Basketball: Warriors' swords put to the test in Blades' victory

Former Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) men's league champions needed over time to handle business against Strathmore University Blades in a highly dramatic match played at Nyayo Indoor Arena on Sunday 24 July. 

The Bernard Mufutu-led Warriors were overly underwhelming in the opening quarters of the match and it was Blades who ran the show and looked comfortable enough to cause an upset. However, that was never to be as they lost 68-64 after 45 minutes of action.

"We did not share the ball as expected and were unable to control the boards until the last quarter of the match. Blades are a well seasoned team so we expected a tough match. 

However, we still have alot to work on but we are taking it a game at a time. Whether we win or lose, we are getting some lessons from each match," said Mufutu ina post-match interview. 

Although Warriors led 9-7 in a low-scoring first quarter, the varsity side turned up for the second period with a vengeance and went 26- 18 ahead after the second quarter as they restricted their opponent to another sub 10-point performance to take an eight-point advantage to the break. 

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We can only imagine that the tough-talking Mufutu read Warriors the riot act in the half-time break or the players snapped out of whatever had them giving such a poor show as they came out of the locker room guns blazing. 

At the start of the third quarter, one would be forgiven for thinking the scoreline on display was a five-minute performance in a premier league clash, especially one involving the former champions. 

Warriors went out hard to score 21 points that were replied by a a similar number of points by the Tony Ochieng-led students for the advantage to remain at eight heading to the final period. 

The first four minutes of the last quarter had Warriors scoring eight consecutive points to tie the game at 47 points with six and a half minutes left to play and it was game on. 

Anyone watching at Nyayo knew they were in for a dramatic conclusion to the match but none was ready for what was about to unfold at the dimly-lit indoor Arena. 

Warriors took the lead for the first time since the beginning of the second half in 49-47 but Blades would have none of it as they reclaimed pole position and went on to lead 54-51 with one minute and 23 seconds on the clock. 

Garang Deng had hammered a three-pointer followed by a free throw with Ken Dwallo contributing another free throw for Blades to go ahead 56-51 with less than two minutes to play. 

Warriors responded with a basket from Antonio Bwire but he missed the ensuing free throw as he was fouled on his way up for the score to read 56-53 with 25 seconds to play. 

Blades left William Ochieng open in the ensuing action and in spectacular fashion, the paint-marshal for the soldiers delivered outside the arc to send the fans in the Arena to a frenzy as he tied the match at 56 points with 2.5 seconds to play. 

Warriors had possession and needed to make it count to avoid over time but Churchil Odhiambo's effort was blocked and the two sides had to content with an extra five minutes. 

"From the matches played so far it is clear we need to work on our consistency. All the players must be able to deliver on the same level. We are also hopeful that the players that missed the match today will be back for the next match as that will add to our depth," added Mufutu who missed the services of Joseph Owino who was serving a two-match ban. Also unavailable were Elisha Odhiambo and Vincent Juma. 

The drama was far from over as two minutes into extra time, coach Ochieng drew a second technical foul on himself and he had to be ejected from the Arena leaving his men to fend for themselves. 

The match was still tied at 59 points with three minutes to play but the students went up 61-59 to spell trouble for Mufutu's charges. 

Warriors took the varsity side to the line four consecutive times for what would have been eight points that could easily have sealed the match for the students but they missed all four, probably due to the bad lighting in the Arena. 

Two costly turnovers gave Warriors the lead as they went on to win the match 68-64.