Basketball: Worthing retain title

WORTHING BEARS produced one half of unstoppable play at Wembley Arena last night to beat Guildford Kings 71-65 and retain the Budweiser Championship.

The Bears, who struggled to a 77-75 semi-final win over Derby Bucks on Saturday, found their form by outscoring Guildford 28-20 in the final quarter after using just five players for the second half.

The player-coach, Alan Cunningham, Herman Harried, Colin Irish and Steve Nelson were held together by the outstanding Cleave Lewis as the Bears responded to their considerable support.

Irish, restricted by a back injury, snatched the game from Guildford with six successive points at the start of the final quarter.

Until then Alton Byrd ensured that the undersized Guildford had kept Worthing on a leash. They also punished them with the opportunism of Adrian Cummings, Carl Miller and Julio Politi.

But Byrd made a horrible start to the crucial phase, first missing a lay-up and then losing possession three times before failing to organise a shot inside the 30-second limit.

Irish, Harried and Lewis capitalised to the full with Cunningham also getting fully involved. As Guildford tried to foul their way back into the game, Irish and Lewis coolly scored six free throws to open up a 68-60 lead.

In Saturday's semi-final Worthing were outscored 25-8 in the third quarter by unranked Derby and survived to win only when Mike Landell's three-point attempt bounced away from the rim with two seconds left on the clock.

Guildford, who were underdogs after losing all three League games against Manchester, beat the Giants 82-72. Martin Henlan, with eight rebounds, and Karl Brown (19pts) and Politi (16) pulled the Kings away in the fourth quarter.