Basketball: Bears head for the play-offs minus Harried

WORTHING BEARS, the National Cup winners, are heading for the Budweiser League play-offs without their American Herman Harried, the club's leading scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker, whose arm is in a brace following a wrist injury, writes Duncan Hooper.

Harried's 33 points and 15 rebounds in the cup final at the beginning of the month denied the league champions-elect, Thames Valley Tigers, any hope of taking all the domestic honours. But a bone injury looks like keeping the 6ft 8in forward out of Worthing's remaining three league games and now jeopardises his place in the play-offs.

The player-coach, Alan Cunningham, said: 'X-rays showed something floating in his wrist and now we're waiting for the specialist's verdict. Herman could be out for the rest of the season.'

The best of three quarter- finals for the top eight clubs in the league begin on 9 April with the top four qualifying for the finals at Wembley on 31 April and 1 May. Worthing beat Thames Valley 75-74 in last season's play-off final.