BASKETBALL: Myers strikes for Sharks

SHEFFIELD SHARKS moved joint top of the Budweiser League with Manchester Giants by beating London Towers 89-64 yesterday, 24 hours after losing 91-88 at Derby Storm in their third league defeat of the season.

A three-pointer from Derby's Nate Reinking, 30 seconds from time, snatched an 89-88 lead, then he sealed victory with two free throws before Iain McKinney and Terrell Myers both missed three-point attempts. Myers scored 26 to lead Sheffield to an easy win over London after a 10-0 second quarter put them 36-22 ahead.

Manchester briefly took a clear lead in the table with Saturday's 86- 78 win over Birmingham Bullets, pulling away in the fourth quarter with 7-1 and 7-3 runs after Bullets led 71-70 with three minutes to play.

Sheffield and Giants now have identical records, with 26 wins from 29 games, although the Sharks hold a 1-0 edge in their three-game series after last month's 86-83 win in Manchester. They each have home advantage in the two remaining league games between them.

Worthing Bears managed to break a 30-game losing streak, and took their first victory under coach Sean Loucks, with an 84-77 home win over Milton Keynes Lions.

Leicester's hangover following their midweek League Trophy semi-final defeat against Derby continued with a 90-78 home collapse against Edinburgh Rocks.