SCHOOLS across Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley have been battling it out to find the best basketball teams in the area.

Tournaments for under 14s and under 16s teams have been taking place and have now reached the play-offs.

In the under 14s, St Augustines will play Clitheroe Royal School in the final.

And there will be two different schools contesting the under 16s play-off, with St Christophers set to take on Bowland.

Both competitions were hosted by Norden High School in Accrington and Bowland High School.

St Augustines in the under 14s won the Norden event with CRGS coming out on top at Bowland.

St Christophers also won at Norden in the under 16s while Bowland took full advantage to finish top of the table in the event they hosted. Rossendale Raptors helped organised both events along with Jane Sheridan, School Games Organiser for Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley.

The Raptors provided referees and scorers with coach Jim Fry and chairman, Ken Masser, who also plays for the first time both involved.

Dream still on for Raptors

ROSSENDALE Raptors hopes of achieving ‘the impossible’ back-to-back promotions is on after beating rivals Nottingham Hoods 97-86 at a packed Haslingden Sports Centre.

More than 200 spectators packed in to the Centre – thanks to free tickets courtesy of sponsors ASK Solicitors, ISSL and CSG – and saw the Raptors run out winners to keep their promotion drive on course.

Steven Gayle was again the star player but Raptors had Kieran Forsythe, Aitor Estrada and Angelo Kornecki to thank for some amazing long shots in the third quarter to open up a gap.

Chairman Ken Masser said: “It was brilliant to see so many people turning up to watch the game. I just hope we can finished the season well and achieve the impossible of back to back national league promotions.”

  • Rossendale Raptors are inviting youngsters to attend junior training sessions currently being held across East Lancashire.

For further details about the juniors sessions go to rossendaleraptors.co.uk