Keta Senior High Technical School (KETASCO) were crowned champions in the girls’ and boys’ categories of the Volta Region version of the maiden edition of Mental Slam basketball competition.
The KETASCO boys beat the hosts, Mawuli School, by just one point in a thrilling final to lift the trophy and claim the bragging rights in the four-school tournament. The game ended 22–21 in favour of KETASCO.
They kicked off the competition by securing 25 points in a 42-point match against their compatriots from Awudome Senior High School, booking a place in the final.
Bishop Herman College failed to make an impression, losing both games to Mawuli and Awudome Senior High School, who secured third position.
In the girls’ category, Mawuli School were no match for KETASCO, who thrashed them in the final. The Havio suffered a humiliating defeat in a game that ended 30–6.
KETASCO sealed their qualification for the final with a win over Ola Girls Senior High School in a 6–3, two-quarter game. KETASCO ended the competition with the highest number of points: 55.
Ola Girls Senior High School finished in third position after beating Awudome Senior High School, which had earlier lost to KETASCO 24–7.
The winning teams were presented with trophies and gold medals.
The second- and third-placed teams were decorated with silver and bronze medals, respectively.
The Head of Programmes for the KGL Foundation, Nii Ankonu Annorbah-Sarpei, congratulated the winning teams and urged the losing teams to keep practising, keep all hopes alive and continue believing in themselves.
He explained that Mental Slam was tailored to promote mental health among teenagers, who have been identified as being prone to anxiety disorders and depression.
“Particularly for us, Mental-Slam is under our mental health initiative, which is basically to give young people access to information, particularly about mental health”, he said.
Mr Annorbah-Sarpei said that KGL Foundation aims to promote mental health in educational communities by providing well-equipped counselling centres in selected schools across the country.
He listed Keta Senior High Technical School, Mawuli School, Bishop Herman College, Ola Senior High School and Awudome Senior High School and explained that some of the schools would have their counselling centres rehabilitated to be fit for purpose.
Students, especially those who participate in sports, were advised against doping or relying on substances as energy boosters.
