Basketball: Cunningham set for title tilt

ALAN CUNNINGHAM, the Worthing Bears player-coach, has placed himself in the front line of the club's attempt to win a second title this season as it appears that injury will force Herman Harried, their American, out of the Budweiser League play-offs, writes Duncan Hooper.

Cunningham was part of Worthing's first title win last season. This season Worthing won the National Cup for the first time and Cunningham is pushing his players for another 'first' - two titles in a season.

Having finished runners-up in the League, the Bears' playoff trail begins tonight in their best-of-three quarter-final against Leicester City Riders, who they beat in last weekend's final League game of the season.

If Worthing qualify for the finals at Wembley on 30 April and 1 May, Harried, their leading scorer, rebounder and shot- blocker, is unlikely to regain his spot in the starting five.