Basketball: Holley ignores injury to help Bears

Brighton Bears' veteran Tony Holley will play with a chronic knee injury at home tonight against Chester Jets, as the ailing, injury-stricken defending champions take on the BBL Championship leaders.

Injuries have stripped Brighton to the bone and they had just six fit players last weekend. Holley needs rest, but said: "I thought taking of three or four games off but, after talking to my wife and mother back in the States, decided to carry on with pain-killers.

"Every player who has had tendinitis in both knees knows the pain I am going through. But when you are... in the middle of a championship race, taking a rest is not an option."

The Bears are fifth and trying to overhaul London Towers in fourth place to secure home advantage in the play-off quarter-finals. But Chester will be a tough proposition, as they face growing pressure from second-placed Newcastle Eagles.

In the English Basketball League First Division, Essex and Herts Leopards can clinch the last place in the play-off quarter-finals by beating already relegated Coventry Crusaders. If they lose, London Capitals could steal eighth.