Birmingham school students took inspiration from basketball legends as they won an exhibition match coached by NBA greats.

Queensbridge School, Moseley, prevailed 27-16 over Alcester Grammar as part of the Jr. NBA programme, representing the Jnr New York Knicks at The Regal in Lambeth.

Preparations for the game could hardly have been better, with NBA champions Caron Butler, Bob Dandridge and Phil Chenier, as well as four-time NBA All-Star Latrell Sprewell, all coaching the Queensbridge team.

The game was staged as part of the activities relating to the NBA London Game 2019 between the Washington Wizards and New York Knicks, providing another fantastic opportunity for Jr. NBA participants to enjoy incredible experiences through basketball.

Queensbridge fell behind early in the game but fought back to triumph, with help from their coaching team including Sprewell and 2015 WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne.

Student Josh Williams, 12, said: “It’s incredible for us because no one else is going to get this experience. It’s a privilege for our team.

“I stared playing in year 7 and really liked it and kept it up. I feel now I’ve got a purpose in the team and it’s something I look forward to. I feel important being part of the team.

“It was very interesting in the game because we started a bit behind but caught up and get a big lead - I was pleased with that.”

Both schools, who have been part of the Jr. NBA since it started, were given specially made kits for the match and there were other activities including a shooting contest, skills challenge and dance competition.

After the game the legends, including the 7ft7in Gheorghe Mureșan, signed autographs and posed for photos with the youngsters as well as with Watford striker Troy Deeney, who also attended to support the teams.

Jr. NBA Basketball England Leagues are designed to leverage the excitement of the NBA to inspire participation, and the programme aims to promote the shared NBA and Basketball England values of teamwork, leadership, fitness and healthy living through league games, Jr. NBA youth clinics, and league Finals events.

In 2018, Basketball England expanded their Jr. NBA offering significantly, moving from five to 13 leagues across the country to help bring the programme to more than 4,500 children aged 11 and 12.

Teacher Dave Spicer said: “This doesn’t come up often - it’s an opportunity of a lifetime for some of these children.

“Coming from an inner-city school a lot of our kids don’t get the exposure to things such as this. To be around professional players is unbelievable.

“What they’ve done with us is inspiring. To share our bench with some real NBA legends and quality players was unbelievable for the kids.

“The guys had a slow first quarter, but we built and built to take a 27-16 final win was unbelievable feeling. To see the look on the kids’ faces afterwards is priceless, which is what it’s about.”

To find out more about Basketball England the Jr. NBA programme, please go to www.Basketballengland.co.uk/Jrnba