Solent Stars 107 (19, 46, 71) - Teesside Mohawks 123 (32, 63, 93)

Solent Stars surprised the unbeaten Teesside team when they opened brightly to take an early 6 -2 lead by the third minute, despite having missed three successive free throws in the process.

However, Teesside took control between the fifth and ninth minute when they restricted Solent to just one basket by John Neale while they themselves added seventeen points. Most of these were scored by players who were able to penetrate an almost non-existent Solent defence.

Coach Mark Scott had called a time-out in the middle of this Teesside onslaught, but it was not until the last minute when Dominique Jones scored five points that Solent made any progress.

Only four points separated the scoring of the two teams in the second quarter as Solent made more headway against the Teesside defence.

Solent had wobbled in the middle of the quarter as they let Teesside forge a 26 point lead (31-57) but a determined spell at the end of the first half that included three three pointers from Mark Jackson brought Solent back to respectability, despite missing leading scorer David Butterworth.

With Adam Willis, Chris Glover and Jones all fighting hard under the defensive boards, Solent were able to inch back into the game through yet two more three pointers from Jackson to bring the score to 69-85 by the seventh minute of the third quarter.

The home team once again responded, helped by new signing ex-international Carl Miller, to open up a 22-point lead (71-93) with just one quarter remaining.

It says much for the Solent team that despite being outplayed for most of the game by their unbeaten league rivals, at no time did their heads go down. Aided by a solid team effort, in which youngsters Anthony Rutter and Ollie March played a full part, Solent shaded the final quarter by 36-30 to record their highest quarter score of the season.

Jackson, with eight three pointers, was instrumental in Solent's final effort despite being on four fouls throughout the quarter.

Ollie Marsh ended the game with a spectacular basket scored from close to the centre line.

Coach Scott was pleased with the team performance against their more experienced opponents.

"It was a credit to them all that they battled right to the end and refused to be overawed by the points difference that Teesside had to their advantage at one stage," he said.

Solent scorers: Mark Jackson 35 Alan McDonald 13 Dominique Jones 13 Adam Willis 12 John Neale 12 Ollie Marsh 9 Trevor Donaldson 6 Chris Glover 5 Anthony Rutter 2.