Basketball: Panthers tilt at respect: Giants end tough schedule

DONCASTER PANTHERS have capitalised on a friendly fixture list to be the only unbeaten team in both Budweiser League and 7-Up League Trophy games after just three weeks of the season, writes Duncan Hooper.

But if they come through tomorrow's test against Manchester Giants, the Panthers, who have continued an impressive revival this season under player-coach Mark Harvey, will no longer be considered such unlikely league leaders.

Harvey, a 6ft 11in Anglo-Canadian, said: 'We've had our luck but we've worked hard for it. After all the turmoil and changes of last season, it's been good to see some stability.'

They catch the Giants at the end of a demanding five days following Wednesday's Korac Cup defeat in Portugal and tonight's trip to Thames Valley Tigers.