The establishment of the immaculate school in Ghana’s capital Accra fits perfectly in line with its motto Primus Semper Aurora”. Translated as “First at Dawn”, its establishment predated Ghana’s independence ten full years and ushered in the start of great things for the West African country.
Labone Senior High School has since been at the forefront of grooming young individuals to become well nurtured, respected and well rounded members of society.
The blend of academics, sports and other activities has been a hallmark of the coed institution for many years in Ghana. As the most popular and well participated discipline in the school, basketball, like it has done for many other schools has put Labone in the best of conversations through the years. In Ghana, and arguably West Africa, no other high school basketball competition comes close to the Sprite Ball Championship which will, be celebrating its tenth anniversary come January 2017.
The competition since its inception has grown to become the must win high school event that transformed many a life individually and a school’s status as a whole. Just ask Sacred Heart how it feels like to move from obscurity to the limelight after winning the competition or ask big name St. Augustine’s College how winning this year’s edition has liberated the school from constant mocking at the hands of peers Mfantsipim School and Presbyterian Boys Senior High School (PRESEC-Legon) who have won previous editions of the competition. Labone’s affair performance in Sprite Ball has been one of unfulfilled promise as the school’s male side is yet to feature in the tournament and the female side has struggled to make an impact upon qualification.
At the 2014 edition, Labone’s female side made the final roster to be paired alongside Yaa Asantewaa Girls Senior High School, Tema Senior High School and Aggrey Memorial Mount Zion in Group A. However, like in previous editions, the side failed to make it out of the group as Aggrey made it all the way to final before falling to T.I. Ahmadiyya. Since that botched attempt, Labone has missed out on subsequent editions of Sprite Ball including 2016’s where the side missed out on a spot after falling short of the required votes to top 2014 group opponent Tema in the polls.
Tema bettered Labone’s haul of 382 votes with an outstanding pull of 1351 votes to qualify. Further heartbreak ensued prior to the online poll as Labone’s male side failed to progress beyond the regional competition as it got knocked out of the competition by St. Thomas Aquinas Senior High School.
The latter, led by sharp shooter, Amos Ollenu Ashietey grabbed the solitary ticket to the main finals where its top marksman dazzled on his way to being named Fans Most Valuable Player of the Tournament. Disappointing both results were, one cannot help but notice the pieces are there for Labone to put fearsome sides in the male and female divisions and break the underwhelming jinx that has enveloped the school in the competition. Don’t count out the early riser Labone Senior High School at the tenth Sprite Ball.
