Coventry Crusaders 89, Solent Stars 98

Much of Solent Stars' recent improvement can be attributed to the successful pairing of Marlin Capers and Larry Parker, so it was no surprise that the Americans should again feature prominently as Stars' unbeaten start to the year continued.

Although the home based players may not be scoring many points, they haven't really needed to, such has been the dominance Capers and Parker have been able to exert in what is now a three-match winning run.

Capers scored a season's best 45 points while Parker netted 29 points as Solent completed their first away win of the season with plenty to spare.

Much the same side had lost at the same venue by as many as 27 points just before Christmas in a National Trophy match, but such has been the steady improvement this year that Solent had this game all but won by the end of the third quarter.

The lead did slip in the final quarter when Solent opted to give court time to some of the bench players. But they were never really in danger of surrendering all the good work that had seen them dominate the middle stages of the game.

In a closely matched first quarter, the lead changed hands seven times before a late Capers three point shot gave Solent a deserved 21-17 lead. All Solent's points in that quarter came from the red hot hands of Capers and Parker.

And they went on to score the majority of Stars points in the second quarter as well, when they outscored the home side 32-22. Solent opened the quarter by nailing four successive three point shots before Chris St Omer and Graham Hunter got their names on the scoresheet as incisive attacking play saw them assemble a big lead.

Coach Alan Cunningham called an early third quarter timeout after Solent started slowly and saw their lead trimmed to ten points. The timeout did the business, as Mark Jackson scored five quick points before further consistent scoring from Capers and Parker saw Solent ahead by as many as 25 points (79-54).

Resting the starting five from the start of the final quarter, Solent saw their lead cut to just ten points with five minutes remaining. That was the signal to reintroduce the starting five and Solent suffered few alarms on their way to the sort of timely win that puts the play-offs very much in reach.

Scorers: Capers 45, Parker 29, Jackson 8, Hunter 6, St Omer 4, Silcox 4, Marsh 2.

A sign of how much progress Solent have made is likely to arrive at Fleming Park tomorrow night when they face Reading Rockets, the team that won the National Cup earlier this month.

The Solent Stars Basketball Club is involving itself in an effort to raise more funds for the Tsunami Appeal.

Some of the senior men's players will be joining coach Alan Cunningham and taking part in a match at Millbrook School against a school and staff team on Thursday, January 27th at 3pm. All proceeds will go to the Appeal Fund.

The coach and players have arranged an invitation match against USAF Mildenhall Marauders on Saturday, February 5th (Fleming Park, 8pm). Although Solent have an important away league game the following day, the players are all committed to taking part in the event, where a collection will be held for the appeal.

Later in the season, the club will arrange its annual Gala Night to raise further funds.

Prior to this event, in April, Starstruck - the club cheerleader troupe - will be holding a special fund-raising event of their own which will take the form of a Dance Benefit.

Anyone requiring further details of how they can take part in this event should contact Lisa at the Solent Stars office (023 8065 0165).