Basketball: Stars' confidence crushed as they lose to lowly side

SOLENT Stars' season hit rock bottom on Saturday night when they were outclassed 88-65 at Fleming Park by an Essex & Herts side who had lost all five of their opening league fixtures and were propping up the National Division 1.

Faced with supposedly 'weak' opposition, Solent had high hopes of recording only a second league win of their own.

However, the home players looked anything but confident throughout the game as they were outplayed in every department by the numerically small Leopards squad.

Solent were caught napping early on as the visitors varied their attack, shooting well from unguarded positions and collecting most of the rebounds from any unsuccessful first-time shots.

Stars coach Alan Cunningham used his time-outs to try to stop the rot, but to little avail. Although Solent kept pace with Leopards for the first quarter and even opened up a four-point gap, 26-22, in the second quarter, two spells by the visitors in the same period effectively sealed the game.

The first surge came with a trio of three-pointers that eclipsed Solent's lead, while a second, in the quarter's final minute, opened up a 12-point half-time lead for the Leopards, 46-34.

For most of the second half the points difference remained constant, although Solent never looked like making further inroads into the visitors' lead. Even when Leopards' American dangerman Corey Wicker was rested on three fouls, Solent could not use the opportunity to narrow the scoring gap.

Few of the Solent players wanted to take the responsibility of shooting, even when urged to do so by the home crowd.

The exception was Marlin Capers, pictured above, whose points total was a mark of his individual ability rather than teamwork.

As confidence drained even further away, Solent were cruelly punished by a flurry of late points, some scored with very speculative efforts by a team riding their good fortune against an abject Stars side.

Solent scorers: Marlin Capers 24, Nick OHarabe 13, Mark Jackson 12, Phil Long 7, Mike McGregor 5, Chris Bevin 3, Paul Silcox 1.

Solent Stars women marched through to the National Cup semi-final at the 86-39 expense of a depleted PAWS London Capitals side.

Boosted by Maria Tobar, their new point guard from Ecuador, Solent quickly stretched away to a 25-10 first-quarter lead. Without their head coach Brani Bazany, who was serving a one-match ban, the London outfit tried to change the tempo by switching to a 3-2 zone defence.

However, the tactical change did not stem the flow of points and at the other end Louise Gamman was doing a great job on Capitals' dangerwoman Dang.

With Stars leading 48-18, there was very little for the coaching staff to say at the break apart from keep up the good work.

They did just that, playing with an intensity and togetherness that Capitals couldn't live with.

During the third and fourth quarter, second-team players Nikki Scrivener, Christie Rourke and Eszter Ball all got valuable court time.

Coach Michael Ball said: "Maria Tobar had a great start and is the perfect fit for our style of play. We only saw a glimpse of what she can do today. Once she gets to know her teammates better, I think that she is going to put some smiles on people's faces."

Solent scorers: Tarnai 25, Powell 16, Cooper 13, Cloke 8, Tobar 6, Syngellakis 6, Brownsell 4, Scrivener 4, Jones 2, Rourke 2.

Solent Stars' men's second string progressed to the second round of the National Shield with an 87-69 victory over Plymouth Raiders.

Both fit-again Liam Wyatt and Clayton Milner, who had missed a game through work commitments, made huge contributions to the victory. Stars hit hard with some aggressive defence and led 21-12 at the end of the first quarter.

Jon Rumsey pulled down several good rebounds and set Solent's quick fast-break into operation, enabling Milner to come into the game with 11 consecutive points.

Ryan Payne - Solent's 19-point top scorer - controlled the game at point guard and Dave McKay (13) and Trevor Donaldson (13) both scored well and played some great defence along with Wyatt.

"Plymouth are high up in the Division 3 West and this will send out a warning to all other Division 3 teams that Solent are a force," smiled satisfied coach Mick Byrne.

Solent's junior women soared to the top of the National Under-18 League by trampling London (PAWS) Richmond 86-43.

They welcomed back forward Chloe McEwan, who had been missing for two weeks following a car accident.

It was in the third quarter that Solent really picked up their game as good work from Jessica Phippard helped them to a 37-point lead.

London's punishment continued right to the final buzzer when Gemma Cleal took a sharp shot from well outside the arc to add three points to Stars' handsome total.

This Saturday (November 13), the junior women face Chiltern Pumas at Hamble Community College (4pm). Entrance is free.

Solent scorers: Jodi Jerram 15, Emily Brookfield 14, Nikki Scrivener 13, Holly Over 9, Chloe McEwan 8, Becky Carr 6, Gemma Cleal 5, Rachel Almond 5, Becky Standen 4, Cathy Bonter 4, Jess Phippard 3, Becky Lush.