Swish fall short in overtime playoff heartbreaker

Strathmore set the tone early, using their superior pace and hot shooting to take the first quarter 25-20. The debutants showed their inexperience, with careless turnovers in the opening minutes allowing the Swords to build an 11-point lead.

The Swish responded emphatically in the second, opening the quarter with a 7-1 run that forced a Swords timeout. Point guard Lavender Opondo took control, orchestrating an offensive turnaround as the Swish outscored Strathmore 21-15 in the quarter. The Swords still led 41-40 at half-time, but the momentum had shifted.

The Swish carried that energy into the third, with Opondo and Arek Peters combining effectively to give them a 63-61 lead and force another Swords timeout. It was their first lead of the game. However, missed free throws and a swift Strathmore break exposed gaps in the Swish defence down the stretch.

The fourth quarter became a slugfest, featuring a coach’s challenge and video review as the stakes rose. The Swish struggled to find their rhythm early, allowing Strathmore back into the contest. By the closing minutes, the debutants appeared to be running out of energy.

Strathmore moved ahead as regulation time wound down, but the Swish refused to go quietly. The sides were tied 73-73 at the buzzer, sending the game into overtime.

The Swish started the extra period slowly after Strathmore’s strong finish to regulation, but a series of defensive stops late in overtime brought them level. A late three-pointer briefly raised hopes of a dramatic comeback, but it was not enough.

Strathmore Swords held on to take Game One 80-78, denying the Swish a winning start to their historic playoff debut.