A 51-31 defeat of Exeter Eagles sent Solent Stars' under-14 girls winging into the last eight of the National League competition.

A superb defensive display kept the Eagles pointless until the eighth minute of the first quarter, by which time skipper Jess Brookfield had scored eight for Solent.

A further Kiri Peters basket gave Stars a 10-2 advantage going into the second quarter, but suddenly they lost their way and Exeter responded with a 9-0 run of their own.

Two late baskets from Amanda Caley restored Solent's lead, 19-17, by half-time.

Brookfield kept scoring in the third quarter, with good support from Robyn Hislop, while, at the defensive end, Grace Trueman and Natasha Drake frustrated their opponents.

Stars travel to Telford this weekend to face undefeated Shropshire Warriors for a place in the RAF Final Fours at Cosford.

Solent scorers: Jess Brookfield 18, Amanda Caley 10, Robyn Hislop 10, Kiri Peters 7, Grace Trueman 4, Sam House 2.

Solent's under-16 girls bowed out of the National League play-offs 73-54 to Southend Swifts.

Stars began strongly with Annaliese Flynn and Rosamund Day speeding them into a 7-0 lead and forcing Swifts to introduce England centre Jane Barclay.

Her presence allowed Southend to claw their way back to an 18-12 first-quarter lead.

By half-time Swifts had extended that advantage to 37-28, and although Solent stepped up their defensive intensity with captain Ros Day forcing several turnovers, poor finishing proved costly.

As fatigue set in for Solent, Southend eased away from their less experienced opponents to record a deserved, if flattering, victory.

Solent scorers: Rosamond Day 17,Jade Richmond 14, Annaliese Flynn 8, Charlene Blackman 7, Jess Brookfield 6, Robyn Hislop 2.