Basketball: Walker seals win as Sharks blow advantage

Sheffield Sharks lost the chance to close in on the Northern Conference leaders Chester Jets on Saturday night, when they wasted a 20-point lead at Newcastle Eagles to lose 111-110 after one period of overtime on a basket from TJ Walker.

The second-placed Sharks lost the lead for the first time when an 11-0 run put Newcastle 85-83 ahead, but were apparently rescued by a three-pointer on the buzzer from England assistant coach Peter Scantlebury, which forced the extra period at 97-97. But Sheffield again handed the Eagles a lifeline when Nate Reinking scored a three-pointer for a 110-109 lead, but missed the bonus shot from the foul line. Walker drove through the Sharks' defence to snatch victory and take the Eagles to within two points of Sheffield, but from three games more. Newcastle's Shawn Myers led all scorers with 30, ahead of 24 from Sheffield's Justin Phoenix.

A gruelling week told on the Southern Conference leaders London Towers who lost 85-73 at Brighton Bears, after playing an NEBL game in Poland on Tuesday and a Euroleague fixture in Lithuania on Thursday.

Birmingham Bullets continue to fail to convert games in hand into points and lost 88-71 at home to London Leopards.

In the North's basement Derby Storm triumphed over Edinburgh Rocks 78-76.