Keta Senior high retained the 2010 Volta regional Sprite Ball Championship on technical grounds while Awduome girls also halted the dominance of Nkwanta by lifting the trophy on Saturday at the Mawuko Girls senior high basketball court.
Ketasco won the competition for the third time running after they accumulated the highest point build up in a competition which attracted thousands of fans to the venue.
The young players from Keta opened the defence of their title with a comfortable 29-11 success over Kadjebi -Asato in their opening game. The two sides produced a sell-out-performance as fans sang and chanted to support their respective teams. The performance of the various schools was a comprehensible indication that the game in the Volta region is growing steadily as players showcased amazing talent and skills to the charging of the spectators. Power forward for Ketasco Fiagbe, was a delight to watch as he once again showed individual brilliance on the court. The high –scoring forward was so good at the one-day championship that he was unofficially voted MVP of the 15-team event in the boys division. The emerging talent had 10 points, three assist and three rebound to help the side keep the title for good.
‘We knew the championship was going to be very difficult because of our dominance over the past two years and I’m happy we kept our heads high to win the title for keeps’ an elated Fiagbe told basketballghana.com
Meanwhile Mawuli senior high posted a famous victory over last year’s bridesmaid Keta Business School (Ketabusco) to book a place in the grand finale in Accra in two months time.
Ketabusco began their quest to wrestle the title from Ketasco on a blistering note- walloping– Nkwanta senior high 20-8 in their opening clash. They raised their performance again to beat Awudome to ignite the hope and aspiration of the side. They were however shell-shocked by Mawuli in the fight for a place in the finals in a game which produced massive thrills and end to end action.
In the girls division, Awudome senior high produced and eye-catching display to win the championship for the first time in the region. They beat Ketabusco girls 10-7 in the opening game before subsequent success over Ola, Awudome and Mawuli ensured they cut short the dominance of Nkwasec. Kajebi Asatu also qualified for the grand-finale in Accra by placing second. Coach G.A Akahoho’s young charges exhibited sublime piece of skills to kill of the challenge of Three Town girls in their opening fixture before they accounted for Akatsi, Hohoe Evangelical Presbyterian senior high consequently.
Mawuko girls failed to take advantage of home support when they placed fourth in the competition. The home side drew first blood in their opening fixture against rivals Mawuli with a comeback victory. It was a game that failed to produce few goals but with lot of end to end action and fairly tale display from the young ladies.
The atmosphere was again electrified when they beat Three Town 6-4 in the second match to qualify for the knockout phase. But the hope and aspiration of the home side was crushed when they lost the plot again eventual winners Awudome.
The top two sides in both the boys and girls division – Ketasco, Mawuli, Awudome and Kajebi Asatu have booked their ticket for the grand finale scheduled to take place at the El-Wak stadium on December 22-23rd
The next train of the regional qualifiers hit the Brong Ahafo regional capital of Sunyani where over 15 schools will compete for honours in their debut appearance on October 29, 2010.
Sprite Ball Championship 2010 is brought to you by Sprite, Sprite your thirst and supported by Indomie Instant Noodles- tastes great and DDP Outdoor. Media partners TV Africa, Graphic Sports and basketballghana.com. Sprite Ball 2010 Championship is powered by Rite Multimedia.
By: Patrick Akoto
