ELLESMERE PORT Catholic High School's Year 7 boys basketball team won the North West Invitational tournament in dramatic style, writes Sam Christie.
The best eight teams from across the region were split into two pools of four, with the top two from each group qualifying for the semi-finals in the competition held at St Peter's High School, Manchester.
After narrowly beating St Matthew's of Manchester 13-11 in the opening game, Catholic High cruised to victory in the remaining two pool games, thrashing Priestwall High of Stockport (21-6) and then Helsby High (20-6).
Catholic High recorded a similar margin of victory in the semi-final against Reddish Vale of Stockport (17-5) to progress to the final against Helsby, who they had beaten in the group stage.
The final proved to be a closer encounter than the previous game.
Helsby led 18-15 with only a minute left on the clock, but a three-point play from Adam Jones and a last-gasp basket from Joe Hayes ensured Catholic High returned home with the trophy.
Catholic High's captain Jack Griffith received the most valuable player award for the tournament.
