Equity Hawks, Storms pick vital league wins

Equity Hawks needed extra time to sink KPA 79-70 in an explosive ladies Kenya Basketball Federation  league match staged at Nyayo Gymnasium on Saturday.

The reigning champs were held to a 65-65 draw in the normal time, before Annrose Mandela bagged 6 points to tip the bankers to a 14-5 feat in the extra-period  tearing the ex-champions.

The bankers lifted off the first quarter on a high note sprinting 7 points up to bow the Dockers to a slim 15-14 win; before Betty Kananu slotted 7 points to slant the bankers to a 19-14 sweep in the second quarter.

The dockers found their boom in the third quarter, Selina Okumu taking the chief role by slotting 10 points to humble the bankers to 19-20 overthrow in the third quarter.

The Mombasa based side was leading 63-64 with only 38 seconds residual to the final whistle before Equity’s Sandra Msomba slotted in a free throw 13 seconds later to power the game into extra time.

The Hawks slotted home the win in extra time courtesy of 2-three pointers from Betty Kananu and Selina Okumu.

The Hawks tactician David Maina was happy with the game his charges for the display.

“It was quite a tough match but all in all my girls gave quite a good show, and at the end of the day we won and that is what we need,” said Maina.

In another match, Linet Otieno slotted 14 points to lead the Storms to a 54-37 rout of Strathmore  at the same Venue.

The Storms dominated the first three periods winning the first quarter 18-15 before Storms point guard Steffi Ngarire slotted 12 points to help bag the second and the third quarters with 11-06 and 13-02 wins.

The Swords found its spark in the fourth quarter winning 12-14. Game-high points of 21 from Neema Achieng was however too little too late.