SOUTHAMPTON Trailblazers' under-13 boys celebrated back-to-back National League South Division victories at Reading over the weekend.

Holding the slimmest of half-time leads, 20-19 against Reading, they produced a strong second-half performance to run out comfortable 57-35 winners.

Their next opponents, Spelthorne Atoms, are new to the National League but, with England player Jovanovski in their line-up, they were not to be taken lightly.

Trailing 10-6 after the first quarter, Southampton turned up the tempo and pressured the Atoms into errors which were capitalised on by James Blandford and David Gardner, taking Blazers on a 20-4 run.

Although Spelthorne played well in the second period, they couldn't got back on even terms as Southampton won it 49-42.

SOUTHAMPTON SCOREERS (v Reading): Jack Kendall 14, David Gardner 10, Luke Clifford 10, Jon Pickering 8, James Blandford 5, George Radford 4, Joe Spencer 2, Nathan Harvey 2, Nathan Holland 2; (v Spelthorne): Luke Clifford 13, David Gardner 11, James Blandford 10, Sam Butler 3, Nathan Harvey 2, George Phelps 2, Jon Pickering 2, George Radford 2, Joe Spencer 2, Jack Kendall 2.

SOLENT Stars have left themselves a mountain to climb to reach the end-of-season play-offs in the English Basketball League Division 1.

They travelled to Essex & Herts Leopards on Saturday needing victory over their closest rivals for the coveted eighth spot to stand a realistic chance of qualification

However, it was not to be. Despite leading 58-55 going into the final quarter at Brentwood Leisure Centre, they were outgunned at the end and lost 77-74.

A nervous start by Solent saw them score only four points in the opening eight minutes, while Leopards posted 12, including two long-range three-pointers.

Solent's leading scorer Marlin Capers was being closely policed by the Essex team leaving others free to score, but they struggled to take advantage and Stars' other American Larry Parker didn't hit the target at all in the opening quarter.

Fortunately for Stars, a late rally saw Paul Silcox, Phil Long and Capers help peg Leopards back to 16-11 and then Parker got into the scoring groove in the second quarter, notching 11 of the visitors' 17 points.

But having come within four points of the Essex total, Solent watched in dismay as the home team sank three giant three-pointers through American Brandon Kephart to lead 38-28 at the interval.

Solent charged out full of enterprise at the start of the second half and played probably one of their best spells of the season to outscore the home team 30-17 and take the lead for the first time.

Phil Long was having his best game so far despite having to try and contain the bigger and heavier Troy Selvey.

The final session was a nail-biting, pulsating affair as the teams battled for supremacy.

With a tight control being kept on Capers, Parker assumed the main scoring role for Solent and two enterprising baskets from Chris St Omer kept them in the hunt.

But Leopards regained the lead with three minutes remaining and Solent lost Long, on five fouls, at the start of a hectic final minute which included two players fouling out, three time-outs and six free throws.

Essex kept their nerve to hold on to their precarious lead, while Solent were unable to get a clean shot away in the final seconds and disappointingly turned the ball over in their last attack.

With just eight games remaining - including one against each of the top six - Solent now need a miracle to make the play-offs.

ESSEX AND HERTS LEOPARDS 77 (16, 38, 55)

SOLENT STARS 74 (11, 28, 58)

Solent scorers: Larry Parker 28, Marlin Capers 12, Mark Jackson 10, Phil Long 8, Ollie Marsh 7, Chris St Omer 6, Paul Silcox 3.

Solent also lost their Tsunami Appeal game the previous evening against USAF Mildenhall, 63-66. They used the occasion to blood some of their less experienced players - with the notable exception of coach Alan Cunningham, who played just a few days after his 50th birthday.