A POOLE junior basketball club has won five titles in the Dorset league in its best year yet.

Poole Piranhas Basketball Club has won the titles in the Dorset Basketball Association Juniors League in the 2023/24 season, making it the club's most successful season yet. 

Each of its five teams ranging from U10s to U18s won either the league title or playoff title with coach John Le Page, 45, and club secretary Kasia Wojewodka, 45, beaming with pride following the end of the season.

Kasia said: "The DBA runs all year but the league runs pretty much from October all the way through to April. It was hard, high competition, we were behind in nearly every one of those matches for a while so it was very close and very exciting. 

"Two, three years ago, you could put two clubs against each other and know who would win but now it's a case of that you have no idea who's going to win until five minutes towards the end. It's really got to have a high level in terms of sportsmanship and teamwork and because of that you can't predict what will happen."

The Piranhas are one of five teams that compete in the league which includes Dorset Storm, Bournemouth Seahawks, Weymouth Bandits and Bridport Evolution. 

When asked on the competition of the games, especially in a derby such as Poole vs Bournemouth, John was keen to state the team instils important messages of sportsmanship and teamwork with fans of either team sitting next to each other in the crowds. 

He said: "There are three clubs within reasonably close location and it's pretty friendly.  We have a motto of leave it on the court; at the end, we'll do handshakes and high fives and sometimes give lights home so the ethos of the game is good. 

"We always support good behaviour and when there's crowds, they will sit with each other with a piranha fan next to a storm fan, next to a bandit fan. It's all nicely mannered."

Both John and Kashia hope to follow next season with the same success but have said they are immensely proud of their players.