With six minutes remaining in regulation time of Sunday's match at the Brentwood Centre, the Leopards were leading by 14 points and seemingly had the game under control.

Derby, who arrived with only seven players, were soon to have starting player Ray Schultz foul out, yet the Big Cats allowed the Storm back into the game, which set up the drama of overtime which in itself provoked controversy and will be debated for weeks to come by the fans at the Brentwood Centre.

The Derby Storm, currently third in the Northern Conference, opened brightly and soon opened up a nine point advantage at 11-2.

In the early minutes Derby's renowned shot blocker Bunton, had already made his mark.

When checking a Kimbrough shot, the Derby player collided with the Leopards guard who fell to the court.

The referees were slow to call a halt to the game, and in his anger, Leopards Coach Bob Donewald was called for a technical foul.

Leopards fought back and a Brandon Brantley three point play reduced the arrears to just four points.

However the Storm put together a seven point run to extend their lead, but Kimbrough's successful three point shot meant that the Storm's lead was just five at the end of the quarter.

The opening minutes of the second quarter belonged to Rashod Johnson.

He was fouled taking the ball to the hoop and scored the resulting foul shots. A fast break followed by an easy lay-up took the Leopards into the lead.

However Johnson maintained the momentum and pulled up for a three point shot to give the home side a four point advantage.

Leopards had gone on an 11-2 run and Johnson had scored them all.

The Storm bounced back and an 11-0 run saw them establish a seven point advantage before Dave Attewell and Kenya Capers applied pressure to allow the Leopards to take a one point advantage at the half time break (40-39)

The third quarter saw the lead yo-yo back and forth as neither side played with the necessary level of consistency to establish superiority.

Midway through the period a three point shot from Kimbrough opened up a four point lead and when Capers scored seven consecutive points the Leopards had opened up a ten point advantage.

Yet again however they were unable to finish the Storm off, as turnovers and easy missed shots cost the Leopards dear as the Storm cut the lead to just four before Attewell calmed the Leopards with the final score of the quarter (64-58)

The final period of regulation belonged to Capers who contributed 14 points.

Nevertheless, the foul count was creeping up but with a 14 point lead, the game was there to be won.

The Storm showed character to fight back in a situation where some sides would have given the game up as lost.

With five minutes remaining the Leopards led by six when Donewald called a time out, with Kimbrough, Attewell and Johnson all on four fouls.

With two minutes remaining, Kimbrough completed one of his two foul shots to give Leopards a five point lead.

Bunton reduced the deficit to three points with 46 seconds left on the clock.

When the Leopards regained possession, Kimbrough tried to run down the clock but a hurried shot from Brantley was short, and Derby received the ball and with under ten seconds left, Darian Evans of Derby was fouled in the act of shooting by John Tresvant who fouled out.

The resulting foul shot tied the game at 84-84 and sent the game to overtime.

One figure dominated the overtime period and that was referee Keith Bruce, rarely has an official made such an impact.

Neither side opened up a substantial lead, and with two minutes 20 seconds remaining the referee adjudged a pushing foul on Brantley who fouled out with five fouls.

On the very next play the same official fouled out Dave Attewell, and within a minute Johnson followed Brantley and Attewell to the bench, having fouled out, the same official made the call.

The Leopards were now down to a bare five, but nevertheless trailed by only one point with 28 seconds remaining.

Capers dribbled the ball down court, crossed the half way line and appeared to be preparing to slow the game to prepare for the final shot, when referee Bruce called Capers for a double dribble.

The Storm regained possession and Stone moved Derby into a two point lead, but Kimbrough had one last chance to tie the game, but was fouled going to the basket, and his first foul shot rimmed out to leave Derby to the victors by two points.

In truth there was much to commend in the Leopards performance.The teams' intensity and commitment has picked up over the past couple of weeks, however they still do not kill games off.

Derby clawed their way to victory, but this game could and should have been won by the Leopards, and when Coach Donewald reviews the video evidence in the days to come, he may reflect on missed opportunities, unforced errors and turnovers which ultimately cost Leopards the win.

The Leopards' points scorers were: Kenya Capers 32, Rashod Johnson 24, Jason Kimbrough 18, Brandon Brantley 14, and Dave Attewell eight.

Coming through . . the London Leopards attack the Derby Storm defence in Sunday's Dairylea Dunkers Championship match at the Brentwood Centre.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.