SOLENT STARS II's championship hopes crumbled in less than half a minute in basketball's National League Division 3 Play-off Final at Reading's Rivermede Leisure Centre.

With 25 seconds remaining against Derby Trailblazers and the scores all square at 68-68, Stars called a time-out to plan their attacking strategy.

But it all went badly wrong when Ryan Payne's pass was intercepted, Derby's Simon Spencer drove downcourt and the referee rather harshly penalised Andy Aung for a foul in the penultimate second of the game.

Sadly for Stars, Spencer stayed cool, calm and collected to sink the two free throws that gave Derby a 70-68 victory.

Trailblazers dominated the first quarter to lead 27-26. Their three-point shooting was particularly damaging to Solent, who managed to reply with one of their own from Trevor Donaldson.

The second quarter was a complete turnaround as Solent took the game to Derby. Eighteen-year-old Joel Freeland began to win some rebounds and also got his name on the score sheet.

In the last two minutes, Payne stole the ball twice to set up scores for Solent and, in an exciting climax to the first half, he drove through to edge the south coast club to a 38-37 lead at half-time.

Although Clayton Milner took 13 rebounds in the match he was not on song with his shooting. And to add to his woes, he picked up a fourth foul in the third quarter.

As a result Solent only mustered 12 points in the quarter to find themselves six points down entering the final phase.

With three players on four fouls, Solent were restricted in their defensive play but were nevertheless the more enterprising team early in the final quarter.

More Freeland points finally took Solent to a 67-63 lead with just three and a half minutes remaining. Two comparatively easy chances were missed by Solent before Payne made an error and Derby scored to come within three points with over two minutes still to play.

Solent were unable to add to their total, despite two time-outs taken and Derby levelled the game with those 25 important seconds remaining and Solent in possession of the ball.

Coach Mick Byrne said: "We blew it. We should have won the game. But let's not take it away from the team. This has been a marvellous first season, having won the league and with it promotion to Division 2."

SOLENT STARS 68 (16, 38, 50)

DERBY TRAILBLAZERS 70 (27, 37, 56)

Southampton team and scorers: Joel Freeland 18, Dave McKay 13, Ryan Payne 9, Andy Aung 8, Trevor Donaldson 7, Clayton Milner 7, Liam Wyatt 4, Jon Rumsey 2, Paul Loosemore, Liam Openshaw, James Chubb, Ian Manley.