BBL Championship, Quarter-finals (Coventry Skydome)

Brighton Bears  102  (23,45,77)  (White 30, Duck 21, Johnson 18)
Newcastle Eagles  101  (19,39,64)  (Walker 29, Myers 25, Hyatt 22)
 

Brighton Bears survived a dramatic comeback from Newcastle Eagles to book a semi-final spot against Chester Jets next weekend, a Rodger Farrington put back from a missed free throw from Randy Duck giving Nick Nurse's men a 102-101 overtime win.

It was ultimately a victory which Brighton deserved for their tenacious play against an Eagles side which - TJ Walker apart - looked utterly lethargic for most of the contest. But the Tyneside outfit somehow managed to haul their long-standing deficit back in the fourth quarter to set up a gripping finale.

"We played really well for 30 minutes. we were solid offensively, good defensively but we need to keep playing for the full 40 minutes," admitted a relieved Nurse.

Newcastle never led between late in the first period and the beginning of overtime after a dominant Albert White sparked the Bears into a 8-0 run which put them 23-19 ahead after the opening ten minutes.

An 11-5 burst in the second put Brighton further in front and only Walker's tenacious endeavours kept the Eagles in touch at 45-39 by the interval.

With Malcolm Leak anonymous, Newcastle struggled offensively but kept in touch with the Southern Conference runners-up, even when their cause looked lost when Brighton posted a 77-64 lead at the close of the third period.

Slowly, Walker - plus a belatedly firing Jeremy Hyatt - rubbed away at Brighton's cushion and when Tony Garbelotto's men notched up nine of the final eleven points of regulation, the final a Hyatt jumper on the buzzer, an extra period loomed at 94-94.

With Sterling Davis fouling out for the Bears, Newcastle edged 101-97 in front and had the game in their grasp. But the impressive Duck went to the line with five seconds left and although his second attempt rimmed out, Farrington stole in to convert the rebound and steal victory for his team.
 

Sheffield  85 (20,43,66) Stewart 20, Phoenix 15, Reinking 15
Milton Keynes  81 (27,47,60) Alleyne 22, Brown 17, Lloyd 16

When Sheffield Sharks coach Chris Finch was ejected early in the second quarter of his team's BBL quarter-final against Milton Keynes Lions, the Yorkshire outfit were struggling to find their rhythm and went 14 points in arrears. Minus their playcaller on the sidelines, the Sharks took off to book a semi-final meeting with London Towers, grinding out an 85-81 victory.

It brought down the curtain on Nigel Lloyd's playing days as the Lions player-coach prepares to hang up his boots at the age of 40, his last game in the BBL ending on a note of frustration.

The two sides traded baskets in an even start to the game, but Lions hit eight of the last ten points of the first quarter to lead 27-20. Lions then bagged the opening seven points of the second quarter, including three points from the foul line as Sharks' boss Chris Finch picked up two technical fouls and was ejected from the game. 

After Mike Payne's long-range effort cut Sheffield's deficit back to 47-43 at half-time, Lynard Stewart sparked a 9-0 burst early in the second half to re-ignite the contest as Lions struggled for offense.

They maintained the advantage as Justin Phoenix and Peter Scantlebury grabbed six points each in the third quarter.

Trailing 66-60 entering the final period, a 9-0 run capped by Lloyd promptly put the Lions in front once more, the lead then trading hands.

Jason Siemon fouled out with three minutes remaining, sending Todd Cauthorn went to the line to make 2/2 to level at 76-76. As the tension rose, the shots dried up but when Nate Reinking's drive to the line saw the American pick up a foul, he failed to convert the bonus.

With the game tightly balanced, Lions levelled through Victor Payne, then trailed as Sharks entrusted the game to their outside shooters. Jeff Monaco converted a three-point play to put his team up 81-78 as the final minute began and when they extended their cushion three further, the Lions challenge was ended along with Lloyd's utterly distinguished career.

Reinking and Phoenix scored 15 points each for Sheffield, while the Milton Keynes scoring was led by Andrew Alleyne with 22 and Jermaine Brown with 17.
 

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