Basketball: Sharks back on top ahead of Bears date

Sheffield Sharks regained the top spot in the BBL Championship by cruising past a supine Birmingham Bullets 114-82 at the Aston Events Centre on Saturday, while defending champions Chester Jets lost ground in third place with an 84-77 defeat against London Towers at Crystal Palace.

All 10 Sharks players scored as they romped to a 62-42 half-time lead, spearheaded by Jerry Williams, 29 points, and Lynard Stewart, 22.

The Sharks now lead the table until Friday night's date with second-placed Brighton Bears, who beat Newcastle Eagles 89-87 on Friday. The four-game series between the Sharks and Bears is tied at one win each and their final match is at Sheffield Arena on Sunday 6 April.

Towers' win over the Jets guaranteed their place in the post-season play-offs along with that of Scottish Rocks.

The Jets have probably lost their chance of defending the BBL title after Saturday's defeat where they were without injury victim Kenny Gregory, the BBL's leading scorer.

Jets' New Zealand international captain Pero Cameron, who is leaving at the end of the season, was forced to play all 40 minutes with Calvin Davis, John McCord, Todd Cauthorn and John Thomas.

The only remaining issue is whether Milton Keynes Lions can hold off the Bullets and Essex Leopards to claim the final quarter-final place.