“If they are two or three players, I can deal with them. When the entire team misses training and we have to play, I am left with no option,” Job Munene, the Zetech University men’s head coach bemoaned on Sunday.
This was after seeing his team concede the 11th loss of the season; a 54-62 result against Lions.
Munene said their poor performance is due to lack of discipline among the players. “It is indiscipline and they have received a warning from the management. All will be fine.”
They remain at the bottom of the log with 17 points and have won three games only. From the earlier season target of making it to the playoffs, Zetech has been left with a heavier task of avoiding relegation.
That mission will not be easy with their big-man Jeremy Opiyo ruled out for up to six months with an ankle injury.
In this match, Lions won the first quarter 13-11 after taking the lead 11-8 in the second half of the first quarter.
Zetech had taken early control leading 2-0 and 4-2 with ties of 2-2 and 8-8. The game tied 11-11 before Lions made a basket at the buzzer to claim the quarter.
In the second quarter, the game tied 13-13 before Zetech went up 16-13. John Achola then scored eight straight points to lead Lions to an eight-point lead of 24-16.
Lions stretched the lead to 14 points at 36-22 and won the quarter 23-12 for a 36-23 halftime lead. The lead went up by 15 points in the third quarter at 38-23 but final score tied 16-16.
Zetech won the fourth quarter 15-10 having trailed by the biggest margin of 17 points at 39-56.
Achola top-scored for Lions with 16 points and Harrison Kaudia added 11. For Zetech, Chris Oluk scored a game-high 24 points.
Huge stride
In the women’s Premier League, United States International University- Africa (USIU-A) made a huge stride rising from ninth to fifth on the log after beating Eagle Wings 69-53.
They are now tied on 17 points with Zetech and Storms. Angela Akoth made five free shots and two three-pointers to lead scoring for USIU-A with 21 points while Melissa Akinyi made four three-pointers to finish with 20 points.
First quarter was very close with USIU-A winning 17-16 and led four times at 2-0, 4-3, 9-8 and 15-12 while Eagles led 3-2, 5-4, 10-9 and 16-15. There were ties of 2-2 and 12-12 in the quarter.
In the second quarter, Akinyi’s two three-point shots helped USIU-A open a 10-point lead of 31-21 as they won the quarter 17-9 to lead 34-25 at the breather.
By close of the third quarter that the students won 21-14, they had established a lead of 16 points at 55-39.
The gap opened up to 20 points in the fourth quarter at 61-41 but finished in a 14-14 tie. Lucy Machuma scored 15 points for Eagles, Eunice Ouma added 11 and Rebecca Sarange finished with 10.
USIU-A scored 16 points from the free-throw line and 18 from the three-point line while Eagles scored 20 free shots and made one three-pointer.
Return to top four
In another game, Strathmore University returned to the top four with 18 points after winning 64-54 against Storms. The students scored their last ten points of the game from the free-throw line and made seven three-pointers to aid in the win.
Strathmore won the first three quarters 15-11, 23-10 and 11-7 respectively with Storms claiming the fourth 26-15.
Susan Manya led scoring for the students with 11 points, Melvin Iminza had 10, Joy Adongo scored eight and Barbra Achieng finished with seven.
Sylvia Omollo made 13 free shots to top score for Storms with 18 points, Linet Mukiri made three three-pointers and a basket to add 11 points while Angela Luchivya finished with nine points all from the free-throw line.
Strathmore lost in the women’s Division I going down 37-51 to Kisumu Lady Bucks who fielded seven players only.
It was a false start for Lady Bucks as they lost 2-11 in the first quarter but recovered to win the second 16-9, the third 17-9 and the fourth 16-8.
Stephanie Tongoi scored 14 points for the Kisumu-based team, Joyce Misita added 12 and Elsa Anyango scored nine.
Bakhita Jennifer scored 9/11 for Strathmore in the first quarter from three three-pointers to lead scoring with 14 points.
