Solent Stars 65 (18, 34, 54)
Essex & Herts Leopards 88 (20, 46, 65)

Leopards finally recorded their first EBL Division One victory of the season as they returned from the South Coast with a comfortable victory. Scoop Wicker led the Big Cats with 29 points, but it was forward Matt Eames (pictured) who stared for the visitors. A superb defensive performance saw Eames restrict American forward Marlin Capers to 24 points.

Capers had scored 63 when playing for Sutton Pumas against Ware Rebels last season, but despite handing out some rough treatment to Eames, he was frustrated throughout the game. Eames, who gained a place in the starting five after Brian Moore was ruled out a fortnight ago with a knee, finished with 11 points and seven rebounds to help Leopards snap a five game losing streak.

Fittingly, it was Eames who opened the scoring for Leopards, and despite Capers scoring seven points, Leopards never trailed during a first period that saw all seven of the players used by coach Jon Burnell get on the scoresheet. Hayden Herrin, who played all 40 minutes and finished with 20 points, led the Leopards’ first quarter scoring with a pair of three-pointers as the Big Cats led 20-18 at the first break.

A three from Mike McGregor and five points from Capers saw Stars open the second period strongly as they took 26-22 lead. That advantage proved to short-lived, however, and three treys from Wicker together with a Rodney Alexander basket off a Wicker assist put Leopards back in control, at 33-26, and they never trailed again. The real damage was done during the final three minutes of the half, as Alexander scored twice from Herrin assists, and Herrin drained a three as Leopards closed out the quarter with an 11-1 run to lead 46-34 at half time.

Leopards continued to dominate from outside the arc, with Eames hitting a three in the face of Capers as Stars only briefly took the margin into single figures. Wicker added eight points to his tally, and although Capers scored a pair of free-throws in the final seconds of the period, the Big Cats reached the final break with a comfortable 11 point lead.

Herrin and Wicker both sunk threes during the opening three minutes of the final period as Leopards took the margin out to 15, and there was no way back for the home side from there. Stars were only able to score four points during the final six minutes of the game as the visitors took complete control, with Wicker, Herrin and Alexander all draining treys.

The margin of victory probably flattered Leopards slightly, but the win should be a big boost for Burnell’s team as they look to move up the table and into the play-off positions.

Leopards: S Wicker 29, H Herrin 20, R Alexander 17, M Eames 11, R Lloyd 5, M Quashie 4, T Christie 2, C Mark (DNP)

At Wodson Park on Saturday the U16s Cadets kept up there winning streak with a comfortable 60-39 win over Brighton Bears. The U18s also continued their unbeaten start to the season by beating Thames Valley Tigers 64-46. A scrappy game but they all count and that's 6-0 for the U18s now. Full reports to follow