Tigers must seize chance

Basketball

DUNCAN HOOPER

Thames Valley Tigers, last season's Budweiser League runners-up, must beat Worthing Bears tonight to resurrect their flagging hopes of claiming the last place in the play-off quarter-finals.

The Tigers, beaten 95-87 at Derby Storm on Thursday, have slipped to ninth behind the revitalised Newcastle Comets. But whereas the Comets face the League leaders and title favourites London Towers tonight, Tigers could capitalise on Worthing's recent slump.

Bears' player-coach Colin Irish's team have lost six of their last eight games and are down to one American after Steve Paci broke his ankle and have also lost Andrew Bailey with a shoulder injury.

Irish said "Tigers are going to be scrapping because they need wins to get into the play-offs and any defeat now will hurt them a lot."