The one-eighth stage of the 2024 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) erupted into a thrilling intellectual battle as three powerhouse schools—St. John’s School, Okuapemman Senior High School, and St. John’s Grammar School—clashed for a coveted spot in the quarter-finals.

In a contest marked by heart-stopping moments and jaw-dropping turnarounds, St. John’s School emerged victorious, clinching the top spot with 44 points, fueled by grit and determination.

But the narrowness of their win kept everyone on the edge of their seats—Okuapemman SHS came in a close second with 43 points, proving to be formidable challengers. St. John’s Grammar School rounded out the contest with 37 points, delivering a commendable effort in a competition that demanded nothing short of excellence.

From the first round, Okuapemman SHS signaled their intentions by taking an early lead with 16 points, outpacing St. John’s School, which held 14 points, while St. John’s Grammar trailed with 9 points. The fierce competition electrified the room, with passionate supporters from all three schools cheering their teams on, heightening the tension.

As the contest moved to the second round, St. John’s School turned the tide, surging to 26 points and overtaking their rivals. Okuapemman and St. John’s Grammar fought valiantly but found themselves behind with 18 and 16 points respectively.

The most nail-biting moment of the contest came in the fourth round, when Okuapemman SHS staged an incredible comeback, amassing 40 points and seizing the lead. The atmosphere was electric, and it seemed as if Okuapemman was on the verge of sealing their place in the quarter-finals. But St. John’s School had one final card to play.

With a last-minute surge of brilliance, St. John’s School edged ahead by a single point, finishing with 44 points and breaking the hearts of Okuapemman’s supporters. The razor-thin margin of victory left the audience in awe, with gasps and cheers filling the room as the final score was announced.

Though Okuapemman SHS and St. John’s Grammar School had fought their way to the one-eighth stage by defeating St. Thomas Aquinas SHS and Accra High School in the Preliminary Stage, their journeys came to a bittersweet end.

St. John’s School—a seeded team with high expectations—rose to the occasion, showcasing their academic prowess and knocking both rivals out of the competition.

The victory secured St. John’s School a well-deserved place in the quarter-finals, where they will now contend for a spot in the semi-finals.

The 2024 National Science and Maths Quiz is produced by Primetime Limited and sponsored by the Ghana Education Service in partnership with GOIL PLC and supported by Pepsodent, Jupay, and Prudential Life Insurance Ghana.

The broadcast of the National Science & Maths Quiz on JoyNews is supported by NASCO, VitaMilk, Virtual Security Africa, Ace Medical Insurance, Built Financial Technologies, DBS Roofing, Sintex Tanks, Family Health Medical School,  Chopbox Technologies and Action Secondary Technical School.