KIGALI (FIBA Africa Championship) - No Kenyan teams will be taking part in the 2011 FIBA Africa Championship following the teams' losses to Rwanda in the Zone Five qualifiers in Kigali over the weekend.
The men's side suffered a heavy defeat 74-46 to hosts Rwanda, who will proceed to their third tournament in Ivory Coast later this year. Kenya last participated in this event in Nairobi in 1993. The defeat also cost them an Pan African Games ticket.
In a game that failed to live up to expectations, Kenya trailed 14-19 in the first quarter but did put up a brave fight in a low scoring second quarter that saw the Rwandans maintain a slim advantage.
But after the break, the home side completely bossed the game, taking the third and fourth quarters by emphatic 21-13 and 24-11 scorelines.
Peter Kiganya continued his good form leading Kenya scoring 11 points while Ancette Wafula made 10.
Kiganya, who led the team in scoring in all their four games, had on the previous day made 20 points in their win over Burundi 72-63.
On their side, the Kenyan women's team also fell to the Rwandese, narrowly losing 57-54 thereby handing the hosts their first continental championship appearance as they booked their tickets for Mali.
Kenya got off to a shaky first quarter trailing 13-19 but still was in the game. In the second, they recovered and pulled away 12-8 and hung with a 18-15 cushion in the third.
But Kenya were unable to exert enough pressure as Rwanda charged back and tied the scores 54-54 with 46 seconds before sinking a game-winning three pointer in the decissive last quarter.
Red hot Angela Okoth was the player of the match despite getting little offensive support from the rest of team, she poured in tournament high 32 points. It was the third time in a row Kenya has now lost to Rwanda in Kigali.
In their penultimate fixture, Kenya crushed Ethiopia 93-59 with the lethal Okoth connecting another game-high of 27 points, Silalei Agalo nailed 16 while Achieng had 15.
FIBA