sentences:  Disappointed local Bears fans, looking for a new team to follow, quickly snapped up the franchise of struggling Stevenage and in 1999, soon after the Bears had moved out, Worthing Thunder was born.An excellent debut season, playing as the Worthing Rebels, saw them finish runners up in the National Basketball League Division 1, with a 21–3 record, compared to champions Teesside Mohawks' 22–2 record, as well as reaching the National Trophy final, losing 81–78 to Teesside at the Sheffield Arena in Sheffield.The following year, 2001, saw the Thunder finish again as runners-up in the renamed NBL Conference (16–5) as well as the Playoff final, both times losing out to Plymouth Raiders.