American ace leads Stars' late charge to cup victory

Solent Stars 106, Reading Rockets 95

In recent seasons, cup success has been something of a stranger to Solent Stars - but all that may be about to change! Although they'll need some luck with the draw, you could almost sense the arrival of that old clich about the name being on the cup after Mark Scott's side produced another astonishing escape act to win this National Cup quarter-final tie.

Despite matching opponents who'd beaten them twice in pre-season for much of this tie, Solent hadn't been able to make any great inroads into the lead that Reading had established as early as the first quarter. But in a final quarter packed with drama, excitement and controversy, Solent outscored last season's playoff runners up 38-17 to book their place in the semi-final later this month.

Whoever they're drawn against, Solent will have to make sure of at least one thing - and that's to keep 39-point top scorer Matt Story fit. For it was the sublime performance of the 21-year-old Florida kid that was responsible for getting them into that draw.

Already a firm favourite with the Solent fans after only a few weeks at the club, Story took his game to a new level as he tormented the previously underworked Reading defence with a series of incisive runs that changed the course of Saturday's match.

Starting the final quarter 68-78 behind, Story gave Solent just the lift they needed with two early baskets. After Mark Jackson and Paul Mundy-Castle had scored, Story fired Stars ahead for the first time in the entire match with a 32nd minute three pointer.

That run of points put Solent 80-78 ahead but the lead proved shortlived as Reading, tiring a little from their high pressure all-court game, just managed to get back in front.

By now the foul count was beginning to stack up and Reading's influential Ted Smith was the first to leave the game. He did so with more than a hint of reluctance after believing he was only on four fouls rather than five as he interrupted another Story run.

As he took his place on the bench, Story converted both free throws (90-92) and moments later a thrilling run had brought a basket and another free throw that put Solent 93-92 ahead.

With Story almost unstoppable, Solent wisely gave him the ball and let him get on with it. Seconds later he'd drawn another foul from panic-stricken opponents.

That proved a call too far for the Reading bench. Suggestions that they were being 'cheated' met with all the sympathy you'd expect from the referees, who penalised Dave Titmuss and his team with a technical foul.

That gave Solent four free throws and with Story converting three of these, Stars were suddenly 96-92 ahead to the unrestrained delight of a noisy home crowd.

Fellow American Matt Crawford was the next to strike, set up by Story's pass, as Solent's momentum grew stronger and stronger. It wasn't even interrupted when Story fouled out seconds later after bagging 18 decisive points in that final quarter.

After seeing his side outscore Reading 18-3 in the last three minutes of the match, coach Scott admitted: "A lot of excellent individual performances won us this match.

"We still need to improve as a team but there was a lot of determination and character, especially when things were going against us."

Scorers: Story 39, Crawford 23, Jackson 19, O'Harabe 8, Laight 5, MacDonald 5, Mundy-Castle 5, Glover 2.

Next up for Solent is the first league trip of the season, which takes them to Sheffield tomorrow (Sat 15th).