Strathmore University coach Tony Ochieng said they will have no time to rest as they plan for a duel against USIU on Friday.
Strathmore blanked Snipers 73-66 in overtime to romp into the Kenya National Basketball League Division One final at Nyayo Stadium on Tuesday evening.
This best-of-five series’ decider was full of fireworks from the start and remained deadlocked at 54-54 at the end of regulation time.
“It was a do-or-die match for us. We were under pressure to win since Snipers came back strongly in the last two games,” said Ochieng.
“We scouted well and contained their three players who had scored a combined 172 points from the four games. Character won us the game. I am so happy that we managed to cross the bridge but have no time to rest as we play USIU on Friday.”
Both teams tied 15-15 in the first quarter before the soldiers took the second 14-10 for a 29-25 half-time advantage.
Snipers continued their surge in the third with a 12-7 run but collapsed to a 22-13 deficit in the last to lock it at 54-54.
Strathmore were the stronger side in the extra five minutes with a 19-12 edge to carry the day and storm the finals.
Christopher Okwiri, the Snipers captain noted: “We failed to protect our lead and didn’t convert on the free throw line, while they were clinical on the line.”
Leading Strathmore’s onslaught were Jack Waweru with 28 points and Washington Mwangi with 17. Brans Nzioka and Reagan Okere had 15 points each for Snipers.
In another encounter that also went the full distance, Cabals Elisist succumbed 53-52 to National Bank of Kenya ‘Phoenix’ in Nakuru.
The bankers were ahead 30-23 at halftime and just managed to hang on for the win that saw them make the finals in only their first attempt.
Daniel Mbugua and Thomas Ragen led the NBK scoring tally with 10 points each. Kunji Bovier had 14 for the home boys. NBK will meet unbeaten Stanbic Shields.
