Brighton Cougars took a huge step to securing second place in NBL Division Two South by winning 74-67 at leaders Tamar Valley.

Cougars broke open a tight defensive struggle with a 12-0 run over five crucial minutes in the fourth period to take a 70-55 lead with 1:55 to play and then held on to seal the win over previously undefeated Cannons.

Tamar are now 10-1 in the league while Cougars are 8-4 ahead of tonight's key clash with Colchester at Portslade Leisure Centre (7.30pm).

Coach Mike Blatchford said: "This was a case of winning ugly and I'll take any win any day.

"Our last three games have been dog fights and we have come out on top dog in all of them."

Ramy Malik led all scorers with 25 points. He hit three three-pointers and was six-of-eight at the line.

Cougars: Malik 25, McQueen 16, Burns 13, Morgans 10, Ashcombe 7, J. Turner 3 Bognor Pirates coach Dave Goss, gave all of his squad valuable minutes as they lost 77-73 at Thames Valley B.

Ill discipline on offence allowed Tigers to ease out a 45-36 lead at the half.

Resolute defence from Tom Cousins and Jan Albrechtsen sparked a Bognor revival and they were three down going into the final period.

It was level with a minute to go but Thames Valley held their nerve at the line to secure the win.

Eighteen-year-old Dave Turner was top scorer for the Sussex side.

Pirates: Turner 20, Albrechtsen 16, El Hakim 11, Byrne 9, Pleskys 8, Clarke 6, Cousins 3 Cougars under-14s were gifted a win by way of England Basketball's Passerelle rules as Reading Rockets scored 21 points in the fourth period to win 52-37 but had to concede 20 points when two of their players were unable to play Cougars coach Mike Blatchford said: "I don't want to take anything away from our guys or their effort but those rules are just plain bad."

Elliot Finney had 13 points.

Cougars also gave up a big lead when defeated by the home town Tamar Valley Tigers 28-27. They led 24-12 at the end of the third period. Under-13 call-up players Kingsley Clark and Dan Whiley were the top scorers with six and five respectively.