DEPLETED Solent fell victims to a Derby Storm side who lived up to their name in last night's Uni-ball Basketball Trophy match.

The Midlands side, anxious to avenge their earlier defeat by Solent and on a seven-game unbeaten run, roared ahead in the first half.

Solent, already under strength through work commitments, suffered a late blow when a knee injury kept Chris Harper out of the game.

Solent's comparatively young team for this match had no answer to a succession of three-point shots that rained down and after only four minutes trailed 40-21.

Solent matched Derby almost basket for basket in the second quarter but with few big men to defend never looked like being able to get back in the game. Derby ran up 71 first half points.

In the second half Solent regained some pride and were only five points inferior to Derby, player/coach Alan Cunningham finishing as Stars' top scorer.

Solent now face Birmingham Bullets (at Fleming Park on Saturday, 8pm) and London Leopards within less than 24 hours.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.