Brighton Cougars and Bognor Pirates both need a derby win tonight (7pm).

Tonight's hosts Bognor are joint bottom of division two with Brixton Topcats while Cougars have had four straight defeats with Topcats doing a lot of the damage.

Having beaten them in the league in the capital the previous week, Topcats came to Portslade last Saturday and scored an 81-67 Shield success. Coach Mike Blatchford admitted Cougars played a lot better than of late but struggled to make shots.

They were 31 per cent from the field, failing to land a single three-pointer, but hit 23 of 25 free throws.

Cougars also had 25 turnovers but Blatchford said: "On the plus side we played with a lot of energy."

James Ashcombe hit 16 points. Emmanuel Laroche added 14 and Steve McQueen was eight-of-eight at the line in his 12.

Other scorers: Malik 9, Turner 6, Sinkfield 4, Burns 4, Lincoln 2, Cougars also staged their toss-a-toy, in which the crowd of about 150 threw cuddly toys through a hoop on court at a given signal.

The toys will be passed on to the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital and The Argus Appeal.

Cougars under-12s beat 1066 (Battle) 37-8 and Shoreham Sharks 20-13 in Sussex Youth League action.

Tom Jennion, Stefan Karakashian and Michael O'Keefe caught the eye after stepping up an age group.

Cougars: Hinks-Roberts 18, Tehrani 14, O'Keefe 8, Beamont 7, Robins 4, Scanlon 4, Schone 2, Jennion, Benn, Karakashian.