Mark Dunning admitted he was going through one of the worst experiences of his coaching career as Bears ended their home programme in nightmare style.

The southern conference wooden spoonists crashed to their heaviest home defeat of a trying season after being outscored 55-24 in a calamitous second half.

It was their seventh straight defeat, their 15th in 20 home games, and their total of 59 points was their lowest of the season.

All this after they had worked tigerishly to overcome to absences of Wilbur Johnson and Demetric Reese, reaching half-time just 35-34 in arrears.

The recent bad run has done nothing for the chances of Dunning and most of his players returning next season.

But the coach, who has been calling plays in the top flight for 20 years, is adamant he wants to come back and put things right.

He admitted: "This is one of the worst basketball experiences I have ever seen. It is abysmal. Guys at this level passing the ball to the opposition. I have never had that.

"When you get to the senior level of basketball there are certain 'givens'. Some of the things I am seeing from our players are beyond my comprehension at this level.

"I don't know why they are doing it but it certainly is not because we are teaching them to be that bad. When we are turning the ball over like we were and when you are unable to make shots, what can you do?

"We have got two of our starters out so it was always going to be tough but guys who are left, and are supposed to step up, couldn't do that."

Dunning, whose future is likely to be revealed after next week's trip to Thames Valley, added: "Obviously I want to come back because coaching is what I do best. If I am back it is pretty clear what we have to do, but whether we can afford to do it, I don't know.

"We clearly have to get some better players."

Johnson, who was announced before the game as Bears' player-of-the-year, and co-captain Michael Brown are the only men certain to be back next term.

Dave Wahl, who finished runner-up to Johnson in the fans' poll, would appear to stand a good chance of joining them.

Daniel Hildreth is probably also a good bet to be offered some sort of deal.

A month ago, after Bears had made it four successive home wins by beating table-topping Sheffield, owner Romek Kriwald suggested Dunning and his players were enhancing their chances of being retained.

By the same token, three subsequent home defeats by a combined margin of 65 points may well have effectively ended the Bears careers of some of those who trod the Brighton Centre boards on Saturday.

It was all pretty encouraging for 20 minutes.Leopards were 11 points up midway through the second quarter but Kevin Wallace suddenly came alive with six quick points and, when Wahl tipped in an Errol Seaman shot right on the half-time buzzer, the hosts had cut the deficit to a single point to the delight of a crowd in excess of 1,600.

Dreams of a shock win were killed off straight after the re-start as Jason Kimbrough and Rico Alderson led Leopards on a decisive 20-2 run.

Their was no let-up from the Brentwood-based side, who went through a full repertoire of party pieces in a non-event of a final quarter.

Brighton Bears 59 London Leopards 90