THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD Mark Brackley already knows that sport can be an emotional roller coaster ride.

He was one of the stars of the Wychavon basketball team as they won the Worcestershire games in May.

It qualified them to represent the county in the BAA Millennium Youth Games last month in Southampton.

Mark was selected in the nine-strong squad but disaster struck four days before the huge event.

The Droitwich Spa teenager travelled to Southampton to visit his dad and then broke his wrist after falling off his skateboard.

The wrist had to plated and screwed and he knew he would not be fit for the tournament.

Coach George Fraser-Barker thought it would be unfair for Mark to miss out so he persuaded the competition organisers to let him sit on the bench as the 'team manager.'

George said: "He's a very good player and he had worked hard to get the lads to the games.

"There were 51 sides competing and he was the only team manager."

The lads qualified impressively through the group stage and quarter-finals only to be beaten by Cheshire in the semis.

The team won bronze medals but Mark did not receive one because he didn't play.

George stepped in again and the event organisers, the English Basketball Association and Sport England, agreed to send a medal to a delighted Mark who was presented with it on Friday.

Inevitably there was some bad news just around the corner. Doctors think the injury will keep him out of action until December.

Mark is one of five young basketball stars from Droitwich Spa who have helped a team gain national recognition.

The efforts of the U13s in the Millennium games have persuaded the English Basketball Association to include their team, Avon Valley Basketball Club, in the newly formed National League for the year nine age group.

Ben Sparkes, Luke Rainbow, Ayrron Brown, Mark Brackley and Jamie Coles all attend Droitwich Spa High School.

Coach George Fraser-Barker said: "The team performed exceptionally well in the Millennium games.

"They gelled as a unit and played with a maturity I have never seen before. They also won the fair play award."

The National League starts this month and is expected to be made up of about 40 teams split into conferences. The youngsters could be pitted against the likes of the Birmingham Bullets.

The Avon Valley club is based in Pershore but the lads play home games in Worcester and have some training sessions at Droitwich Leisure Centre, in Briar Mill.

George said: "Basketball has been picked up by the youth culture. They are looking for an escape and they like the razzmatazz image.

"The sport is very popular and we want to take it across the county. It would be great to play in Droitwich or at the Dolphin Centre, in Bromsgrove."

The club now has four age groups playing in the National League.