Brighton Bears' juniors have completed a national hat-trick.

The under-13s, under-14s and under-16s have lifted National League (Southern Conference) titles.

Bears' under-16s have also reached their national cup final.

Phil Waghorn, coach to the under-16s and the Sussex basketball development officer, said: "It has been a good season and shows our consistency through the age groups.

"We've worked hard on the junior programme and it seems to be paying off.

"Our long-term hope is that we may produce first team players for the Bears' senior side or American colleges and European leagues."

Waghorn believes each age group has players with potential.

He said: "The under-14s have got a couple of brothers with promise, James and Braque Welch, who are from Chichester, while the under-15s have a decent point guard in Charlie Ellis, from Shoreham, and an impressive forward-cum-centre in Joe Goodeve, from Haywards Heath.

"Tom Ward, who used to play for Brighton Cougars, has looked good at point guard for the under-13s.

"But I think the under-16s is the strongest group. It is the second year in a row the team have won the Southern Conference and getting through to the final was a good effort.

"Josh Allison, who got 19 points for us in the final, has played well all season. We've got Daniel Sloan and point guard Rob Cleworth who have been solid. Charles Walter only started with us in September and at first he was a bit of a liability. He is 6ft 7in but hadn't played that much. He has developed so well that he scored 11 points in our title decider."

The under-13s will face Leopards and Solent in a three-way qualifier on April 14 and the top two go through to the national play-offs. The under-14s are lined up to meet Hertfordshire Club at Angmering seven days earlier. The under-16s are to play the runner-up of the South West Conference.

The under-15s were edged out when Solent defeated them 63-53 at Angmering to reverse a recent result while the under-18s had to settle for mid-table.

Dave Yates, who manages all the Bears' National League teams, said: "The under-18s lost about four players who would have been in the starting line-ups before the start of the season, like Andy Smith and Dave Turner, but still held their own with Sam Mead, Ollie Roche and Rob Newsom their best performers.

"It has been an excellent season for the junior programme because West Sussex have reached the national under-17s finals against Northampton, Bristol and Hampshire next month."

There is hope for even more success next season.

Waghorn believes it can be achieved with a stronger link up with the senior Bears.

He said: "It would be great experience for the kids if they could play some of their matches before first team matches. It would give them another incentive to do well.

"Sussex is holding its own nationally in junior basketball. We are only behind the big conurbations like London, Manchester and Birmingham."

Waghorn's under-16s were defeated 101-53 by a Manchester side packed with England internationals in the cup final at Sheffield.

Waghorn said: "We held them for first 15 minutes when it was 30-24 but their overall size and power took over.

"Manchester have been beating teams by 50 or more points throughout the competition."