A LAST gasp win at the end of a gruelling semi-final has capped off a sensational season for a student basketball squad.

With just four seconds left on the clock, the under-19 side from Wolsingham School and Community College pulled off a remarkable victory on Tuesday to reach the final of the English School's B competition.

The boys, including four Year 11 students, had trailed opponents Whycliffe College, Bristol, until the final minute when two free throws from Michael Hall levelled the score at 53 points each.

Martyn Hirst turned the match on its head with a three-point basket, leaving Whycliffe no time to respond.

PE teacher Willie Bell said: "It was a fantastic win. We had been behind the whole game and at one point we were eight points down.

"We stuck in and drew level with less than a minute to go. It was unbelievable.

"This is the best we have ever done. We haven't entered this competition before so to go straight through to the final is tremendous.

"They were a very skilful, experienced and aggressive side but they were smaller than us and had to change their game."

Ten of the 12-strong squad play have National League experience with the Wear Valley Basketball Club, sharing the same coach Ian Hirst.

In the final they play Barking Abbey School, a sports college in Essex, at a neutral venue which has yet to be arranged.

Mr Hirst said: "It is a fantastic achievement not just the youngsters but for the school as a whole.

"Every game has had to be played away because they haven't got the facilities at school. The gym isn't even big enough for proper training."

The squad Jonathan Hirst, Ross Edward, Alan Scott, Chris Stappard, Michael Hall, Ben White, Martyn Hirst, Iain Bell, Alex Sung, Lee Tinkler, Jack Maughan and Michael Scown reached the semi-finals with wins against Gosforth High School, in the North-East region, Christleton High School, Chester, from the North West and Lady Lumley's School Pickering, from Yorkshire and Humberside.

Four of the players, Martyn Hirst, Iain Bell, Lee Tinkler and Alex Sung, are also members of the Year 11 basketball team who are champions of the Bishop Auckland Schools Basketball League.