Laiser Hill Academy from Rift Valley and Butere Girls were crowned 2023 Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) boys’ and girls’ basketball champions as games ended on Saturday in Eldoret.
It was sweet revenge as the two sides avenged their previous losses to deny their opponents bragging rights. Laiser Hill beat Dagoretti High from Nairobi 45-42 to reclaim the boys’ basketball title they lost to Dr Aggrey last year. Laiser Hill who also secured their return to the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) games set for Huye, Rwanda having missed last year’s championship. They were elated to dismiss Dagoretti who had eliminated Laiser Hill in the semis forcing them to settle for third place.
Butere Girls were in cloud nine after stunning former champions Kaya Tiwi from cost 51-41 in the girls final. Butere hit Kaya Tiwi where it hurt most avenging their past losses hence securing their maiden national title. Butere coach Chris Odeke lauded his charges saying that they deserved the national title due to their hard work and commitment.
“I’m more than happy to win our first ever basketball national title, more so against the defending champions. This didn’t just happen overnight, we have worked very hard, invested time and above all the girls have been very committed. God made it happen for us because his time is always the best,” Odeke said.
Kaya Tiwi’s Mariam Wangari was on fire scoring 19 points but her effort was not good enough to help her side retain their title. Terence Hil Musimbi top scored for Butere with 12 points while Elizabeth Alicia added 10.
In the boys final, Laiser Hill proved that they were the better side as Dagoretti struggled to keep pace. Laiser took the first quarter 11-4 to take charge of the game. Dagoretti recovered in the second quarter to score 10 points against Laiser’s seven and narrow their lead to three points. Dagoretti would score 28 points in the second half against Laiser’s 27 but had their dismal first quarter show to blame for missing the national title for the third time. Dagoretti have fallen short in the final since 2019.
In handball, Hospital Hill were the only champions standing after they edged Mbooni Boys from Eastern 16-15 in the final. By squeezing a one-goal win Hospital Hill were the only winners from last year’s games that retained their title. The ending was not good for record girls title holders Moi Girls Kamusinga from Western as they painfully relinquished their crown to Rift Valley’s St Joseph’s Kitale. Kamusinga lost 15-16 in a tightly contested final.
By Education News
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