AFTER an inspired display at table-topping Sheffield Arrows the previous week, Solent Stars sank into the abyss of mediocrity in their must-win National Trophy pool match at Coventry Crusaders on Saturday night.

Needing victory to keep their semi-final hopes alive, they only once held the lead against the Midlanders, when they scored from the tip-off at the beginning of the game, before stumbling to a 99-72 defeat.

It took Stars four minutes to find the basket again, although three-pointers from Ollie Marsh and Marlin Capers, pictured, brought them back into the game, 22-18, by the end of the first quarter.

A couple more three-pointers from American Larry Parker and Marsh pushed Stars even closer at 54-53, but they ruined their good work by carelessly turning the ball over three times in quick succession.

Coach Alan Cunningham responded by substituting all five of his senior players, but the less experienced ones fared no better and, by the end of the third quarter, Stars were 72-57 adrift.

Marlin Capers was clearly unhappy and picked up his fourth and fifth fouls halfway through the final quarter.

His absence made little difference as Solent - Marsh excepted - contrived to make a very average Coventry side look like potential league champions.

But what a difference a few hours made for Solent.

The next day they were back on court in their final pool game against Worcester Wolves at Portsmouth's Mountbatten Centre and won their stripes back in a 94-91 defeat.

Thanks to good shooting by Paul Silcox and Marlin Capers and able rebounding from Phil Long and Larry Parker, they began in sparkling form to surge into a 29-17 first-quarter lead.

They kept up the good work in the second period to go in 50-38 up at half-time, but the next ten minutes proved hard work for Stars with Parker and Long both having spells on the bench after reaching four fouls.

Worcester eventually took the lead, 86-83, with under two minutes remaining and four time outs were called in a tense finale.

With eight seconds left Solent pressured the visitors into a turnover. Unfortunately, though, the inexperienced Mike Peel fumbled the inbound ball from the put-in and gave possession back to Worcester.

Solent scorers (versus Coventry): Marlin Capers 20, Ollie Marsh 13, Larry Parker 12, Chris Bevin 7, Phil Long 7, Paul Silcox 5, Chris St Omer 4, Mike McGregor 4; (versus Worcester): Capers 31, Silcox 21, Parker 21, Long 9, Marsh 3, Mike Peel 3, St Omer 3.