Four schools to represent Central Region in 2015 Sprite Ball finals

The 2015 Sprite Ball Championship kicks off on Friday January 9, and as expected there will be no shortage of compelling storylines.

It’s the time of year when “the roster looks great on paper!” becomes an operative phrase. It’s when best-case scenarios reign supreme and when most teams won’t get an easy route to the title.

The most successful region takes our focus on Tuesday as four gets ready for the biggest basketball showdown in the capital.

Record holders Mfantsipim and Adisadel College represent the boys division while Aggrey Memorial and Mfantseman will represent the girls division.

Mfanstipim and Aggrey Memorial have raked in a total of six titles in the Central Region and a combined four at the national level.

A number of teams have legitimate reason to be thinking big this coming season, though. Thanks to some combination of internal improvement, external additions and the weakening of divisional foes, teams  are poised to significantly improve upon their past records.

Mfantsipim

The most successful team in the Sprite Ball Championship are back in the midst again.

The oldest Senior High school in Ghana have bagged an incredible six titles, winning three at the regional level and three at the national stage.

An unparalleled three consecutive titles made them the toast and envy of many as they finally succumbed in the 2014 finals.

They have produced many great talents including reigning High School Player of the Year, Julian Morgan, currently studying in the United States of America, Maxwello Mod, Edem Dumenu, Edem Quist,  Paul Adomako, David Akuffo amongst others.

Between 2008-2011, ‘Kwabotwe’ as they are affectionately called remained unyielding and left their opponent in the region like main rivals Adisadel College and St Augustines’ to play catch-ups.

Their performances caught on so well that they left their sworn rivals to lick their wounds as they watch in agony with Mfantsipim lifting the trophy year after year.

There have not been any ifs, buts or maybes as far as Mfantsipim is concerned.

They always come into the frame with the mentality of winning and that positive traits have proved fruitful over the years.

After they clinched the 5th edition of the Sprite Ball Championship in January in 2012, huge questions emerged as to which school could dethrone Mfantsipim as the Kings of the game in the West African country.

The impressive performance of the Cape-Coast based school did not go unnoticed after they pierced through another championship with cheeky ease, disposing off the threat of many to their second title in succession at the national level.

The kind of talents that was unleashed at the Aviation Social Centre raised doubts as to when the dust will be brought to dawn on them, call off their bluff and ditch them from the top.

It took a resurgent Presbyterian Boys side to finally bring them down to earth in the last edition at the semi-final stage.

The side is on a rebuilding exercise following the departure of several key players. Yet one can never rule them out as one of the favourite to win the title.

Adisadel College

The story of Adisco is one which does come close to their town rivals. Injuries wreaked havoc on their chances of competing in the cutthroat championship.

They could only qualify as a wild card last year and got to the quarters – their best performance at the national level.

Adisco are yet to peak in the championship and with the core of their players still available for selection, they could spring a surprise.

Aggrey Memorial

The Cape Coast-based school are likely to be one of the most under-the-radar teams heading into the 2014-15 championship. They are generating massive buzz as a title contender in the famous championship.

With three regional titles under their belt and one national title to their trophy cabinet, Aggrey is a pillar in the girls division.

They have been to the finals on four occasions but have managed to lick the title just once, losing out twice to Sacred Heart, once to TI Ahmadiyya and Wesley Girls respectively.

Aggrey lost the finals in the last edition to debutant TI Amass but return to the court with huge hopes and enthusiasm.

They still have in their fold last year’s MVP Joana Danso and other array of emerging talents ready to take the championship by storm.

Mfantseman Girls

Based in Saltpong, Mfantseman Girls are a force to reckon with and are considered dark-horses contender for the title.

Winning bronze in the last edition at the expense of Labone was no fluke and will stage a return with massive confidence

Mfantseman have stolen the shine off Wesley Girls in the Central Region and will once again test their mettle in the competition.