Americans inspire Sharks' push for the title: Basketball

Deon Hames and Voise Winters, two of the best Americans in the Budweiser League, and Roger Huggins, probably the best Englishman, pushed the Sharks towards regaining the title with a 100-93 victory over London Towers at Sheffield Arena last night, writes Richard Taylor.

Towers, who took the title from Sheffield last season, were peppered from long range by 10 three-pointers and punished inside by the combination of Winters, who blocked three shots, Huggins and Todd Cauthorn.

The handling and distribution of Hames opened the game up from Chris Finch and Michael Payne who were among six Sharks scoring in double figure.

The Sharks' whiplash offence threatened to overrun London in the first quarter, and Finch and Huggins shut the door with four free throws in the final minute.

Leopards stayed two points clear of Sheffield with a 95-85 win over bottom club Hemel Royals.

LEADING SCORERS: Sheffield: Payne 13, Hames 19, Finch 19, Huggins 19, Cauthorn 10, Winters 16. London: Brown 11, Lewis 15, Windless 20, Robinson 24.