Basketball: Phoenix helps Sheffield rise from the ashes

Justin Phoenix converted a three-point play eight seconds from time as Sheffield Sharks escaped with a 76-74 BBL Championship win from Derby Storm's Thunderdome on Saturday night.

Justin Phoenix converted a three-point play eight seconds from time as Sheffield Sharks escaped with a 76-74 BBL Championship win from Derby Storm's Thunderdome on Saturday night.

Storm, who have won just one of their first nine Championship games, held the Sharks to six points in the first 10 minutes for a 13-6 lead, but Nate Reinking regained control of the back court for a 35-33 half-time Sheffield lead. Derby's Durrell Robinson led all scorers with 32 points.

In the BBL Trophy, Brighton Bears earned their first win in Pool A by beating Thames Valley Tigers 108-76 at Bracknell.

The American Albert White amassed 40 points for the Bears, who took control with a 10-0 run in the second quarter for a 55-40 half-time lead and stretched their advantage to 74-57 during the third quarter.

Greg Meldrum, with 26 points, led the Tigers fightback to cut Bears' lead to 91-86 with four minutes remaining.

On Friday night, Newcastle Eagles beat Milton Keynes Lions 88-84 at the Telewest Arena in Pool B, despite trailing 76-67 at the start of the final quarter. T J Walker completed the comeback with two free throws in his haul of 23 points as the Eagles outscored the Lions 21-8 in the final period.

Injuries are piling up for Birmingham Bullets on their American tour, with Panamanian Antonio Garcia breaking his nose celebrating after their 90-87 victory against the University of Southern Illinois on Friday night. Garcia could be out of action for three weeks.