The festive season is long gone but the new year had one final act that crowned the celebrations. The just 2016 Sprite Ball Championship officially sent the social media world on fire like Juliet Ibrahim’s look as co-host at the CAF Awards. The biggest basketball tournament had the country talking as alma maters of participating schools couldn’t stay away from the games. Some went ahead to give back to their schools by donating money, groceries and basketball apparel.
As St. Augustine’s College blew out Mfantsipim School 37-22 to claim its’ first ever national championship, the biggest story line of the entire tournament has to begin with an “if”.
January 18 will be exactly the 80th anniversay of the famous English writer Joseph Rudyard Kipling who is perhaps best known for his fiction tale The Jungle Book. Drawing inspiration from his earlier Indian years, he pieced together a classical literature work for children. His other notable work “If-“, was a paternal advice from Kipling to his son John. Here is the 2016 Sprite Ball version.
If Mfantsipim’s Kofi Aboagye Acheampong had not been fouled-according to officials- and converted one of two free throws eventually to send the game into overtime, Opoku Ware would have had a shot at winning its first title as well. By far the most balanced team of the 16 schools in the boys’ division, Opoku Ware School paraded not only the popular immensely talented Emmanuel “Ghost” Agyapong but a unique set that included rebounding gem Harris, long Center Elorm, hard driving Guard Nana Agyei Fritete and sharpshooting Point Guard Emmanuel Opare who to the chagrin of many a future opponent, will be eligible for yet another run.
A quick run through the roster of their closest rivals does reveal how far OWASS were from them. Mfantsipim’s offense was largely one dimensional that had Aboagye drive to the basket and dump off a pass to whoever to finish inside the paint. Champions St. Augustine’s defense was always a step ahead of the offense throughout the competition. Pope John’s Senior High never looked the -we are here to win the title-part, St. Thomas Aquinas figuratively speaking had just one player, Fan favorite Ashietey Ollenu and Koforidua Secondary Technical quite simply could not finish several fast break attempts.
So “if” OWASS was favorite for the title, how come the team only managed a third runner up showing for their effort.The first instance that comes into play is the controversial call in the dying seconds of the semi final game between the “Two Schools”-Opoku Ware School and Mfantsipim School. With time running out and OWASS up 23-22, the baseline umpire called an offensive foul on Mfantsipim’s Aboagye only for the referee stationed close to the center, to overturn the decision and gift Mfantsipm the chance to win. Aboagye fluffed one of two free throw attempts to even the score at 23 for overtime where the red and blacks pulled away to qualify for a record sixth straight final.
If officials had ruled correctly, the lads from the Ashanti Region would have had the chance to pick up new laptops from the Sports Minister himself. Dr. Mustapha Ahmed’s presence through out the competition right from the official launch live on TV3, the opening day to the final day was highlighted by his one laptop per student policy should the team win the trophy.
This was the biggest donation to come from an Old Boy to his Alma mater which had it it materialized, would have topped Augustine’s Old Boy Dr. Papa Kwesi Ndoum’s 5000 Ghana Cedis package. Unfortunately, the referee and umpire decisions only wound up stirring controversy leaving the usually placid Alexander Obeng “KT” Takyi negatively gobsmacked and uncharacteristically chatty.
If OWASS had proceeded to the final game against St.Augustine’s College, the 2016 Sprite Ball thrid place game would have been a much keenly contested game between Mfantsipim and Pope John’s rather than the emotionally bereft game OWASS played against eventual winner Pope John’s Senior High. Shoulders slumped, heavy footed and dried traces of tears running marking disappointed faces, OWASS very talented team went through the motions as they fell 26-19 to their Eastern regional contemporaries.
And “If” OWASS had made it to the final game, the school would have equalled arch rivals Prempeh College’s historic feat as the only Ashanti Region-based school to appear in the finals. That massive feat was recorded way back in 2010 when Mfantsipim beat Prempeh to claim the first of four championships the school will win in subsequent editions.
But just like in Kipling’s renowned poem,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man,
If OWASS can fill the angst they feel with confidence and resilience, they will be national champions next year.
