When it comes to Under 15 Girls basketball, Essex are the top team.

On Sunday at Greensward College, Hockley, claimed the County/Inter Association title (sponsored by Nike) for the first time.

The girls who had battled their way past Hertfordshire, Suffolk and Northamptonshire to reach the final four stage, remained undefeated as they added West Sussex, Rochdale and Devon to their list of conquests.

In their first game in the finals, West Sussex were despatched 65-28, and this was followed up with a 50-27 victory over Rochdale.

This set up a final tie against Devon to decide who would win the tournament.

Although Devon started well, the strength and depth of the Essex squad gradually wore down their west county opponents and by half-time Essex had opened up an eight point lead (31-23).

In the second half Essex ran riot, by amassing an additional 33 points while holding Devon to just eight, and at the final buzzer Essex had taken the match 64-31.

The shield and medals were presented to the victorious and happy Essex squad by the Chairman of Rochford Council.

The squad was Vicki Wilmore, Jo Andrews, Lindsay Jones, Natalie Payne, Sam Beale (all Greensward) Sarah D'Silva, Karen Boyling (Brentwood Ursuline) Sam Mildenhall,Nikki Braine, Katie Saverymuttu, Katie Nicholson (Great Baddow), Katherine Barkley (Moulsham) Louise Gusthoff (Cornelius Vermyden), Louise Sherry, Kerry Smith (Bromford) Louise Robinson (Thurstable) and Talia Smith (Anglo-European).

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.