NAIROBI (Pre Season) - Strathmore University and Mombasa Sports Club (MSC) won the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Pre Season tournament played at the KCB Sports Club, Ruaraka.

Strathmore came back from a 29-19 half time deficit to beat Co-operative Bank of Kenya 49-44 in a thrilling encounter. Co-op had taken a 15-13 and 14-6 lead in the first and second quarters.

After the breather, the bankers maintained the tempo but the students closed in 31-35 at the end of the third. Strathmore took the last after a their Vincent Okoth free shots gave their first lead at 41-40.

Co-op's Allan Ouma missed two vital free shots that would have brought them close at 45-47 in the waning seconds. That miss proved too costly as Ken Maru tip in at the other end iced a hard fought Strathmore win.

Maru led with 14 points while Yoni Wanambiro nailed another 13. Co-op had nobody scoring in double figure and were led by Johnson Karonji who scored nine points. Strathmore beat UoN Terrorists 45-43 while Co-op nailed Kenya Polytechnic 57-34 in the semi finals.

Mombasa Sports Club were superior in al department beating the much experienced opponents with consumate ease. The school girls took a deserved 18-8 lead in the first quarter, raced up 23-4 in the second and the game was over a contest.

It was all too easy in the second as coach Phillip Onyango shuffled his squad but with deadly results as Poly had difficulties coping with inspirational captain Evalyne Adhiambo who posed all sorts of problems.

Mildred Olumasi bagged 21 points while Brenda Wasuda added 16. Poly had Ingrid Auma to thank as she tossed in 10 points. MSC beat Strathmore University 36-22 in the semis while Poly got a walkover after Yana Milele showed up late.

Full results: 

Men- Co-op 57 Poly 34
Terrorists 43 Strathmore 45
Ken Poly 41 Strathmore 35
ICC 33 Terrorists 28
Ken Poly 55 Jkuat 43
Terrorists 53 Co-op 38.

Ladies- MSC 36 Strathmore 22
Yana 22 MSC 21
Strathmore 30 Jkuat 19
Kenya Poly 21 Strathmore 28
Kenya Poly 25 Jkuat 23
Yana 36 Pangani 16
MSC 54 Pangani 16.

Dann OWERE
FIBA