Basketball: Bears kept waiting

THE Carlsberg League Trophy stayed covered up on Saturday night when Thames Valley Tigers forced Worthing Bears to postpone their championship celebrations by beating them 94-91 at Bracknell, writes Duncan Hooper.

Thames Valley are second in the First Division and still likely to end the season as runners-up to Worthing, but when Kevin St Kitts converted a three-point play nine seconds from time he ruined plans to present the League trophy on Wednesday night.

Worthing trailed for virtually the entire match, but 35 points from Colin Irish brought them back and it was only when his final three-point attempt missed that Tigers were safe.

The Bears will be champions if they win at Leicester on Wednesday but Tigers have another chance at least to spoil the party in Worthing next Saturday when the trophy will again be waiting in the wings.

Third-placed London, who beat Derby 99-89, and fourth- placed Guildford, 93-75 winners over Leicester, should hold those places for the play-offs.