BASKETBALL players from Shoeburyness High School have claimed silverware for the first time in more than 15 years after going unbeaten this season.

The Year 8 boys team signed off with a 100 per cent record against Southend borough opposition, scoring 479 points and conceding just 168.

They ended the season with a narrow 53-50 victory over Southend High for Boys in the final round of matches.

Shoeburyness had beaten Southend High by 12 points before Christmas and headed to the neutral Cecil Jones court looking to do the double.

The Caulfield Road school’s starting line up of Owen Young, Charlie Coles, David Oloyede, Josh Bussens and Jack Allen restricted the defending champions to just four points.

Toby Knight and Jack Allen came off the bench in the second quarter to helped Shoeburyness to a 13-point lead at half-time.

But Southend cut this to 10 points in the third period and reduced the deficit to seven points in the final stanza as Shoeburyness nerves led to a number of missed free throws.

Southend capitalised and made it a three-point game with nine seconds remaining to run the clock down and be crowned borough champions.

Young led the way with 14 blocks, Bussen 11 rebounds and Coles nine points, but Oloyede was named most valuable player after scoring 20 points.

Shoeburyness’ players are also chasing success at under-13 county and national level.

They beat Rayleigh’s FitzWimarc in their first Essex group game and will progress to the semi-finals if they win their final game against Brentwood’s St Martin’s School.

In the national competition they have won three of their four games and will now face the winners from the Sussex pool. Victory in this match will leave them three matches away from the final fours.

“The results are a true reflection on all the members of the Year 8 squad,” said coach Adam Miller, who revealed the team trained four times a week, including at lunchtimes and before and after school.

“They have been brilliant this year and have shown so much commitment to develop their basketball.

“Hopefully we can maintain this momentum and reach the county finals in March.”