SOLENT Stars crashed out of the Southern Challenge Cup after two weekend losses against Reading Rockets - 103-93 at home and 85-54 away.

Points were hard to come by at the start of the first leg of the cup battle.

Solent's Mark Jackson was the only player to score in the first three minutes as both teams played aggressive man-to-man defence.

Reading then edged ahead to open a fourpoint gap after Duane Laight had given the ball away twice in quick succession. Then Solent found their scoring touch with three-pointers from Laight, Nick Oharabe and Mark Jackson.

With Oharabe having a good game off the boards, Solent were able to end the quarter with a seven-point lead.

The game turned Reading's way in the second quarter as they began to find the basket with American Ted Smith scoring and providing telling passes with frequent regularity.

Solent could not find anyone to play a similar role. Matt Story, Solent's American newcomer, had only been able to open his scoring in the last minute of the first quarter and his game was inhibited when he picked up a back injury in the second period.

By half-time Reading had established a slender three-point lead.

With Solent trailing by just two points (56- 58) in the sixth minute of the third quarter they turned the ball over an amazing five times in succession. Reading scored from four of those mistakes to take a ten-point lead.

Solent fell even further behind in their desperation to force the issue and by midway through the last quarter were trailing by 17 points (76-93). Then, courtesy of the free throw line, they scored eight unanswered points (Anthony Rutter 3, Nick Oharabe 3, Duane Laight 2). These free throws had come as a result of a spirited rally by the home team in which Chris Glover featured prominently.

Without Matt Story for most of the second half, Solent fought back to a five-point deficit (93-98) before late fouls allowed Reading's Lloyd Gardener to score five out of six free throws to give Reading a ten-point cushion for the return leg.

SOLENT SCORERS: Mark Jackson 24 Nick Oharabe 22 Duane Laight 19 Matt Story 10 Anthony Rutter 7 Chris Glover 6 Rob De'ath 4 Tom Parker 1.

Solent, after a first quarter lead of 19-17, faded away to lose by 31 points in the second leg of the cup tie. They now have a week to get ready for their first competitive fixture, an away game to Worthing Thunder in the National Trophy (Worthing Leisure Centre, Saturday September 27th 8pm).

SOLENT SCORERS: Duane Laight 15, Mark Jackson 11, Nick OHarabe 7, Anthony Rutter 6, Tom Parker 6, Chris Glover 4 Rob De'ath 3, Steve Davison 2.