YORK'S leading junior basketball players returned home from the under-14s Inter Association English Schools final with an unofficial northern champions tag.

The representative side, made up of the city's best young players, travelled to Nottingham for the national finals on Sunday as the best team from Yorkshire and the North East. And even though they failed to make a mark on some of the more experienced sides, they emerged as honorary top dogs of the north after beating North West side Barrow in a thrilling final encounter, 42-39.

York found themselves trailing by 19 points after the first 12-minute half but battled back to within two points with 35 seconds on the clock. Lady Lumley's student Callum Maguire drove to the boards to score and picked up a foul on the way for an extra shot.

Showing incredible composure, Maguire sunk the free throw to put York ahead for the first time. The next Barrow assault was halted and Carl Stewart of Oaklands School took the ball to the other end and fired in another to make a three point advantage. Stewart then conjured up a steal and worked with fellow guard Toby Hutton to retain possession until the final buzzer.

The win was a great end to a tough day which had seen the York side go down 47-33 to Devon, who had three national league players in their team, 54-36 to Midlands champions Derbyshire and Essex 58-31.

The team were coached by Paul Hartley with assistant coach Perran Hutton, and will all make up next season's York Vikings under-15 team in the national league.

FOOTBALL

NEXT year's York Under 11 Schools football team made a spectacular start to their campaign by defeating this year's crop 2-1 in a trial game at York Sixth Form College.

The new pretenders made a solid start with Alex Dale and Tom Kite providing a strong partnership at the centre of defence.

Captain-elect Conor Qualter caused the opposition problems down the right while Charlie Clamp and Jacob Gore formed a good understanding as a strike partnership.

Clamp opened the scoring from close range and York continued to press in the second period with the elusive Charlie Taylor making several surging runs down the left.

Qualter made it 2-0 with a left-foot shot.

However, York were indebted to goalkeeper George Catling, who foiled a one-on-one and made several important saves.

York's opponents grabbed a consolation towards the end through Matty Dale but York held on for the win.

York U11s will start training in September.

The end of season party for this year's Under 11s will be on Saturday, July 3 (7pm) at the Marcia, Bishopthorpe. Payment is £5 per player and adult.

TENNIS

York Schools Tennis League

Under 13 Girls: St Peters 5, Bootham 1; St Olives 5, Bootham 1; Queen Margaret's 6, Bootham 0; The Mount 5, Queen Ethelburga's 1; Queen Margaret's 5, Pocklington 1; Pocklington 5, Queen Ethelburga's 1.

Under 15 Girls: The Mount 4, Queen Ethelburga's 2; Queen Margaret's 6, Bootham 0; Queen Margaret 6, Pocklington 0.

Under 13 Boys: Tadcaster 4, Pocklington 2; Joseph Rowntree 3 (29 games), St Olives 3 (28 games); Tadcaster 6, Bootham 0.

Under 15 Boys: Pocklington 3 (27 games), Tadcaster 3 (25 games); Tadcaster 4, Bootham 2.

Updated: 11:25 Wednesday, June 16, 2004