Laiser Hill relinquish basketball title; All Saints, Butula clash in rugby 15s final

A new champion will be crowned in basketball 5x5 as the Brookside Kenya Secondary School Sports Association School Term One games near a close in Machakos.

This is after nine-time national champions Laiser Hill relinquished their crown after losing 65-58 to Dr. Aggrey in a pulsating semi-final clash.

Laiser Hill were leading 50-48 in the late embers of the game when Dr. Aggrey's assistant coach Moses Aran Junior called for a time out with seven seconds to play.

The play then resumed with Joseph Wafula scoring a brilliant two pointer to equalize the game at the death bed, forcing the reigning champions into an extra play.

Wafula's sheer brilliance in the extra play would then help the former champions lift the reigning champions off their canvas, stunning them in the extra play to win the nail biting clash.

Head coach Robert Aran hailed his charges after their impressive shift.

"This was a tough match but we were well armed to win. We've been playing in the league and the skills they gained helped us edge past Laiser. We are now going to the final with one target, to reclaim our title."

The 2022 champions will now battle it out with on form Agoro Sare who are making their maiden appearance in the final in a scintillating final clash.

Agoro Sare who are yet to drop a game spanked hapless Dagoretti high 67-44 in another contest.

Head coach Paul Odock believes this is their year to lift their maiden title.

"Today's match was tough. We've been building this project since 2019 and we are at the apex and this is our moment to bag the national crown," noted Odock.

In girls' contest defending champions Butere Girls reigned supreme over former champions Kaya Tiwi with a 65-61 win.

They will now clash with 2019 champions Buruburu Girls who stormed to the finals after whitewashing Rift Valley's Nasokol 59-46.

Butere girls head coach Sylvester Dindi says he will be going to defend his title.

"Today's semi-final was very tough. We are going to meet a side which stunned us in the group stage but we are going to put in our best foot forward to defend the title. The girls have picked the momentum and we are confident we will win."

Rugby 15s will be a repeat of last year's final that will feature defending champions Butula and Eastern giants All Saints.

Butula stormed to the final after thumping Kitondo 32-23 in a scintillating clash that saw Wakhisi Joseph score two tries to help the Busia based school sail through.

Head coach Shimenga Livondo lamented the state of the field but praised his boys for their emphatic win.

"The game was tough but we are glad to have won. We are prepared for the final and we'll give it all to defend our title."

Last year's runners up All Saints edged past Lenana 33-10 in another semi-final clash to continue their search for the first title.

Rivalry will be renewed in hockey as familiar foes St. Anthony Boys Kitale and defending champions Musingu clash while Tigoi meet defending champions Nyamira in girls' final.

Nyamira spanked hapless Mpesa Academy 4-2 in the first semi-final as Tigoi girls thumped St. Joseph's Kitale 2-1 in another scintillating semi-final clash.

Nyamira's head coach Dennis Kigai praised his girls for their brilliant performance.

"Our emphatic win against Mpesa shows our intent to defend our title and we are confident that we are going to defend it. Our strong midfield has been working well, helping us not concede any goal and we are confident we'll thump our neighbours."

His counterpart Moses Erima promised to upset the defending champions and bag their maiden title.

"We are at the same level with Nyamira and the goal we conceded against them in the group stage match was an unlucky one. We are confident we'll rise to the occasion in the final and bag the title," noted Erima.

In the boys' semi-final contest Musingu stunned St. Charles Lwanga 4-2 while St. Anthony Boys Kitale edged past Nairobi School 2-1 in a thrilling contest.

Handball girls' contest will have a new champion after defending champions St. Joseph's girls Kitale relinquished their title at the regional level, after they were stunned by new girls on the block Mirundiko at the regional level.

Last year's runners up Moi Girls Kamusinga will battle it out with Kwanthanze, after whitewashing Ulanda girls 25-11 in the first semi-final clash.

Head coach Godfrey Simiyu believes they will bag this year's title after narrowly losing it last year in a 16-15 defeat.

"We are confident that this year we will lift the title. We are putting a lot of effort into ensuring we reclaim our title."

 Another semi-final clash saw hosts Kwanthanze rout Murundiko 22-17.

In the boys' contest St. Luke's Kimilili will battle it out for the title with defending champions Hospital Hill in a nail biting clash, with fans having already had a glance of what to expect in the final after the two sides clashed in group stage with Hospital Hill edging Kimilili 17-16.

In the first semi-final St. Luke's Kimilili battered Saniak 32-19, while Hospital Hill put Mbooni Boys to sword 21-20 in a nervy ending clash that saw emotions fill the air.

Mbooni protested the defeat citing poor refereeing.