SOLENT STARS 79 (26, 50, 65) - WORTHING THUNDER 82 (31, 42, 65)

The National Trophy game at Worthing Leisure Centre started at a tremendous pace with the teams trading baskets almost at will.

By the end of the third minute, Solent went 12-9 ahead with a three-pointer from Mark Jackson.

Worthing's influential captain, Gaylon Moore left the game with an ankle injury so Steven Gayle, last season's leading scorer for Manchester Magic, took on the shooting mantle.

His ten points in less than two minutes saw Worthing edge into a five-point lead at the end of the first quarter.

Nick Oharabe, playing against his club of last season, picked up an unsportsmanlike foul as he tried to contain Gayle.

Duane Laight was providing much of the inspiration for Solent's continual scoring as Solent tried not to let Worthing establish too big a lead.

Matt Crawford, Solent's new 6ft 10in signing from the USA - who had only trained once with the team - had made an impact when he came on after five minutes in the first quarter.

As the game progressed his rebounding and shot blocking helped Solent turn the situation around and put Worthing on the rack. With fellow American, Matt Story, scoring consistently, Solent took the game to Worthing and in an inspired last minute added seven points (Story 3, OHarabe 2, Jackson 2) to take an eight point half-time lead - the biggest points difference in the game.

However, this lead was completely wiped out by the third minute of the second half, as Solent were unable to score thanks to some aggressive man-marking by the Worthing team.

Solent turned the ball over several times and lost team play discipline that could have countered the Worthing tactics.

Eventually coach Mark Scott called his only time out in the game and some order was restored.

Chris Glover continued to impress with his harrying tactics, but Story was only able to add four points to his total in this quarter.

The lead changed hands four times before the teams traded baskets to end 65-65 in this quarter.

The nip-and-tuck situation continued in the last quarter.

Worthing re-introduced Moore in the third minute and his physical presence helped.

Story's three-pointer levelled the scores at 77-77 in the eighth minute of the final quarter and Duane Laight's lay-up made sure the scores were still level going into the final minute.

Worthing's new Ameri-can player, Jamal Johnson, scored the home team's three final points and in the last eight seconds neither Story nor Mark Jackson were able to convert three point attempts - hoping to send the game into overtime - although Jackson's cruelly rebounded off the ring.

The teams meet again at Fleming Park next Saturday (8pm) in the return National Trophy leg.

Solent scorers: Matt Story 31, Duane Laight 12, Nick Oharabe 11, Matt Crawford 11, Mark Jackson 8, Anthony Rutter 4, Chris Glover 2.

Solent Stars Women's team started their League campaign with a hard-fought 15-point victory over Spelthorne Acers at the weekend.

Solent were firing on all cylinders in the opening minutes with their fast break ripping through Spelthorne.

Solent will want to improve their decision making under pressure in the coming weeks but they still managed to end the match 59-44 winners.

Solent take on Taunton Tigers at Fleming Park at 6pm.

Solent scorers: Syngel-lakis 12, Cooper 10, Jones 8, Wiseman 6, Willmore 6, Powell 6, Ball 4, Brownsell 4, Rourke 3.