjiko, Ototo retain Nyanza schools' basketball titles

Onjiko beat Agoro Sare 84-61 to retain the boy's title while Ototo beat rivals Barchando 47-34 to retain the girls' trophy.

In Summary

• Nyamira Girls retained their girl’s hockey trophy following a narrow 1-0 win over minnows Agenga from Migori County.

•Maseno School narrowly beat Kisii County’s Nduru Boys 1-0 to lift the hockey title.

 

Byrone Onyango of Onjiko shoots during the final against Agoro Sare
Byrone Onyango of Onjiko shoots during the final against Agoro Sare
Image: ANGWENYI GICHANA

Onjiko School and Ototo mixed retained their basketball titles as the curtains came down on the Nyanza secondary schools term one games on April 8 at Kisii School.

Onjiko, coached by the principal Joseph Were, beat Agoro Sare 84-61 to retain the boys' title while Ototo beat rivals Barchando 47-34 to preserve the title for the second consecutive year in the girls' cadre.

Captained by Alvin Otieno, Onjiko silenced Agoro Sare 84-27  in the opening game of the tournament.

Onjiko dominated the game from the start leading 23-17 while in the second quarter, they led 25-14. In the third quarter, Onjiko led 20-7 while Agoro Sare led 23-16 in the last quarter.

Were said: “We would have won the game by a bigger margin but we decided to entertain the fans. We were the best team throughout the tournament and Onjiko will dominate the Nyanza basketball scene for long.”

Agoro Sare coach Paul Odock conceded defeat saying they lost to a better side. “We go back to the drawing board and strategize for next year. We have played in six consecutive finals and we want to maintain the consistency,” said Odock.

In the girls’ final, Barchando started strongly racing to a 17-10 lead in the first quarter. However, in the second quarter, Ototo recovered to lead 10-8. In the third quarter, Ototo led 17-3 after a half-time pep talk by coach Clement Obare. In the last quarter, Ototo led 10-6.

“It was a good game. We had a slow start but we improved as the game progressed. I’m impressed by the teams which qualified to the regionals,” said Obare who is also the Ototo principal.

Maseno School narrowly beat Kisii County’s Nduru Boys 1-0 to lift the hockey title. Alex Maranka scored the all-important goal.

Nyamira Girls retained their girl’s hockey trophy following a narrow 1-0 win over minnows Agenga from Migori County. Captain Vivian Akinyi scored for Nyamira Girls.

“It was a fairly balanced game but we were slightly ahead of Agenga. The girls underrated Agenga because they expected to meet Sinyolo in the finals,” said Eliakim Obondo, Nyamira girls' coach.

His Agenga counterpart Alloys Owino said: “I think we overachieved because our target was to reach the semis. I’m happy and proud of the girls.”

Little-known Miranga inspired by Liz Atieno, Fenny Odhiambo and Violet Kaiga, upset favourites St Albert’s Ulanda 26-13 to win the girl’s handball title while Manyatta retained the boy’s title following a 24-16 win over Orero Boys from Homa Bay.

In rugby 15’s, the rugby final between Kisii School and Maseno School was abandoned after Maseno players walked off the pitch, disputing a referee’s decision. They also claimed that the environment was hostile, By press time the jury had not given their verdict.