Gary Smith has told his Worthing Thunder side to keep things right defensively if they are to maintain their winning start to the season.

Thunder have won five out of six in Trophy, EBL division one and National Cup, the only defeat coming tamely last week at City of Sheffield.

They clamped down on Manchester Magic the previous weekend, conceding just 18 final-quarter points to win 94-87, then ran away from London United to reach the last eight of the cup.

Steve Parillon was the only player to really fire last week, with 21 points, and Thunder face another tough test tomorrow at Reading.

They have already won well at Reading in the Trophy but Mark Dunning's Rockets remain a side tipped to contest top honours.

Coach Smith said: "I'm not worried about opponents, I'm not worried about our defence, I'm worried about how we keep playing together and share the basketball.

"The guys are playing solid defence. That's where the results are coming from. If we keep doing that we'll win games."

Smith has proved he can use different options. He started with four guards playing around big Gaylon Moore against Manchester and was delighted with the results.

He said: "We have got a bunch of players who compliment each other."

Bognor came from 14 points down to beat Brixton Topcats 75-69 in overtime in division three. Martin Gore had 22 points and 15 rebounds and Oli Roche added 20 points.