New American signing set to boost Stars at Winchester

COACH Steve Chant has labelled this Saturday's match in Winchester as a 'must win' game for Solent Stars.

After seeing his depleted side lose their eighth successive league match, Chant admitted they have to put things right when they meet struggling Nottingham Knights at the River Park Leisure Centre (7.30pm).

At least Stars should have 354-point top scorer David Butterworth back in the side for that match. A calf strain sustained near the end of training forced him out of last Saturday's Fleming Park match and with a 22 point per game average and as one of Stars' key rebounders, his absence was impossible to disguise.

And, as a further boost for this weekend's match, Chant should be able to parade new signing Jon Smith provided registration clearance is received from his former club, Neptune of Cork.

Club's new sponsorship deal

The 24-year-old from New York has been signed until the end of the season following completion of Stars sponsorship deal with Kuti's Brasserie. That has enabled some funds to be made available for one overseas signing.

Smith arrives with the task of bringing size and presence to Solent's under-strength defence and at 6ft 8inches he does at least look the part.

Only the registration delay prevented him appearing in this match but already he's impressed Chant in training after the Solent coach was tipped off about him by the Solent women's team who had seen him whilst on tour.

"I'm very pleased with Jon's attitude and energy," said Chant.

"He looks like the type of player we've been looking for to give us the height and presence that will make other teams work if they want to get through us."

The lack of defensive cover was all too evident again on Saturday as Stars simply couldn't measure up to the physical presence of the Leopards who, man to man, had a big and decisive height advantage.

Leopards, who knocked Solent out at the quarter final stage of the National Cup, really made that advantage count during the decisive first quarter of this match. With little defensive rebounding strength for Stars, the Leopards more or less wrapped up the points as they established a 26-11 lead.

Dancing to the percussive beat drummed out by their travelling band of fans, Leopards never allowed Solent to settle into any kind of rhythm as they dominated at both ends of court.

In fairness, Solent did compete on fairly level terms for the rest of the match and as the home fans found their own drum beat, so Mark Jackson and Anthony Rutter at least kept Solent going, even if the damage had already been done.

"It was important that we didn't give up and I think everyone could see that we didn't," said Chant.

"Leopards were frustrated they couldn't blast us out and if we can keep that attitude and put out a full strength side then we will turn the corner."

Scorers: Jackson 21, Rutter 14, Milner 12, Payne 11, Steutel 11, Marsh 3.