Basketball: Challengers hand Leopards four-point lead

A perfect weekend for the Leopards left them four points clear in the Budweiser League when their closest challengers, Sheffield Sharks, and the defending champions, London Towers, both lost by the narrowest margin last night against two more of the title contenders.

The Leopards won 88-84 at Thames Valley on Saturday then sat back as Sheffield lost 84-83 at Chester Jets and the Towers fell 95-94 after double overtime at the National Indoor Arena against Birmingham Bullets.

A three-point play from Nigel Lloyd snatched victory for Birmingham after London had been denied by a Billy Ross three-pointer at full time and three free throws from Lloyd with two seconds of the first overtime left.

Two free throws from Chester's Hilliary Scott gave them an 84-80 lead against the Sharks, before their American, Deon Hames, scored a three- pointer with the last shot of the game.

Docklands-based Leopards lead Sheffield, Birmingham and Chester by four points.