Basketball: Pressure on Sharks as Bears win twice

THE BBL Championship leaders Sheffield Sharks lost ground with a 94-85 defeat last night at the title holders Chester Jets, who stepped up the pace by outscoring them 30-14 in the second quarter to take control 55-37 by half time.

Kenny Gregory (27 points) and Calvin Davis, with 26, led the assault for the Jets against a Sharks team who were at full strength after appealing against a two-game ban on Justin Phoenix, who scored 12 points. The Sharks defeated Thames Valley Tigers 105-83 on Saturday, but are now only two victories ahead of second-placed Brighton Bears, who won twice at the weekend and have three games in hand.

An under-strength Bears side survived double overtime to beat the bottom club Birmingham Bullets 88-84 on Saturday, then defeated the Tigers 84-73 last night.

Brighton's owner-coach Nick Nurse decided not to appeal against a three-game suspension on Rico Alderson, who was banned for exchanging punches with Phoenix in a recent clash with the Sharks.

The Bears suffered a first-quarter injury to Errol Seaman at Birmingham, leaving Nurse with just six players, although the sextet comprised five experienced Americans, plus the former Bullet Emiko Etete.

The match officials also chipped in, awarding the Bears an astonishing 43 free throws against 13 for the Bullets, who twice had victory in their grasp. However, two free throws from Ralph Blalock forced overtime at 66-66, then a three-pointer from Sterling Davis tied the scores again on 77-77 and sent the game into a second extra five minutes.

A Kyle Rolston 'three' and Michael Jackson gave Bullets a 84-82 lead, but they failed to score again. Davis scored his fourth 'three' of the game then he, Blalock and Randy Duck completed the scoring from the foul line.