The Canterbury High School boys’ under 19 basketball team have reached the semi-finals of the British Colleges Elite National Cup.

They made the last four with a 69-43 victory at Truro College in Cornwall, having defeated Brighton & Hove in the previous round.

Canterbury took the lead straight off the tip and by the end of the first quarter led 18-5.

In the second quarter, a three- pointer by Rob Vassie started a 12-0 run for Canterbury as they stretched the lead to 34-19 by half-time.

The visitors extended their lead to 49-29 going into the final quarter.

Any ideas Truro had of a comeback were soon ended as Vassie hit three consecutive three-pointers as part of a 17-6 run that pushed the lead beyond 30.

Canterbury’s head coach Jesse Sazant (pictured) said: "From the second they stepped on the floor they were focused on what they had to do.

"This focus really paid off on the defensive end where we did a really solid job stopping them from doing the things they wanted to do."

Vassie top scored with 18 points (all on three pointers), followed by Kalil Irving (11), Disraeli Lufadeju (10), Andy Chiguri (8) and Tom Humphrey (8).

Canterbury now progress as winners of the South section. They will be joined by the winners from the London, Midlands and North sections.

The semi-finals and finals will all be held at Wildcats Arena in Nottingham in March.

The school is also top of the British Colleges Elite South East League and undefeated in the England Schools and Kent Cup competitions.