St. Jude Girls and King Amakree Academy Claim Atlantic Conference Titles in MILO Basketball Championship

(St. Jude Girls with MILO Basketball Team. photo by Nation News)

St. Jude Girls Secondary School, Amarata, Bayelsa State, and King Amakree Academy, Rivers State, have emerged winners of the girls’ and boys’ titles respectively at the Atlantic Conference of the 26th MILO Basketball Championship, held at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta State.

In the girls’ final, St. Jude Girls overpowered Urhobo College with a 46–25 victory, with Anthonia Obokawe, who wore jersey number four, emerging Most Valuable Player after leading her team with 12 points.

On the boys’ side, King Amakree Academy narrowly defeated Urhobo College 47–44, with Edmund Hart clinching the MVP award after scoring 22 of his team’s total points.

A total of nine schools competed in each category, with only the conference champions earning a spot at the National Finals.

An organiser of the tournament noted that beyond competing for medals, the participating students were also learning self-belief, teamwork, and resilience in the face of challenges.

The Atlantic Conference marked the third of four regional stages in the competition.

Earlier winners from previous stages include Government Secondary School, Zing, Taraba State, which claimed the girls’ title at the Savannah Conference, and Family Support Programme Secondary School, Katsina State, which won the boys’ category at the same conference.

At the Central Conference, Government Secondary School, Gboko, Benue State, won the girls’ title, while Father O’Connell Science College, Niger State, emerged victorious in the boys’ category.

The Western Conference, the final regional stage, will determine the remaining qualifiers ahead of the National Finals, scheduled for July 2, 2026, at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

According to the organisers, more than 13,000 schools participated in the 2026 edition of the championship nationwide.

The event was attended by officials from the Delta State Ministry of Education, along with representatives from the relevant sports federations and basketball governing bodies.