SPORT

Quarterback Josh Allen endured more play-off heartache as the Denver Broncos beat the Buffalo Bills in overtime to move within one win of the Super Bowl.

Having secured the AFC’s top seed, Denver had home advantage and led 23-10 during the third quarter, before the Bills twice came from behind to make the final score 30-30.

Allen had a chance to clinch victory in overtime, but the Broncos claimed an interception before kicking a field goal to win 33-30.

That means that despite reaching the play-offs in seven straight seasons, racking up eight play-off wins, the NFL’s reigning Most Valuable Player is still to reach the sport’s biggest game.

The Broncos, however, have claimed their first play-off success since winning the Super Bowl for the third time in February 2016.

That game took place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, which will also stage this year’s edition, Super Bowl 60, on Sunday, 8 February.

Now, Denver can look forward to the AFC Conference Championship game next weekend at home to the winners of the Houston Texans at the New England Patriots on Sunday (20:00 GMT).

More to follow.

Sierra Canyon, ranked No. 1 in high school basketball in the Southland, traveled to Springfield College on Saturday for the Hoophall Classic and came away with a 75-58 win over Miami Columbus.

Brandon McCoy earned game MVP honors by scoring 24 points and collecting 10 rebounds. Maxi Adams also had 24 points.

Sierra Canyon (18-1) has an even bigger test coming on Wednesday in Mission League play when it faces defending champion Harvard-Westlake (21-2) in a home game that should be sold out quickly.

Fairfield (Conn.) Notre Dame Prep 72, Mater Dei 57: The Monarchs (14-9) were beaten at the Hoophall Classic.

Los Alamitos 73, St. Francis 70: The Griffins won in overtime behind Tyler Lopez, who had 25 points. Sophomore Cole Ragsdale scored 19 points for St. Francis, which played without 7-foot-4 Cherif Millogo (illness).

Damien 53, North Torrance 32: The surging Spartans improved to 20-4 behind Eli Garner, who scored 20 points on eight-for-12 shooting from the field.

Heritage Christian 68, St. Anthony 45: Dominic Loehle finished with 24 points and 10 assists for Heritage Christian.

Girls basketball

Brentwood 73, La Jolla Bishops 42: The Eagles received 21 points from Mikaella Kawahito in the win in San Diego.

South Torrance 53, St. Anthony 51: Laila Hughes of St. Anthony had 13 points and nine rebounds.

Birmingham 84, El Segundo 43: Kiara Wakabi had 21 points while Jaydin Walker 20 points and 11 rebounds for Birmingham.

John Higgins stunned world number one Judd Trump as he fought back from 3-0 and 5-3 down to win 6-5 and reach his first Masters final since 2021.

The Scot will now face Kyren Wilson in Sunday’s best-of-19 showpiece match beginning at 13:00 GMT, after he defeated Chinese debutant Wu Yize 6-5 in another thrilling last-four encounter.

Higgins had lost his previous seven matches against Trump and appeared to be toiling as he made a series of errors in the opening three frames.

However, Trump, whose highest break until that point was just 60, failed to convert two good opportunities to take the fourth frame which provided Higgins with a route back into the contest.

“He should maybe have been 4-0 in front and I maybe made it too easy for him,” Higgins, who won the second of his two Masters titles 20 years ago, told BBC Sport.

“The fourth frame was massive because if he goes 4-0 it’s done, but at 3-1 I felt good.”

“People will laugh but I think I’m a better player now than I’ve ever been. You play these great champions like Judd and I am so proud because I’ve lost the last few against him.”

With the momentum shifting, Higgins, 50, also took the fifth with a superb 104 break.

The Englishman pinched the sixth and eighth frames with half centuries after his opponent missed reds, but Higgins made a 57 clearance in similar fashion to take frame seven.

Trump, 36, who has generally held sway in meetings between the pair since triumphing in their 2019 world final, looked set to seal victory in the ninth frame but with just four balls to pot, remarkably missed a routine brown.

And that gave Higgins the impetus to craft pressure-breaks of 70 and 57 on his way to reeling off three tense frames in a row to complete a remarkable turnaround and become the oldest player to reach the final of a Triple Crown event.