Basketball: Leicester's barren run continues

THE WAIT goes on and it is getting worse for Leicester City Riders. They lost 82-81 at home to Thames Valley Tigers in overtime in the uni- ball trophy last night and are still without a win in either Championship or League trophy after 14 attempts.

A three-pointer from Mark Jackson forced overtime at 71-71, then the same player shot the winning three-pointer with five seconds to play. Leicester could have still won the game but Purnell Perry missed a lay- up with the final shot.

Michael White, from the University of Mississippi, had a hectic but unproductive introduction. Coming on for the last three minutes of the first quarter, his first play was an assist for Hilroy Thomas to take a 10-8 lead, but as White repeatedly tried to dribble the ball he lost possession four times in succession and then missed two free throws.

The learning curve was not quite so steep watching the second quarter from the bench as breakaway dunks by Perry and Rob Wilson and a three- pointer from Drew Barrett put Riders 28-25 ahead.

White came on for the final three minutes of the half and this time fitted into the flow of Perry and Wilson taking the ball to Tigers hoop and he hit a jump shot for a 34-33 lead. When Wilson rebounded White's miss and was fouled on the half-time buzzer he sank both free throws for a 36-33 half-time lead.

And Wilson was on the line again at the end of the third, potting two more frees for a 56-51 lead which disappeared in the first 70 seconds of the final quarter as Tigers gathered themselves to push the hapless Riders to yet another defeat.

After reviving their European hopes with last week's win in Milan, London Towers lost 78-67 against Plannja, of Sweden, at Crystal Palace last night to have little chance of qualifying for the Saporta Cup.