Basketball: Worthing contained by Siemon

JASON SIEMON and Tim Lascelles led Derby to a 92-83 Budweiser League victory over Worthing Bears, who had defeated them in last season's Wembley play-off semi-finals, writes Duncan Hooper.

Lascelles' six scoring shots were all three-pointers, while Siemon's contribution of 26 points was matched by an outstanding defensive performance. Herman Harried had scored 20 points for Worthing by the end of the third quarter, but the 6ft 8in Siemon shut him out in the fourth quarter.

Exide Manchester Giants won their first League game as Trevor Gordon returned after a one-game suspension, imposed by the coach Mike Hanks, to score 11 points off the bench in the 82-72 win over the previously unbeaten Birmingham Peugeot Bullets.

Thames Valley's Peter Scantlebury missed his first game through injury for 12 seasons, but the Tigers coasted to a 108-93 win over Telecential Hemel Royals in a 7-UP League Trophy group game.

In another group game, Doncaster Panthers extended their unbeaten run, beating Sunderland Scorpions 116-91. Sunderland's Russ Saunders faces a ban after being disqualified following an incident with the Doncaster player-coach Mark Harvey.