The 2020 Sprite Ball Championship has been action-packed as the Day One of the tournament has seen some shockers and some new teams making their maiden appearance in the annual basketball gala.
Defending champions in both the male and female championship recorded mixed results in the opening day of the games.
Mfantsipim School was trumped in the very first game of this year’s championship after they were beaten 24-32 to the Volta Region representatives, Keta Business College at the El Wak Stadium in Accra.
Defending champions, Kumasi Girls’ had to battle from behind to overcome newcomers, Bueman Senior High School as they won 19-16 in the opening game.
West Africa SHS making a name for themselves
Accra based school, West Africa Senior High School (WASS) made an emphatic statement in this year’s championship after qualifying to the next phase of the competition.
Last year’s finalists, WASS recorded a straightforward win over new entrants, Asuom Senior High School in the 2020 Sprite Ball Championship.
They swept aside their opponents from the Eastern Region winning 37-14 with Courage Dogbe and Minai orchestrated the easy win.
West Africa SHS were too strong for Kumasi based school, Prempeh College as they overcame a 12-point deficit to win 24-21 in their second game.
In the first half, WASS were losing, 21-10 but pulled out a spectacle in the second half to seal qualification to the quarter-finals of the championships.
Mfantsipim School with a bag of results
Five-time champions of Sprite Ball, Mfantsipim School (Botwe) have had a Day One to forget as they had to suffer a defeat to Keta Business College.
Botwe, however, made an emphatic statement of their supremacy as they put to bed Western Regional representatives, Sekondi College.
Mfantsipim School obliterated Sekondi College courtesy a 49-8 victory to keep their hopes of defending their trophy alive.
Gabriel Hammond helped the defending champions to a cruising victory by driving home several layups and free throws.
Adisadel College triumph over Osu Presec
One time winner, Osu Presec suffered their first defeat of the high school’s basketball gala to Cape Coast giants, Adisadel College.
At an end to end game, the Zebra boys triumphed over their opponents, winning 26-23 to catch a glimpse of qualification to the next phase of the competition.
Opoku Ware finishes second after St. John’s win in “Battle of the Catholics”
St. John’s School, Sekondi emerged victors as they showed character to beat St. Paul’s SHS.
The Saints clinched a vital 34-21 win in the game dubbed “Battle of the Catholics”
St. John’s after winning all 2 games. #SpriteBall19 pic.twitter.com/nhYln3dGMe
— #SpriteBall19 (@SpriteBall) January 3, 2020
Ashanti Regional representative, Opoku Ware School finish second in Group B after losing their second game to St. John’s School who finished as leaders of the group with a 100 % win rate.
2016 Sprite Ball champions had to battle from behind in their first game to defeat St. Paul SHS.
Girl’s division report:
St. Louis SHS wins two games out of three
In the ladies’ division, St. Louis Senior High School records two wins out of a possible three.
In their first game against Accra Wesley Girls’ High School, they emerged victors with a 32-14 win.
The girls then went on to lose their second game to Cape Coast, Wesley Girls’ High School in a thrilling contest. They were defeated by just a point in 16-15 loss.
St. Louis grabbed qualification after recording a victory over Shama Senior High in a 24-17 win.
Cape Coast Wesley Girls’ hanging on the fringes
Cape Coast Wesley Girls’ need an emphatic win over Accra Wesley Girls’ in Day Two of the 2020 Sprite Ball Championship.
The ladies who noted for producing amazing basketball players in the ladies division need but a defeat after accumulating just a win in two games.
They lost their first game to Shama Senior High School who has two wins after defeating Accra Wesley Girls’.
An emphatic win will see Cape Coast Wesley Girls’ advance at the expense of either Shama SHS or St. Louis SHS on head-to-head statistics.
Kumasi Girls’ and Krobo is shinning
Defending champions, Kumasi Girls’ are looking to make it a third straight claim of the Sprite Ball Championship after recording three straight wins.
The conquered Bueman SHS by 19-15, handed Krobo Girls’ 21-18 loss and piped a strong looking Presec, Osu in a 27-12 victory.
Day One results:
Ladies division
Group A
Kumasi Girls vs Bueman SHS (19-15)
Krobo Girls’ vs Osu, Presec (20-27)
Osu, Presec vs Kumasi Girls’ (12-27)
Osu, Presec vs Bueman SHS (24-20)
Kumasi Girls vs Krobo Girls’ (21-18)
Bueman vs Krobo (To be played)
Group B
Shama vs C-Wesley Girls’ (11-7)
A-Wesley Girls’ vs St. Louis (14-32)
St. Louis vs Shama (24-17)
St. Louis vs C-Wesley Girls’ (15-16)
Shama vs A-Wesley Girls’ (17-9)
C-Wesley Girls’ vs A-Wesley Girls (To be played)
Men’s division
Group A
Ketabusco vs Mfantsipim (32-24)
Mfantsipim vs Sekondi College (49-8)
Ketabusco vs Sekondi College (37-19)
Group B
Opoku Ware vs St. Paul’s (30-27)
St. John’s vs Opoku Ware (30-27)
St. Paul’s vs St. John’s (21-34)
Group C
Osu Presec vs Pope John (30-22)
Adisadel vs Osu Presec (26-23)
Pope John vs Adisadel (To be played)
Group D
WASS vs Asuom (37-14)
Prempeh College vs WASS (21-24)
Asuom vs Prempeh (To be played)
Which schools have qualified
Ladies division:
- Kumasi Girls’ High School.
- Krobo Girls’ Senior High School
Men’s division:
- Keta Business College.
- John’s School.
- Mfanstipim School.
- Opoku Ware.
- West Africa Senior High
Quarterfinals pairings
- Keta Business College vs Opoku Ware
- Mfanstipim School vs St. John’s School