LANCASHIRE Spinners coach Steven Gayle praised his "talented" team as the EBL Division Two leaders continued their push for promotion with a 94-81 victory at third-placed Derbyshire Arrows on Saturday.

The Spinners now have a two-game cushion between themselves and third place in terms of games lost – the key measure of league position in basketball – following their 14th win of the season.

It was always going to be a tough ask against the Arrows, who had lost just one home game all season and were on a seven-game winning streak, and so it proved to be with the Spinners gaining the win following an exciting last second buzzer beater from Andre Gayle.

“It was just a really good performance," said Gayle.

"Mark Rangeley and Josh Houghton were scoring really well, our big guys were doing a good job and Conor Porter was giving their star man a torrid time.

"Conor showed his value again, he’s just an exceptional on ball defender and I can’t praise him highly enough.

"We struggled in the first part of the fourth quarter when the Arrows made a run of scores, but we responded terrifically.

"We just have so many guys who can score the basketball.

"We’ve just got a really talented team. They’re a pleasure to work with.”

Having started well, the Spinners, who handed a debut to new signing 7ft tall James Ormond, but rested Tom Sutton and Anthony Kuczaj, won the first quarter 29-25 and led 53-44 at half time.

Derbyshire kept the game close throughout with solid performances from Callum McCullum and Chris Dixon but Porter was always on hand to disrupt Dixon and his team's rhythm.

In the fourth quarter, the Arrows closed the gap from 12 down to just a one-point game, but Rangeley, Houghton and Gayle, who combined to score 74 points during the game, hit back-to-back threes, before another Rangeley three a minute later sealed the game for the Bury side.

The Spinners will be looking to take a huge step towards claiming one of the top two promotion places when they face third-placed Ipswich at Castle Leisure Centre in Bury on Saturday. Tip off 5.40pm.