THE top basketball players in Ireland will be in action at the UL Arena over the weekend and BurgerKing Limerick intend to finish off the season in style by lifting the National Championship for the very first time and giving the fans the perfect result.

The top eight teams from the men’s Superleague and the top four from the women’s are destined for the University of Limerick this weekend to participate in the National Championships, the grand finale of the basketball calendar.

BASKETBALL can be a funny old game. A couple of months ago, BurgerKing Limerick, then the reigning Cup champions, were more or less dismissed as a force in the ESB SuperLeague but, while they have no chance of lifting that trophy, they are once again the centre of attention and they are loving it.

Neptune are only two victories away from the Superleague title following their 85-72 victory over Tralee Tigers on Wednesday night.

Basketball results:

A CALIFORNIA police chief yesterday said a sex attacker who kidnapped and raped two teenage girls was minutes away from killing his victims when he was shot dead by sheriff's deputies.

A California police chief said a sex attacker who kidnapped and raped two teenage girls was minutes away from killing his victims when he was shot dead by sheriff’s deputies.

The effects of Christmas were evident on the St Vincent’s side when they ended up on the wrong side of the 88-92 scoreline in the weekend’s Dublin derby game.