Kent lauds Dynamites following impressive win over Swords last weekend

As the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) nears the conclusion of the first leg, coaches and players alike are pushing to pick crucial points ahead of the second round. 

This weekend, several varsity derbies were played with the women's league witnessing a highly-charged clash between Juma Kent's University of Nairobi (UoN) Dynamites and Strathmore Swords. 

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Kent's charges survived the Roonie Owino-coached side's onslaught for a 45-41 victory that moves them closer to their playoff goal. 

It was a low-scoring start for either sides, Dynamites leading 09-05 at the conclusion of the first quarter, a disappointing score for premier league sides. 

Owino's charges stepped up for a massive 17-02 second quarter to take an eleven-pojnt advantage to the break. 

"I am happy for my side's performance and while laboured, we take the win. Swords came hard at us and at some point my players panicked. This derby is always tough so we expected this. 

After the dismal performance in the second quarter, I had to talk to my players to stick to our plays and that worked in our favour," offered Kent. 

Shalon Gacheri was very instrumental in Dynamites' win, scoring 16 points to emerge the top scorer in the match. Sharon Ogaji contributed 13 for Swords but it was not enough to deliver maximum points. 

Dynamites came off the locker room and got their game faces on for a fight of their life ad the 11-point deficit was some hole they had dug themselves into. 

Gacheri exploded for six of the 16 points Kent's side scored in the third period, four coming from the free throw line. 

She,however, missed several from the same spot that would have helped her side get the better of Swords who scored five in the quarter to level the score going in to the final period. Dynamites scored 18 against 14 in the first quarter for the win. 

"We are still struggling with fitness as the players had a long break recently. However, with three matches to the conclusion of the first leg, we will push to bag as many points from these matches as we can. 

They are not easy matches but Swords have given me something to work on. We will look at our performance in this game and prepare better for Africa Nazarene University (ANU) Panthers whom we play next weekend," added Kent. 

In the other women's premier league matches Kenyatta University Oryx picked their second victory of the season, beating Eagle Wings 36-35. 

Meanwhile, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) Lynx were no match for Antony Ojukwu's Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) going down 94-34.