Southend Scorpions, despite being 25 shots in arrears from the home leg, were in celebratory mood when they travelled to Leeds for the second leg of basketball's Founders Cup final.

The game started promisingly for the Southend team as they kept with their illustrious rivals play for play.

Leeds were on fire with only a few shots missed but Scorpions, with Lee Sutton excellent and Matt Self showing his usual defensive commitment, only trailed by six points (58-52) at the interval.

Into the second-half, Scorpions continued to battle, but the high effort they had shown previously started to show as they tired. Leeds never let up the pace and slowly edged to a 20-point win (119-99).

Leading scorers for Scorpions were Damon Cooper (29), Steve Moralis (19) and Sutton (17).

In this their first year in the competition, Scorpions were delighted to feel happy with their Founders Cup success - particularly in scoring 99 points against a team as good as Leeds. Scorpions sting Colchester

SOUTHEND SCORPIONS 58

COLCHESTER Highwoods 52

Damon Cooper underlined his outstanding season by inspiring Southend Scorpions to a thrilling play-off triumph at the finale of the Mid-Essex Basketball League.

Scorpions - who had pipped Southend Saints in the semi-finals - triumphed over a Colchester side who challenged strongly until tiring late on in what was the culmination of three intense days at Chelmsford for the league's top sides.

Stuart Vickery had began well for Highwoods, netting their first six points, but the three-point shooting of Cooper and Matt Hooper soon lifted Scorpions.

They led 36-25 at the interval, looking very composed and confident. However, as in all the weekend's games, the fireworks came in the second period.

A big three-pointer from Nathan Syrett in the eighth minute of the half cut Colchester's deficit to just 43-40. Cooper, though, notched one himself, before baskets from Vickery and Chris Ling closed the gap to two points.

Southend's lead stayed the same until the final two minutes, when they held their nerve better and saw Highwoods fade. Lee Higgins' four points sealed Southend's success, while their defence denied Colchester any points.

Scorers - Southend: Damon Cooper 18, Lee Higgins 14, Matthew Hooper 13, Steve Moralis 4 Steve Hurd 4, Justin Edwards 3, Matt Self 2, Leigh Nevitt, Lee Sutton, Mike Pickett.

Colchester: Stuart Vickery 22, Chris Ling 17, Nathan Syrett 4, Samuel Bennett 3, Chris Sim 2, Graham Brown 1, Dave Baker 1, Steven Bird, Alex Belgrove.

Most valuable player award: Cooper.

Semi-final round-up:

Colchester Hornets 59 (Simon Taylor 14, John Ellis 13, Jules Keeling 8, Martin Yabsley 8, James Barningham 8, Matt Keeling 4, Aaron Syrett 2, Dave Hibbin 2, David Grimes, Phil Jepson); Colchester Highwoods 65 (Stuart Vickery 30, Chris Ling, 14, James Betts 10, Nathan Syrett 9, Graham Brown 2, Thomas Caumont, James Dunne, Samuel Bennet, Chris Sim, Steven Bird). Southend Saints 64 (Gianpaolo Lettieri 17, James Todd 11, Ian Burn 8, Nick Ohuareghe 8, Johnathon May 7, Andy Mathurin 6, Navind Oojageer, John Jowers 3. Southend Scorpions 68 (Damon Cooper 30, Steve Moralis 13, Lee Higgins 11, Justin Edwards 7, Lee Sutton 3, Steve Hurd 2, Matt Self 2, Keith Nevett, Mike Pickett). Hornets tame Panthers

COLCHESTER HORNETS 46

PLUME PANTHERS 43

Hornets - who had overcome Hockley side Erkenwald 58-46 in the last four - scraped to a three-point victory in the final after leading 22-16 at half-time.

The young Erkenwald side, who have been improving throughout the season, had trailed by 10 points at half-time in their semi-final.

However, they pulled back to level going into the final quarter, before Hawkins (15) and Soames (20) took Hornets home.

For Erkenwald, Samantha Jones and Lucy Byford netted 10 points apiece, with Carly Hubbard scoring eight and Kerry Smith six.

Also on target for Erkenwald were Louise Nimmick (four), Vicky Kelly (three), Kendall Bright and Louise Sherry.

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