Basketball: Williams gives edge to budget Bears

Belts were tightened on the south coast during the summer, but there was little sign of budget cuts having a negative impact as Brighton Bears opened their defence of the British Basketball League title with an impressive 111-96 win at Thames Valley Tigers on Saturday and a 108-95 victory at Birmingham Bullets last night.

Yorick Williams and Andrew Alleyne, the only two key returnees from last season's line-up, shared 60 points against Tigers. Williams, the England international, nailed eight three-pointers from 10 attempts in his 38 points and added another 22 last night against Bullets, one of his former clubs.

Alleyne scored 20 points last night, while one of the new signings of coach/owner Nick Nurse also made his mark, American Steve Lepore top-scoring with 27 against the Bullets after scoring 16 against Tigers.

Pre-season, Nurse predicted the title would go to London Towers, who also won at Tigers last weekend and last night hammered Scottish Rocks 103-71, although coach Robbie Peers is considering more changes to his line-up.

Bears resources will be stretched by 10 games in the Euro League, but Nurse said: "I think there is enough talent, plenty of depth and my expectations are to be at the top of the table eventually."