WORCESTER Bears’ under-14 basketball team are enjoying their second season in the National League.

They currently sit top of the Midlands Division with a record of 15 wins and just one defeat.

Recent victories over teams sitting just beneath Bears have given the city basketball club hope of having their first play-off team in any age group.

In less than three seasons, the team have gone from a group of beginners at primary school to competing nationally, with a number making various West Midlands teams.

“This team’s record so far with wins over the likes of teams from Birmingham, Leicester and Nottingham is a real testament to the work these players put in,” said boss Rick Solvason, the former Worcester Wolves player and coach.

They beat Notts Nova by 30 points and every single member of the team got on the scoresheet.

Solvason added: “It’s a privilege to work with such dedicated players, parents and coaches.”

The regular season ends in mid-March and if the Bears can maintain their continued improvement, then Worcester can look forward to challenging for silverware.

Bears came away with a hard-fought 80-50 victory against Nova to extend their winning streak to seven games.

The first quarter saw strong defence and balanced scoring from Bears.

Seven of the 10 players scored for Worcester and they opened up a big 24-8 lead.

Finley Lofters and George Gillam led the way in rebounding, while Jacob Solvason scored six points.

Rebounding was key in the second period for Worcester as Ciaran Woodbury and Sam Duggan hauled down five boards each.

Bears went in to half-time with a comfortable 23-point advantage.

The third quarter saw Nova make a fightback and Bears became careless with the ball and gave it away six times.

This led to Notts winning the period 17-11 and cutting Worcester’s lead.

Bears came out strongly in the final quarter and re-established control both on the offensive and defensive ends of the court to run out comfortable winners.

Solvason scored 18 points, with eight each for Lofters, Anderson, Matthews and Woodbury.

The top re-bounders were Woodbury with 13 and Lofters with 12.