Toynbee'S under-15 boys are walking tall among the top six in the country after yet another appearance in the English Schools' basketball finals at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire.

Toynbee had previously finished runners-up in the National Cup but, pitted against red-hot opposition from the North-west and London, a top-eight position was a more realistic target this time round.

The boys, coached by ex-Solent Stars player Steve Chant, had qualified by winning the Southern England group and then beating Sussex side Angering in the play-offs.

Unfortunately they were pitted against the top two teams in the tournament on their first day in Cheshire - the eventual winners Helsby of Ellesmere Port and the losing finalists Ashton of Manchester.

They lost both matches, despite leading Ashton 18-17 in the first quarter with three points from Elliot Marsh, but then lifted themselves to beat former winners Blue Coat of Liverpool 49-42 in the final game of the day to finish third in their pool.

Next up were the American Community College, who had only lost to their pool winners St Columbus by one point in overtime the previous day.

Toynbee started brightly with Patrick Leahy and Ben Woollan scoring on the break and Alex Ibbs and Elliot Marsh finding the basket from inside and outside respectively.

By the second half they had built up a 17-point lead, but foul trouble to key players and some big three-pointers from the Americans narrowed their lead to six with two minutes remaining.

However, Chris Thompson's basket saw them safely through 78-70, setting Toynbee up with a fifth-versus-sixth confrontation against Raines Foundation from East London.

Once again the early omens were good with the Chandler's Ford school taking a 10-2 lead, but Raines' big England centre scored 40 points and Toynbee were 54-50 down with six seconds left.

A Jonty Warner free throw brought it to within one score but, despite winning back possession, Toynbee could not get the ball to Marsh to tie the game.

With an easier group on day one, Toynbee could well have finished in the country's top four, but Chant was pleased with their efforts particularly since none of the squad is currently playing National League basketball for him with the Solent Stars.

Toynbee team: Elliot Marsh, Patrick Leahy, Alex Ibbs, Ben Woollan, Chris Thompson, Jonty Warner, Gareth Jones, Leo Cole, Tony Smith, Tim Blunn.

SOLENT Stars juniors bounced back from a three-week National League lay-off to score a 96-69 victory over Tamar Valley Cannons.

Stars made a hungry start, limiting their opponents to just five points in the first quarter and building up a 27-9 lead following a three-pointer from Ollie Rutter.

But Tamar came back strongly as Solent eased off their defensive pressure and hit a three-pointer from the halfway line at the buzzer to make it 39-22.

Matt Rodrigues had a great second half for the Stars, scoring 17 of his 23 points, while Mark Blackwood, returning from a broken wrist, chipped in with a promising ten-point contribution.

Stars hope to have guard Dave Ewen back from an ankle injury for this weekend's home game against Brighton Bears.

Solent scorers: Matt Rodrigues 23, Ollie Rutter 18, Gavin Hart 15, Mark Blackwood 10, James Davies 9, Stuart Rutter 6, Stuart Ibbs 6, Craig Dawson 5, Richard Smithson 2, Mark Green 2.

The absence of leading scorer Paul Loosemore did not inhibit the Solent Stars cadets, who swamped Thames Valley Tigers 107-46.

Matt Guymon and David Riley stepped up their scoring, Jamie Way captained the side with an assured defensive and offensive display and Loosemore's spot was admirably filled by under-15 prospect Ransford Laryea.

There was no quarrel with a 60-point win, but the coaching team still felt the cadets played at their opposition's level rather than their own.

Solent scorers: Matt Guymon 26, David Riley, 20, Jamie Way 16, Lawrence Brown 17, Chris Davies 10, Tim Phillip 7, Ransford Laryea 6, Dan Wallis 4.

The introduction of Bianca Dilworth proved a turning point for Solent's cadet women in their 76-39 grounding of Croydon Flyers.

Stars had struggled early on to contain their young, athletic opponents, but Dilworth's arrival injected enthusiasm and desire into the game, enabling Stars to open up a 37-13 half-time lead.

A fine display of outside shooting by the Isle of Wight's Rachel Almond ensured Solent maintained their comfortable advantage to the end.

Solent scorers: Charlotte Heron 21, Rachel Almond 15, Bianca Dilworth 10, Natalie Broom 9, Alice Walton 9, Stevie Ellis 6, Jodi Jerram 3, Hollie Green 2, Holly Over 1.

This weekend Stars' under-20 men play London Towers (3pm) and the juniors play Brighton Bears (1pm) at Millbrook Community School, Green Lane, Southampton.