Basketball: Bowers ensures Towers hold course: London determined to keep their title sights close to home

WHEN the Budweiser Championship play-offs are held at Wembley Arena at the end of April, London Towers are determined not to be mere spectators at the venue which is alongside their new home, the Wembley Court.

Their cause was helped by a 108-99 overtime win at Sunderland on Saturday that keeps them on course.

Sunderland, in ninth position but with no chance of reaching the play-off quarter- finals, lost Colin Kirkham, who is on his honeymoon, before the game and the 6ft 11in Canadian, Gord Wood, during the second half when he fouled out.

Russ Saunders, the league's leading scorer, scored two free throws two seconds from time to force the extra period but with Ken Nottage and Neil Hopper also fouling out Saunders could not keep Sunderland afloat.

Troy Bowers, the 6ft 9in American, led the way for the Towers with 34 points, adding 19 points and nine rebounds last night when London beat Hemel Royals 91-80 at Wembley.

Manchester Giants, who won 93-72 at Oldham Celtics, and Worthing Bears, 84-73 winners over Derby Bucks, seemed likely to finish second and third behind Thames Valley. Guildford Kings, in fourth, recovered from Friday's 79-68 defeat at Leicester by beating Doncaster 99-83 on Saturday.