Giants sharpen sword as action shifts to regional school games

The 2018 western region secondary schools games are expected to be a stiff affair as opponents plot the downfall of each other.

Defending basketball champions, Tigoi Girls High school, are expected to show its dominance after earning a ticket to the regional competition by claiming the top honours at the Vihiga County school games which ended at the weekend. The regional competition will be staged from March 21-24 at Kamusinga Boys High School in Bungoma County.

At the weekend, Tigoi were in rampant form smashing Kaimosi Girls 73-18 to bag the basketball crown and the challenge is on retaining the gong.

In last year’s games, Tigoi were crowned western champions after crushing Kamusinga Girls 75-23 in the final, going ahead to finish third in the national competition, defeating Buruburu Girls in the play-offs to claim bronze, before finishing eighth in the East Africa championship.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, Tigoi Girls basketball team head coach Ken Egovwa Adembesa said: “Our main focus now is the regional title. We have one week to sharpen up since our main target is the East Africa Championship .”

Team captain Jane Atura echoed his sentiments. “We expect more effort from the team in the regional games so that we qualify for the nationals and thereafter the East Africa School Games since that’s our main target.”

It will be no walk in the park for the girls though since they’ll face tight competition from Kamusinga Girls whom they battled in last year’s final, Mukumu Girls and Butere Girls.

In boys basketball, Chavakali who also successfully defended their trophy defeating Vihiga Boys 69-59, will be looking forward to an impressive show.Last year, they came second but were later awarded the honours after Sigalame who beat them to the top prize were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player.

This, in itself, has brewed rivalry and it promises to be an epic battle, as Kakamega High and Mukumu Boys also eye a bite at the cherry.

In hockey, Vihiga Boys High school who successfully defended their county title after seeing off Nyang’ori Boys High School 2-0 in the final will face stiff competition in the regionals in their bid to bag the title.They’ll however contend with stiff competition from Musingu Boys.Kibabii also seems to be stronger this year and it promises to be a litmus test for Vihiga who came out third last year after defeating Kolanya boys 3-1 in the playoffs.

In girl’s hockey, Tigoi Girls who successfully defended their championship after topping the group with 12 points followed by Madira Girls will be wary of the threat posed by champs St. Cecilia, Misikhu.

New champions however emerged in handball with Ebusakami Girls defeating Bumira Girls 18-14 in the final and will be out to measure their pedigree at the regional championship for the first time.

Mmbale Boys who retained the boys handball title at the county level by crushing Emusire Boys 22-17 in the final, and are expected to get a stiff competition from defending champs Mukumu Boys and Kimilili Boys.

In rugby’s 15’s aside, Chavakali High School, who defended their championship smashing Vihiga Boys 17-0 will face fierce competition from Kakamega High School, Bungoma High, St Peters, Mumias and  Kamusinga Boys.

Vihiga County champions

Basketball; Girls: Tigoi Girls,

Boys: Chavakali Boys

Handball; Girls:  Ebusakami

Boys: Mmbale

Hockey; Girls: Tigoi

Boys: Vihiga

Rugby champions: Chavakali Boys