Brighton Bears have reached the national under-16s cup final.

They overcame London Towers 75-61 at the University of Sussex to make sure of their place at the Sheffield Arena on March 23.

Coach Phil Waghorn said: "The rest of the country had better sit up and notice.

Sussex is a good basketball county.

"We've consistently produced teams to have done well nationally.

"The team that beat Towers made the national under-15s league play-offs last season.

"But we haven't had the recognition.

"London sides are always considered the business.

"So now we've beaten Towers we might get some credit.

"We've got this far and intend to carry on and win it."

Bears battled back from 11 points down at half-time.

They produced a 17-point burst without reply at the start of the third quarter to take charge of the match.

Waghorn revealed how his tactics helped turn the game.

He said: "We put on a full-court zone press and they struggled.

"They played Daniel Raymen, a former Sussex player, even though he had four fouls against him.

"He couldn't afford to give another one away otherwise he would have been off so I pressured him."

Daniel Sloan top scored for Bears with 22 points. Charlie Ellis (14), Josh Allison (13), Chris Brown (12), Tom Mockford (7) and Giles Walter (7) helped the points tally.

Bears also included Mark Hawkins, Joe Haynes and Stuart Robertson.