Basketball: Amaechi sets record to earn Sharks the double

Sheffield Sharks 82 London Towers 79

JOHN AMAECHI scores 40 points, a record for a final, to drag the Sharks virtually all the way to victory at the NEC last night, but it took a Terrell Myers three-pointer four seconds from time to land the club their first title since the Cup and League double in 1975.

Amazingly, Amaechi nearly threw it all away 32 seconds from time when he rushed a shot with 15 seconds still on the shot clock and the Towers leading 79-78. The Sharks hustled possession back from Towers and James Hamilton fouled Wilbur Johnson to send Sheffield's American to the line.

Johnson had earlier missed his first four free throws, but this time scored with the first and when his second rebounded and was knocked out of court off a Towers' player, the inbound pass reached Myers, and his shot neatly swished through the net.

Sheffield: McKinney 3, Myers 10, Robinson 22, Cauthorn 4, Amaechi 40, Johnson 3. London: Berkovitch 7, Brown 9, Robinson 13, Lewis 23, Baldi 6, Austin 6, Deppisch 6, Hamilton 9.