THE 'Rising Stars' youth basketball programme is only three years old but is already proving to be one of the best youth production schemes in the country.

Going into the Christmas break Solent Stars' teams top their divisions at under-20, under-16, under-15 and under-14 levels, while the under-20s and under-16s are through to the semi-finals and quarter-finals respectively of the National Cup.

The programme, headed by Jimmie Guymon, promises to go from strength to strength in the New Year having attracted valuable financial support from the RAF, Southampton City Council and the Awards for All National Lottery scheme.

Westminster Warriors, still unbeaten in the league and sore from their 22-point cup mauling at Fleming Park, were never going to make things easy for Stars on their own Kilburn court last Saturday.

But Solent's well-disciplined troops came through a potentially fiery encounter with a mature and professional 96-70 National League Under-20 Southern Conference victory.

The tean return to action against Colchester on Saturday, January 6 (5pm) at Millbrook School, Green Lane, Southampton.

Solent scorers: David McKay 26, Gary Hughes 15, Clayton Milner 14, Rob McDonald 12, Anthony Rutter 10, Gerry Glasspool 9, Oliver Marsh 8, Grant Smith 2.

l Solent's under-15s confirmed their growing confidence as a National Passerelle League force with two handsome victories over Southampton Trailblazers (61-40) and Rhonnda (63-43).

Promising under-14 Jon Titcombe top-scored on his under-15 debut as Stars got the upper hand over local rivals Trailblazers for the second time in a month.

And it was another under-14, Matthew Guymon, who led the side to an 18-0 first-quarter lead against Rhonnda with three three-pointers as his first scoring shots.

Solent scorers: (versus Southampton) Jon Titcombe 13, Sam Hepenstal 8, Lawrence Brown 8, Tom Milburn 8, Matt Guymon 7, Aron Hudson 6, Oliver Leggatt, 5, David Riley 4, Jamie Way 2; (versus Rhonnda) Guymon 15, Riley 13, Way 7, Brown 6, Wayne Kenchenten 4, Leggatt 4, Hepenstal 4, Titcombe 4, Milburn 3, Hudson 3.

l Stars' under-16s did just enough to beat Tasis American School 66-59 in a friendly, but coach Steve Chant knows this kind of performance will not be good enough if, as expected, Stars progress in the Cup and to the league play-offs.

Their next league game is not until January 6 against Brighton Bears at Totton (1pm), but most of the squad - along with Stars' under-18s - will be at Crystal Palace on December 29 for the Hoopfest Tournament.

Solent scorers: Oliver Rutter 21, Matt Guymon 16, Paul Loosemore 8, Stuart Ibbs 7, Mark Green 4, Barry Fitzgerald 4, Richard Smithson 2, Mark Blackwood 2, Luke Willett 2.

l Just like last season, Solent's under-18s have suffered a pre-Christmas dip in form and were guilty of woeful shooting in an 87-79 friendly defeat by Tasis.

The effort was there as Graham Philpot's 26-point haul showed, but the overall quality was not. Unbeaten in the league, the play-offs are a possibility for Solent's juniors..

Solent scorers: Graham Philpot 26, Matt Rodrigues 14, Stuart Rutter 12, David Ewen 6, Gavin Hart 6, James Davies 5, Carl Knight 4, Craig Hughes 2, Ryan Squires 2, Paul Young 2.