Many had written them off in winning their contest. Still, with sheer grit and determination, Zebilla SHS has qualified for the semi-final stage of the Goil Plc Northern Zonal Championship of the National Science and Maths Quiz.

The school eliminated Tolon SHS, Bolgatanga SHS (Big Boss), and Northern School of Business (NOBISCO) - who qualified for the championship with the highest score for the Northern Region.

It was an intense race between the Zebilla SHS and NOBISCO to secure a spot at the next stage of the zonal championship.

But the four-man squad and their two teachers having travelled from the Bawku West district in the Upper East region surprised spectators at the GNAT Hall, Tamale.

The students who were chosen to prepare for their regional qualifiers barely three days prior, won the audience's hearts by their zealous efforts and perseverance.

The school trailed NOBISCO in the first round but managed to bridge the gap to be at par with them and subsequently edge past NOBISCO in the third round with a 6-point gap.

Although NOBISCO resolved to turn the contest in their favour, they only toppled ending with a 2-point difference between Zebilla SHS.

The school is qualifying with four others for the semi-final stage of the competition.

In what many had described as a beautiful comeback, Navrongo SHS beat Wa SHS, leading from the first to third rounds of the contest with a nine-point difference.

But the gentlemen from NAVASCO looked unperturbed but convinced of a mystical performance to bridge the gap.

They surely did, ending the contest in a tie-breaker. The school went on to win the contest answering the tie-breaker question after Wa SHS failed to provide the right answer.

The Lions of Tamale SHS proved to be one of the formidable giants in the North, winning their contest against Nandom SHS, Queen of Peace SHS and St. Francis of Assisi Girls SHS.

The city counterparts, Ghana SHS followed in their steps to book a place in the semi-finals after they clashed with their rivals St. Charles Minor Seminary, Notre Dame Seminary and Yendi SHS.

The seminarians from Notre Dame and St. Charles had joined forces to defeat Ghana SHS but fell short of the stamina to oust GHANASCO.

Notre Dame Seminary however have a chance to be a top runner-up to join in the semi-final stage.

Meanwhile, the final contest for the day will be an academic smackdown as St. Francis Xavier SHS clashes with defending champions, Tamale Islamic Science SHS.