Gregory to the fore as Jets remain on target

If the Chester Jets defy the odds and retain all four of their domestic titles this season, they may want to offer special thanks to their American forward, Kenny Gregory.

Gregory, added to the team as an afterthought by coach Robbie Peers, scored 21 points as the Jets lost 107-84 away to Sheffield in the BBL Trophy on Saturday night. His last two points, coming on the buzzer, ensured that Chester and not the Sharks will play Newcastle in the semi-final.

Sheffield entered the game needing a 24-point win to edge Chester out of the Trophy and had looked set to succeed in their mission, leading 86-66 at the start of the last quarter.

The closest game of the league programme came at Bracknell, where Thames Valley beat Scottish Rocks 92-91. The Tigers led for only the last 10 seconds of the game, after trailing by as many as 17 points in the first half. Michael Nurse's three-pointer proved the strike that won the game.

Irish international John O'Connell suffered the agony of another close defeat for the second weekend in a row in the 101-97 home defeat by Newcastle. O'Connell, who gave Towers a chance in last weekend's National Cup semi-final defeat, hit a three-pointer to trim Newcastle's lead to two points, only for TJ Walker to settle the game with two free throws in the dying seconds.

Birmingham Bullets lost their home game 72-81 to Milton Keynes who, led by Freddie Cole's 17 points, sent Birmingham to their 10th League defeat of the season.