After being on the ball for well over 26 hours Warwick Academy basketball players are to see their names in print - in the Guinness Book of Records.

Their marathon charity effort in March has been officially recognised and is set to be included in the next reprint of the book out in autumn as the longest game in history.

The students played non-stop for 26 hours and 32 minutes at Bermuda College Gym, eclipsing the 24 hour mark set in November, 1998, by the Suncoast Clippers at the Maroochydore Basketball Stadium in Queensland, Australia.

The event was part of the Random Acts of Kindness Day which raised $12,000 for Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

Two teams took part in the match, which began on Saturday, March 15 at 4 p.m. and ended just after 6.30 p.m. the next day.

Warwick PE Head Mark Thorne who helped organise and referee the game said: "They said they could do it and they did it.

"How often do students get an opportunity to break a world record? I am very proud of the kids."

He thanked the 75 volunteers for also sticking the course.

Random Acts of Kindness Day organiser Steve Thomson says there are no plans for a a new crack on the record any time soon after acknowledging the logistical problems of the marathon with even toilet breaks have to be logged and monitored.

"I was surprised of how difficult it was.

"You need one person on the official clock, one on the logbook noting who went to the toilet, two refs, a nurse or a doctor and security at hand at all times.

"Their were 54 shifts of refereeing with about 20-25 referees helping out."

The teens were bouyed by a rolling buffet, provided by the Fairmont Southampton, heavy on much-needed carbohydrates and fruit while Barritts kept the teams in drink.

He said the kids were flagging at about 6 a.m. but perked up when family and friends returned at 11 a.m. and then they kept up the pace right up until the end. All attended school the next day. Both teams, the blues and the whites, had 12 players - boys and girls - and five from each side were allowed on the court at any one time with a substitute on hand to replace anyone suffering from tiredness.

The one-hour games were played in shifts, with a total of 27 completed by the end of the event.

The teams were only allowed a five minute break at the end of the game before the next one had to begin.