ELTON became the first Bury high school to capture a national championship when their under-16s girls basketball team defeated Moulton School of Northampton 72-69 in St Albans.

After a delayed start caused by faulty equipment Elton got off to a poor start, quickly falling behind 7-0.

A time out by Elton coach Nick Ibberson gave the girls a wake-up call and they responded magnificently, scoring eight unanswered points to take the lead 8-7 after five minutes as England Captain Lauren Wright began to find her form.

Elton began to edge further ahead as Clare Smith, playing her best game of the season, and Natalie Wilson started to find their scoring range.

After ten minutes Elton were ahead by five, 18-13, and the teams continued to trade baskets over the next five minutes before Lauren Wright and Sarah Labrow chipped in with two huge three-pointers to move Elton further in front 30-19, after 16 minutes.

However, two minutes madness allowed Moulton back in the game when Elton failed to block out three times and gave up three easy baskets and some silly fouls which almost came back to haunt them in the second half.

After 19 minutes Moulton had pulled the score back to 32-31, but two baskets in the last minute of the half by Natalie Wilson and Clare Smith gave Elton a five-point lead at the break, 36-31.

With Sarah Labrow doing a great defensive job on 6' 2" Sophie Freeman, restricting her to just four points in the first half, and Lauren Wright keeping Moulton's other England player, Andrea Wanstall, on a tight leash, things looked rosy at the half-time break and the team were able to reflect on a very positive first half.

Elton got off to an excellent start in the second half, running riot when Moulton changed their defence from a zone to man-to-man. Sarah Labrow began to exploit huge gaps in the defence and added nine points to her individual total as Elton went on a 13-2 run to lead 49-33 after five minutes.

However, when Sarah picked up two quick fouls in a minute to take her to four, Elton were in some trouble, since to avoid losing her in the later stages of the game she had to be substituted.

With young Melissa Hills taking her place, Elton were forced to regroup. The teams traded baskets over the next few minutes, but there were ominous signs for Elton as Sophie Freeman started to find her range. After eight minutes Elton were still ahead 55-39.

Moulton now began to cut into Elton's lead through Freeman and Emily Church, although Lauren Wright continued her personal mission to bring the trophy home to Bury with nine points in the next four minutes, but by then the lead had been cut to 66-57 with five minutes left.

Moulton, again with Freeman and Church scoring steadily, continued to cut away at the lead as Elton's nerves began to show.

It needed a time out to steady the team down and pick up a vital basket through Jemma Cooper.

With a minute to go, Elton were still hanging on, but the lead was down to four. However, two free shots by Natalie Wilson in the final minute made the game safe for Elton, although a last minute, desperate shot from Moulton's Andrea Wanstall made the score very close.

The buzzer sounded with Elton's Sarah Labrow clinging on to the ball to deny Moulton any further chances.

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