Basketball: Dux leads Heat rally to reach final

Guildford Heat stormed to their first BBL Cup final, in only the franchise's second year, by defeating Sheffield Sharks 87-81 at The Spectrum last night when they closed out the game with an 11-5 run over the final two minutes.

Sheffield trailed throughout but tied the scores on 76-76 with a 12-2 run inspired by five points from Eddie Cage and four from Jeff Bonds. But Guildford's Brian Dux then took control, scoring nine points including five free throws, to reach next month's final. Dux led all scorers with 24 points while Cage and Blake Shelton scored 23 each for Sheffield. The holders Newcastle Eagles meet Scottish Rocks on Sunday in the second semi.

In the Championship, Milton Keynes Lions lost ground to the leaders Sheffield in the race for the title with an 80-72 defeat at Hackney Space Centre, where the game against London United ended in uproar with the visitors signing the scoresheet in protest at the handling of the game by the match officials.

London, ending a four-game losing streak, went ahead 64-61 on two free throws from 6ft 10in GB international Chris Haslam and Lions never regained the lead despite a frenetic finale and determined assault on the United basket.

Andrew Lasker scored 26 points last night to lead Plymouth Raiders to a 97-87 win at Chester Jets which propelled them to second in the table ahead of Guildford, who are away at the fourth-placed Lions tomorrow.