Ng’iya Girls have been crowned this year’s new Nyanza Regional School Games girls 3×3 basketball champions after defeating Nyakach Girls 10-6 in the finals.
For the first time, Ng’iya Girls, alongside Sawagongo High School, will represent Nyanza Region at the national school games slated for Kisii County’s three venues: Kisii School, Cardinal Otunga High School, and Gusii Stadium, from July 29 to August 7.
Onjiko High School will also represent the region in the boy’s category.
On the road to the final, in the girls’ category, Siaya-based Ng’iya Girls decisively trounced St. Barnabas Girls by a score of 14-7 in the semifinals staged at Kisii School, with Ng’iya Girls’ indefatigable player–Cecil Atieno–being declared the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the girls’ category.
In the girls’ category, outstanding players were from Tuk Jowi Secondary, St. Barnabas, Ogande Girls, and Asumbi Girls.
While addressing journalists, region’s game coordinator, Brian Lusaga, observed that the uptake of 3×3 basketball in Nyanza has increased by more than 15 per cent.
He stated: “The 3×3 basketball game has really picked up in secondary schools in the Nyanza Region. During this year’s regional basketball competition, it was apparent that most schools presented polished teams that had mastered the rules of the game. The school teams also demonstrated a lot of talent.”
Meanwhile, in the boys’ category, Kenya’s East Africa schools competition boys’ representatives and defending champions, Onjiko High, retained their regional title.
Lusaga mentioned that basketball talent was displayed in the boys’ category by players from Maseno School, Ambira Boys, Nyanchwa Secondary, and Homabay High.
Onjiko High trounced Siaya-based Ambira Boys High School 15-8 during the first Nyanza regional boys’ 3×3 basketball semi played at Kisii School. Kisumu County’s Maseno School went down fighting 18-20 against Sawagongo High School in the second semifinal at the same venue.
The boys’ second semifinal triumphant team, Onjiko High, proceeded to edge out stubborn Siaya County-based Sawagongo 15-11 to retain the Nyanza Regional Secondary Schools Term Two Games 3×3 basketball title.
Onjiko player Dennis Oduor bagged the competition’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) accolade.
