Basketball: No stopping the Sharks

THE SHARKS are circling the Budweiser League Trophy just one week after winning the National Cup final. Chris Finch's Sheffield side defeated Manchester Giants 86-83 on Saturday, then routed London Towers 92-58 last night after out-scoring them 19-1 in the first quarter.

The Giants began the weekend level on points with Sheffield, from one game more. But after John White scored the first two of his 45 points to open Manchester's account on Saturday night, Sheffield responded with a 17-0 run in the next eight minutes with all five of their starters hitting the target.

Peter Scantelbury, who was Cup-tied for last week's final, led their scorers with 23 points after Sheffield survived Terrell Myers, Todd Cauthorn and Wil Johnson fouling out in the final minutes.

Last night's victory, in which Myers led their scorers with 32 points, gives Sheffield a four-point lead over Manchester with a game in hand.

The beaten cup finalists, Greater London Leopards, followed Thursday's 83-82 win over Derby Storm with an 86-73 victory at Thames Valley Tigers with Ben Baum leading their scorers with 21 points, including five three- pointers. Leopards moved above Leicester City Riders into the eighth play-off spot.