Ogechi, Juma power Thunder past Warriors
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 23.11.24. | 11:00
Coach Ibs' says the league matches keep his local squad engaged even as they focus on preparing for next week's Road to BAL
Nairobi City Thunder have continued their unbeaten streak on home soil after opening their Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) men's league campaign with a commanding 85-59 over Ulinzi Warriors.
A quick 11-04 start for the Bradley Ibs-coached side in the opening five minutes of the clash gave the defending league champions the momentum they needed en route a 25-09 first quarter.
In match that many expected to have a glimpse of the stars recruited for the Road to BAL (Basketball Africa League) Elite 16 where Thunder will look to qualify at home, Ibs fielded a mostly Kenyan-based team, with the exception of Derrick Ogechi who top scored with 20.
Warriors played a better second quarter, trailing 22-21 to head to the locker rooms on a 47-30 scoreline, a 17-point difference that proved tough to come back from as Thunder dominated the second half 22-14, and 16-15 for victory.
Coach Ibs' charges had Ogechi and Faheem Juma combine for 37 points, the latter bagging a double-double with 10 rebounds to his name. The side's rebounding was led by James Mwangi who pulled down 12 rebounds, coming two points shy of a double-double.
On his part, coach Bernard Mufutu had Simon Rapudo and Brans Nzioka leading the military side in scoring with 14 and 11 respectively, Nzioka dominating the boards for Warriors with nine.
Thunder called the shots on the paint with a 30-24 count, going ahead on points from fast breaks with a 31-20 show. However, the military side's bench outscored Thunder's 46-34 but their contribution was not enough to propel Warriors, who had lost last weekend to Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), back to winning ways.
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