[sql]
select score,player from scores where score=(select max(score) from scores where score< (select max(score) from scores));
[/sql]
The above finds the second highest score in the scores table and the name of the player.
Reading from right to left:
1. The first select finds the highest score.
2. The second select find the highest from the rest.
3. The last select finds the name of the player.

Hope this helps.