THREE of Bootham School's basketball teams are on course for the National finals, including the newly formed and highly popular girls' team.

The Under-15 and U19 boys' teams at the York school have won all their regional league fixtures in the English Schools' Basketball competition and now enter the knock out stages nationally.

The U15s have been drawn against a team from the West Midlands, while The U19s beat teams from Harrogate, Leeds and Sheffield to win their league and qualify for the final stages of the tournament.

Their draw has yet to be confirmed.

Meanwhile, the U16s girls' team, who entered into the English Schools' competition for newcomers, beat teams from Hull and Leeds to qualify for the last 16.

Andy Bell, Bootham basketball coach, said: "To have three teams qualifying for this stage of the tournament is a fantastic achievement for a small school like Bootham.

"Basketball is a very popular sport in the school and for these students to get this far in the tournament is testament to their enthusiasm and dedication."