club will take the unprecedented step of closing its doors to new members at the end of this month.

In less than three years the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association (BSRA) has boosted its membership from less than 250 members to more than 500, club officials said.

The club will accept 15 more members and then start a waiting list.

Former president John Stout, who oversaw most of the growth, attributed the success to renovations, the installation of a gym and the hiring of pro Jane Parker to head up the squash programme and fitness trainer Judith Marsden for the gym.

He said the club funded the work by selling on-court advertising space.

"We made the club more inviting,'' he said, adding the creation of the gym had made the club more attractive to couples. "Jane is a top quality coach and player in her own right,'' Stout said. "She's really developed the junior programme. We've got some tremendously talented juniors in the ranks.'' He cited Nick Kyme, who at 16 became the club's youngest ever men's champion last weekend.

Parker said when she arrived two years ago she saw the club's potential immediately.

"It had the basis of a good club,'' she said. "It was a bit run down but we had a fairly active committee with some good ideas. I knew it was going to be a lot of work, but I thought it would be rewarded in the end.'' She said there were just 16 junior members when she started. There's now more than 60 and Parker is confident that among them there is at least one destined for world ranking.

"We have enough talent to do that,'' she said.

But she cautioned the scheme was not just for the elite. "We try to offer a squash-for-all programme -- whatever level you are there's somewhere you can slot it.'' Parker said the club had moved away from its previous image of being an expatriates-only domain through its bustling junior programme.

"The place has really got a buzz about it now,'' she said.

BASKETBALL BAS Led by fourth year student John Barry Nusum, Berkeley Panthers got past league champions Whitney Bulls to lift the senior boys crown in Friday night's Secondary Schools Sports Federation basketball tournament at Bermuda College.

Nusum poured in a game-high 16 points while Dennis Steede and Eugene Watson scored nine and eight respectively as Panthers held on for a narrow 43-40 victory.

Lloyd Peterkin scored 12 for the losers.

Berkeley took the lead in the first quarter and were never headed, leading 22-15 at the interval, and by eight points at the end of third quarter.

Berkeley had earlier also won the senior girls tournament, upsetting league champions Northlands.

Point guard Tashae Thompson led Berkeley with 14 points while Karen Carlington scored six in a 27-21 victory. Jamila Simons (six) and Candice Gaugain (five) led the Northlands scoring.

Junior action saw Saltus remain undefeated as they won 37-26 over Berkeley in the final, coming from behind after Berkeley had taken an early lead.

Anthony King and Keith Caines both scored nine points for Saltus with Adam Laing adding six, while Berkeley's John Lee hit 17 in a losing cause.

Warwick Secondary lifted the junior girls title, beating neighbours Warwick Academy 17-12 to remain undefeated throughout the season. Tschana Wade scored all but four of Warwick Secondary's points.

The All-Star games are slated for tomorrow evening at Mount St. Agnes, starting at 4.00 p.m.

SNOOKER SNO Old Colony Club (OCC) I won the Team Knockout Trophy recently when they defeated First Division champions and stable-mates Old Colony Club II by a decisive 4-2 margin in the final.

Tyler Moniz showed ruthless flair in thrashing Denis Coyle 87-10 during the first frame. Moniz was in rare form, limiting Coyle's ability to get good shots off with evasive tactics.

Next OCC I sent current Bermuda Open singles champ Paul Charleton to the table against Steve Pantry.

Those expecting a similar scenario to unfurl as in the first frame were instead treated to a tense, see-saw affair that was decided on the final colours, with Charleton taking a 58-46 result to put his side up 2-0.

OCC II pulled back a game when Kyle Thompson routed Robert Gaglio 53-16, but soon fell into a more precarious position as Bill Wotton grabbed a 65-57 win for OCC I, taking them to a 3-1 advantage.

Their backs squarely against the wall, OCC II's doubles team of Thompson and Wood dug deep into their resources to upend the favoured duo of Gaglio and Charleton 67-28.

However, their comeback was short-lived as Moniz and Wotton put them to rest when they downed Pantry and Coyle 47-28.

Meanwhile, in Bermuda Open Doubles action Steve Roberts and Paula Madeiros downed Moniz and John Ray, Gaglio and Charleton beat Steve Dunleavy and Andy Wright, while Steve Bremar and Andy Peniston bested Thompson and Richard Davis.