Basketball

BARKERS (Tarring) Worthing Thunder's hopes of a hat-trick of EBL Division 1 titles were effectively ended on Saturday on the same Manchester court that six days previously had seen them lose the National Trophy final.

By The Newsroom

Published 11th Mar 2008, 15:58 BST

Updated 8th Jun 2018, 03:33 BST

Completely outplayed by a very impressive Manchester unit, they eventually lost 95-69 to a Magic team who now appear to be in a straight fight with Reading Rockets for either side's first Division 1 title, although Worthing may have something to say about that too, as a win at home to the Rockets on March 22 would in all likelihood hand the title to Manchester.

With the home side taking the lead in the very early stages, Thunder soon responded with an 8-2 run to lead 8-6.

However, when the respective captains Patrick Dwyer and James Brame both hit threes to leave Worthing 11-9 up that was the last time they led the game.

With James Mooney consigned to the bench following two fouls in the fourth minute, Magic took advantage, Stefan Gill topping off a 17-5 run with a three-pointer as the home side established a 10 point lead (26-16)they never looked close to squandering.

For full report see Sporting Odds, West Sussex Gazette March 12