BASKETBALL: Myers topples Towers

SHEFFIELD SHARKS stretched their unbeaten run to 19 games over three months when two free throws from Terrell Myers two-and-a-half minutes from time proved enough to defeat London Towers 80-78 at Sheffield Arena last night.

Despite playing a gruelling extended game on Saturday and losing their American forward Malcolm Leak to Leicester on Friday, Towers led Sheffield 76-72 entering the final stretch last night. But a three-pointer from Michael Payne and a three-point play from Peter Scantlebury cancelled out Donnie Johnson's basket for Towers to tie the scores on 78-78. Then Myers stepped up to the line to secure victory.

On Saturday night, the Towers' 127-120 double overtime win against the Leopards inflicted a fifth consecutive defeat on their London rivals, who learned before the game that their captain and longest serving player, Robert Youngblood, was leaving to play in Germany.

On Friday, Leopards' Annie Simons said: "Robert remains under contract to the Leopards," but 24 hours later her husband and co-owner, Ed Simons, admitted: "It was always part of our agreement that the club would not stand in Robert's way if this sort of offer came along."

Even so, Leopards looked to have ended the Towers nine- game unbeaten domestic sequence when they lead 106-100 in the first period of overtime. But Steve Bucknall's three- pointer sparked a 6-0 run to force a second extra period, which team-mate Danny Lewis opened up with another three pointer on his way to a 47-point haul.

Brighton Bears' new coach, Mark Dunning, saw his side push the Southern Conference leaders, Birmingham Bullets, at Aston Villa Leisure Centre, where a three-pointer from Lormont Sharp cut their lead to 97-95. But Emiko Etete's basket and three free throws from Nigel Lloyd secured Bullets' 102-97 win.

On Friday night, 30 points from Tony Dorsey spurred Manchester Giants to a 110-97 win at Leicester, where the former Tower Leak made his debut with 24 points.