SUSEC excel at Sprite Ball tourney

Opoku Ware School and Sunyani Senior High have sealed grand finale ticket for the 2010 Sprite Ball championship that came off in Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions respectively.

The host team, Opoku Ware School, relied on home support to inflict a painful 19-15 victory over rivals Prempeh College to lift the Ashanti Regional 2010 Sprite Ball Championship whilst Sunyani Senior High completed the double in the Brong Ahafo Region to qualify for the grand-finale in Accra.

The competition in the two regions was characterized by massive power play and determination as thousands turned out in their numbers to witness the most prestigious basketball competition among the youth in Ghana.

It was a sweet revenge for Opoku Ware (OWASS) who lost to their arch rivals at the semi-final stage last year as they displayed sheer brilliance and fortitude to beat Prempeh in the finals in front of a packed crowd over the weekend.

It was a big loss for the defending champions, Kumasi Technical Institute, in the boys division who were shocked by Nkawie at the knockout stage.

The debutant won 11-10 in a nail-biting contest.

With arguably the best player in the Ashanti Region, Dompeh David Edem dictating affairs upfront of an electrifying atmosphere, the host were a delight to watch as they silenced their rivals with some sweet flowing and attacking game.

Prempeh gave their opponent a good run for their money as they bounced back greatly in the penultimate quarter but their surge was curtailed by a well-displayed performance from power forwards Obeng Jeffery and Kwabena Osei Fosuhene, who thrilled the crowd with some scintillating individual performance on the day.

Yaa Asantewaa also accounted for St. Louis 12-4 to lift the title in the girls division.
It’s a competition that highly unpretentious and defending champions Supreme Toase will like to forget quickly.

They succumbed to Yaa Asantewaa at the semi-final stage while St. Louis also beat last year’s bridesmaid Kumasi Wesley Girls to book their place in the grand finale in Accra.

But even before Saturday’s mind-blowing games in Kumasi, the Sunyani Senior High campus was a scene of exciting games as schools in the Brong Ahafo Region took their turn to take part in the Sprite Ball championship for the first time.

The competition lived up to expectation as the host dazzled their way to the title beating Abesim-based St. Joseph 26-11.

Susec showed tremendous defensive prowess as they tossed their way to the title for the first time.

Susec Girls also made history by winning the girls division at the expense of Techiman Senior High in a low scoring 4-2 encounter on home soil.

They become the first school to have both the boys and girls represented at the national event of the competition.

The next train hit the Eastern Region on the 13th of November, 2010 where over 15 schools have confirmed their participation in the one-day championship.

Sprite Ball Championship 2010 is brought to you by Sprite, Sprite your thirst and supported by Indomie Instant Noodles- tastes great and DDP Outdoor.

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