Africa Nazarene University coach Mike Oluoch is happy with his boys’ latest run in the Kenya National Basketball League but still expects better performances in days to come.
The Wolfpacks dismantled Umoja 48-41 in a closely contested tie at the Nyayo Stadium gymnasium on Sunday. It was their fourth win in nine games. They have 13 points.
“We showed a good fighting spirit to win this match. They tried to come back but we held our ground. This is our fourth win in a row after losing our opening five games,” said Oluoch
“I am happy with the progress. My players are responding well. We will keep working hard and I am sure we will finish in a better position than last year.”
ANU kept Umoja at bay, restricting them to under double digits in the first two quarters — 11-9 and 11-6 — for a 22-15 half-time advantage.
The losers, who have won three out of six games, regrouped and went up 13-10 in the third quarter but were subdued 16-13 in the deciding fourth.
Audrey Machiwa tossed in 13 points and Brian Mugadha added 11. Umoja were led by Charles Kituyi, who scored 12 points.
Storms deflated the University of Nairobi Dynamites 53-49 in the ladies match up. The varsity girls were up 14-10 in the first quarter but Storms shot up 16-6 in the second and led 26-20 at half time.
UoN staged a good fight in the third but still trailed 15-14. A basket by Melissa Birenge brought them close at 44-45 but four straight points by Barbra Diana ended that fight.
“Our team is supposed to be way above this, but we like making life hard for ourselves. Everyone is not yet playing with the right passion,” said Storms coach Abel Nson, while hailing Diana for her heroics in the win.
Diana scored game-high 22 points to send Storms to second on the standings behind leaders Strathmore University — with 11 points. Susan Chepleting provided 18 for UoN.
In the Lower Division matches, the National Bank of Kenya won 61-41 against Moi Air Base (MAB), Clique Mambas piped Feba 55-54 and Kenya College of Accountancy University (KCA) hit Creeks 42-36.
The women’s matches saw Multi Media University go down 59-36 to Butere Girls, Zetech University Development thrashed Kenya College of Accountancy University 53-3 and Stanbic Aces hit Swift 61-35.
