Basketball: Sharks champions after beating Bears

Sheffield Sharks survived a frantic finale to become British champions at Ponds Forge last night by beating second-placed Brighton Bears 79-77 with one week of the regular season left to play.

The victory rewarded coach Chris Finch's team for a solid and consistent campaign, making up for the bitter disappointment of the last two seasons when the Championship was decided by sudden-death play-offs with the Sharks losing in the final each time.

But Brighton's performance typified their season, in which they remained in contention despite an injury list which would have crippled the challenge of less resilient and determined squads. Brighton trailed only 77-75 when Wilbur Johnson scored two free throws to tie the scores with two minutes and 45 seconds left. Justin Phoenix scored the final, Championship-winning, basket with one minute and 57 seconds on the clock.

Phoenix led the Sharks scorers with 20 points ahead of 14 each from Rob Yanders and Nate Reinking. Sterling Davis led Brighton's scorers with 19, ahead of 18 from Randy Duck and 15 from Michael Brown.

Milton Keynes Lions had one foot in the Play-off quarter-finals despite losing 84-73 at Brighton on Saturday and by 109-79 at home to Newcastle Eagles last night.

That left them in eighth place ahead of Birmingham Bullets, who lost 88-85 at home to Edinburgh Rocks on Saturday.