by Bradley Gains

JOE Hart signed off the 2015-16 season in style by helping Spanish side Araberri claim a 3-0 victory in their domestic third division basketball Playoffs Finals.

The Southend-born forward scored 18 points and also contributed five assists in the title-clinching 83-69 final success away from home.

Hart made his GB Senior international debut last summer and believes his latest achievement ranks right up there as the best in his career.

“It’s an incredible feeling to win the Playoffs,” he declared.

“All year we have been a great road team and it only seemed fitting to finish what we started away from home.

“This championship is definitely up there with winning a state championship with Blair Academy (where Hart played while studying in America) and getting promotion to Division A with the GB Under 20’s.”

The 22-year-old also spent last year in Spain, in the second division, but his campaign was cut short after injury forced him to miss the second half of the season.

“Coming off a season-ending injury last year, I couldn’t have imagined a better way to come back to basketball,” said Hart, who used to play with Southend Swifts.

“This year has definitely taught me that you can’t take anything for granted and you have to enjoy every moment.”

Hart will be looking to add to his three senior international caps this summer when Great Britain’s men’s team bid to secure qualification for EuroBasket 2017 with home and away games against Hungary, Luxembourg and Macedonia.