SOLENT Stars men's second team face their biggest game of the season on Saturday when they face Derby Trailblazers in basketball's National League Division 3 Championship final at Reading's Rivermede Leisure Centre (2pm).

With the Division 3 East title safely stashed away, they are already the only one of Solent's four National League teams to have lifted any silverware this season.

Now they are looking to make it a dream double having notched convincing wins over East Kent Crusaders and Aston Athletics en route to the play-off final.

Coach Mick Byrne, no stranger to basketball's big occasions, is looking forward to the event. "This has been a whole team performance throughout the season, " he said.

"In the club's 25-year history, this is the first time a second team has played in the National League. Most of the local players are having their first taste of national competition, making this a true developmental team that will hopefully show dividends for the first team in years to come.

"We also have some experience in the team, especially Jon Rumsey, the captain and Trevor Donaldson (pictured). This will be Trevor's final game before emigrating and we want to send him off in fine style."

Solent will be looking to Clayton Milner and Dave McKay to continue their consistent scoring assisted by Andy Aung.

If Liam Wyatt can stay out of foul trouble he could be a valuable asset off the boards, while point guard Ryan Payne hopes to crown an outstanding season with a championship medal.

Youngsters Liam Openshaw and Joel Freeland are also pencilled into Solent's line-up along with James Chubb, Paul Loosemore and Craig Dawson, if he overcomes an injury picked up in Solent Area League action.

Derby Trailblazers have a similar playing record to Solent and, with a 7ft 1in player plus experienced three-point shooter Tim Lascelles, they have plenty of big guns in their armoury.

Solent director Jim Rumsey said: "It promises to be a game worthy of the occasion and the Solent supporters, who will be there in force, will give the team every encouragement."

SOUTHAMPTON Trailblazers' young guns returned triumphantly from the RAF Final Fours having reached the final of the National Under-13 Basketball Championship for the first time in the club's history.

Although they didn't achieve overall victory, their appearance in the final was fitting reward for a season of hard work put in by coaches Jeannie Asher and Simon Bradbury.

Making an early start on Sunday morning at Manchester's Amaechi Basketball Centre, wide-awake Southampton raced into an eight-point semi-final lead against City of Birmingham and it soon became apparent that they were too good for their Midlands opponents.

By half-time they had stretched the advantage to 22 points, much to the delight of the huge contingent of fans who had made the journey north.

Birmingham's offence regularly broke down due to Blazers' relentless pressure defence and Jon Pickering alone made eight steals in a 65-44 victory.

Southampton's final opponents were East London Royals, who had defeated the previously unbeaten Sheffield Sharks 98-45.

Blazers made a hesitant start against their taller, athletic opponents who raced into a 22-8 first-quarter lead.

Slowly but surely Southampton began to recapture their semi-final form with James Blandford leading the fightback with 18 points, including some fine individual moves which earned him a special mention by event commentator Mike Shaft.

But the first-half deficit proved too big a handicap for Blazers as East London clinched the title 88-56.

Southampton scorers (v City of Birmingham): Jack Kendall 22, David Gardner 18, Luke Clifford 10, James Blandford 7, Nathan Holland 4, Jon Pickering 4, George Phelps, Richard Mann, Joe Spencer, George Radford.

Southampton scorers (v East London Royals) Blandford 18, Kendall 12, Gardner 6, Mann 6, Holland 4, Clifford 4, Radford 2, Pickering 2, Phelps 2, Joe Spencer.