Basketball: Lloyd strikes amid uproar

THAMES VALLEY'S new strip has the wrong name on it, but should be worn for the rest of the season after proving lucky in an undeserved and controversial 58-57 Budweiser League win at Leicester, writes Duncan Hooper.

Leicester had led for 39 minutes and 58 seconds when Nigel Lloyd's jump shot snatched victory before Saturday's game ended in uproar.

Before the game Thames Valley took delivery of their new strip only to discover it carried the name Bracknell, which they dropped three seasons ago.

With five minutes to play they trailed 57-49, but Michael Hayles, Peter Scantlebury and Michael Obaseki chipped away with free throws. Leicester's young guard, Steve Walker, then twice lost possession, allowing Hayles to cut the lead to a single point.

Jerry Jenkins, Leicester's coach, was already claiming a time-out as Lloyd's winning shot passed through the net, but the commissioner, Mike Neal, told the Leicester director, Kevin Routledge, that he had not seen the coach's signal.

That amazing claim possibly made him unique among those watching the match. 'It's a disgrace,' said Routledge, who is also chairman of the league.