Jets' defeat opens up title race unseated by fierce Tigers

Thames Valley Tigers have spent the BBL championship campaign expecting no more than to scramble into the play-off quarter-finals, but on Saturday night, the Bracknell club played a surprise role in deciding the title race by unseating the leaders, Chester Jets, 87-84.

Thames Valley Tigers have spent the BBL championship campaign expecting no more than to scramble into the play-off quarter-finals, but on Saturday night, the Bracknell club played a surprise role in deciding the title race by unseating the leaders, Chester Jets, 87-84.

Tigers' victory, sealed only in the frantic final seconds, sent the Jets slipping into second place and allowed Newcastle Eagles back to the top by beating Plymouth Raiders 93-75 following their midweek win over Sheffield Sharks. The title could now be settled on Friday night, when the Eagles host the Jets in the final weekend of the regular season.

Fab Flournoy's Eagles are 2-1 up in the head-to-head and victory will give them their first Championship title following last month's triumph in the BBL Trophy final, which earned the franchise's first silverware for 14 years. If Jets win by more than eight points they will be champions, while a win of exactly eight points will require a points count-back.

At Bracknell the Jets appeared to be cruising with an 11-point lead before Josh Murray, Josiah James and Nick Moore steadily pulled Tigers back. Tigers went 85-84 ahead before Moore sealed their win from the free-throw line. London Towers jumped above Sheffield into third place by beating Leicester Riders 78-72.