Western Australia Metro are the kings of Australian junior basketball after their boys team won the Australian under-18 championships at Eagle Stadium in Werribee on Saturday.

After both finishing third in their respective pools, Queensland North and WA Metro met in an unlikely grand final, which the boys from the west won 76-62.

WA jumped their opposition in a dominant first term to lead 18-7 during the first quarter, before a fightback from Queensland North and star Rory Hawke (23 points, 10 rebounds) saw the lead reduced to just five points at quarter time.

It was the pairing of Ben Henshall (21 points, nine rebounds and four steals) and Thomas Gerovich (18 points and five rebounds) which led the way for WA, with the duo combining for 21 first-half points to see their side lead 35-25 at the main break.

Still Queensland North would not go away and with seconds remaining in the third quarter they levelled the scores at 50-all, before a clutch three-pointer from Gerovich on the buzzer restored WA’s lead.

This inspired Henshall, who led WA on a 12-2 run to start the final quarter, which would ultimately lead them to the title.

WA Metro girls finished seventh while WA Country were ninth, while in the boys WA Country finished 12th.