Basketball: Jets seize initiative in battle with Bears

Chester Jets defeated Brighton Bears 79-64 in the BBL Championship last night, striking a quick psychological blow ahead of squaring up in the National Cup Final at Birmingham's National Indoor Arena on 12 January.

Chester, the holders, and Brighton, who will be appearing in their first final, qualified with victories in the semis at Sheffield's Pond Forge on Saturday. Brighton then continued their journey north, but after scoring the game's first basket last night they never led again, as Kenny Gregory's 24 points led the Jets to an emphatic win.

Chester reached the final after repeating last season's semi-final win over Thames Valley Tigers by brushing them aside 96-76. The Tigers were heading for their fourth semis defeat in the last five seasons once Jets opened the game with a 15-2 run.

Brighton beat London Towers 84-80. Wilbur Johnson made the game safe from the free-throw line after the Towers tried to snatch victory with a three-pointer, instead of opting for the safer route of a two-pointer to force overtime.

The Towers trailed by two with 18 seconds left, but Terrell Myers passed to John O'Connell who attempted the three-pointer while being smothered by Sterling Davis. Bears regained possession, Johnson was fouled and scored the free throws.

In the Championship, the leaders Sheffield Sharks moved three wins ahead of Brighton and Tigers by beating Birmingham Bullets, the bottom club, 86-60. The Towers scored eight of the game's last 10 points to win 93-87 at Scottish Rocks in Glasgow last night. The Tigers also bounced back from their semi-final defeat by winning 90-82 at Leicester Riders, where Michael Nurse scored 21 points in the third quarter to overturn the home team's 51-38 lead.