THE Solent Rising Stars youth basketball programme has been celebrating its best ever season.

The under-15, under-18 and under-20 men's teams all reached the national Final Four competition and the under-16 women's team became national champions in their first year in the national league.

No other basketball club in the country can match their breadth of achievement and fittingly a group of under-13 and under-14 players also played in front of the Queen at a tournament at Bisham Abbey as part of the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations.

It followed a prize-giving gathering of more than 300 players, parents, friends and supporters at Southampton University attended by Ken Butcher, president of the English Schools Basketball Association, Mick Byrne, chairman of the Solent Area Basketball Association and Jim Rumsey, director of Solent Stars Basketball Club.

Award-winners

Under-13s. Most Valuable Player: Thomas Hatchett, Most Improved Player: Sam McGurk, Coach's player: Chris Evans. Under-14s. MVP: Lawrence Young, Coach's player: Alex Pape. Under-15s. MVP: Jon Titcombe, Coach's player: Liam Openshaw. Under-16s. Joint MVPs: Matt Guymon and Paul Loosemore, MIP: Chris Davies, Coach's player: Paul Loosemore. Under-18s. MVP: Matt Rodrigues, Coach's player: James Davies. Under-20s. MVP: John Notley, Coach's player: Anthony Rutter. Under-16 women. MVP: Jodi Jerram, Coach's player: Charlotte Heron.