SOLENT STARS' coach Mark Scott is threatening his squad with extra training sessions this week after letting the Kingston Wildcats off the leash to suffer a surprise 96-92 mauling.

For the fourth time this season on their travels, Solent held a double-figure lead over their opponents only to let it slip in the final quarter.

At Kingston, they held a 13-point lead going into half-time but eventually surrendered it to suffer a demoralising defeat.

A win at Kingston would have kept up the pressure on Plymouth who currently hold second place in the NBL Conference, but defeat now leaves the Stars looking over their shoulders at the chasing pack. The Stars need to finish in the top four in the Conference to gain home court advantage in the play-offs. After a slow start, Solent played the more fluent basketball in the second quarter thanks to the inspiration of John Bynum, Marlin Capers and Trevor Donaldson.

However, the visitors' cause was not helped when Bynum had to leave the court for the last four minutes of the quarter after picking up a toe injury.

Solent extended their lead to 14 points in the third quarter but Kingston upped their defence and made it difficult for the Hampshire teams to take good shots and their frustration boiled over when Bynum was called for a technical foul.

The Wildcats continued to whittle away at the Stars' lead, mainly through player-coach Solomon Ayinla, who scored four three pointers in the quarter, and All Star player Chris Jeremiah, whose scoring inside was exceptional. Although they led by three points at the end of the third quarter, Solent found themselves behind by three points in the final quarter and, despite Alan McDonald levelling the scores at 80-80, they found themselves in a shootout situation.

Kingston continued to threaten, by going inside to Jeremiah and from the outside through Alan Hopper, who scored continuously throughout.

Capers fouled out of the game in the last minute when Kingston had edged into a five-point lead and despite Solent's efforts, particularly those of John Bynum who was still carrying the toe injury, they held on to win.

Afterwards, in the dressing room, coach Scott expressed his disappointment to the players and he is now considering some extra training sessions in a bid to boost the Stars faltering season.

The Stars next travel to champions elect, Teesside Mohawks, on Easter Sunday (March 31) and then return to Fleming Park on April 6 to play Coventry in a match they have to win.

Solent: John Bynum 30, Marlin Capers 23, Nick O'Harabe 11, Alan Mcdoald 11, Trevor Donaldson 8, Duane Laight 5, Mark Scott 2, Chris St Omer 2. Kingston: Chris Jeremiah 28, Alan Hopper 27, Solomon Ayinla 19, Andy Powesland 10, Jamie Whittaker 10, Mark Poynton 2.