EASTSIDE Eagles under-16s girls team came within a whisker of being crowned national basketball champions at the tournament finals in Sheffield.

Having secured their place at the finals by excelling in their regional competition, the girls went on to defeat one of the favourites for the title, Manchester, in a thrilling contest that saw the team prevail 51-50 after over-time, having finished normal time locked at 46 points each.

The Eagles went on to lose the final 57-42 against Haringey Angels, who are the only team to have beaten them this season, having also got one over the Chingford-based side during the regular league campaign.