SOLENT Stars have switched from 'villains' to good samaritans in a bid to rescue local rivals Bournemouth Blitz from National Basketball League extinction.

Bournemouth club chairman Eric Bosence has made a plea for help to the Stars after being forced to close down club operations in December due to lack of financial support.

The Blitz missed three games of their Division 2 schedule but, with Solent's assistance, they are planning a dramatic return to action tonight to face Swindon Sonics at Bournemouth's Littledown Centre (8pm).

"I've had talks with Solent Stars as well as potential backers about ways in which the Blitz can operate with a financially sound foundation for the remainder of the season," said Bosence.

Stars - basketball's dominant force along this stretch of the South Coast - will help out by sharing their training facilities with Bournemouth for the rest of the season and may even pass on a couple of their fringe squad players who would benefit from National League court time.

Bosence added: "We are hopeful that some of Stars' success can rub off on the Blitz. Solent have been instrumental in offering guidance and support for our club and we're hoping to score a big hit with them in weeks to come, capping things off with a major celebrity fund-raiser."

Stars are happy to be the good guys despite a major slap in the face from the English Basketball Association who last week deducted two points from Alan Cunningham's NBL Division 1 champions for fielding an unregistered player in December's 120-98 win at Mid-Sussex.

Solent intend to appeal but, in the meantime, they will concentrate on stretching their winning Millennium streak at Plymouth Raiders tonight (7.30).

Mark Scott is struggling to recover from back trouble as Solent seek to avenge September's 82-70 defeat by the Raiders at Fleming Park.

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