KESTRELS CROWNED PLAYOFF CHAMPIONS WITH WIN IN MANCHESTER
Image Courtesy | Luke Simcock
Sunday saw the curtain fall on the NBL D1 2018-19 season as Team Solent Kestrels faced off with Worthing Thunder for the Playoff Championship title. Both teams would make the trip from the south coast to the National Basketball Performance Centre in Manchester, where they would both be looking for a silverware double, with TSK having already secured the league title whilst Thunder clinched the National Cup earlier in the year. This would be the fourth time the sides met in all competitions with Thunder taking the Trophy game at the start of the season, (with Nick Lewis) and the league fixture at Worthing, with Kestrels beating them by 10 at Places Leisure Eastleigh. With a complete contrast in playing styles this was always set to be the ultimate showdown to finish the season with.
Kestrels struck first as Travis Charles set up his shop on the inside as he put back a Louie Kirkman miss, however Alex Owumi had other ideas for Worthing and he stroked a pair of triples to give them a 4-6 lead. A back and forth start saw the game tied up a number of times over the first five minutes, until TSK strung together the first run of the game (8-0), as Herm Senor II found his stride giving Kestrels a 14-8 lead. TSK would stay out in front by 6 over the next few possessions, until an 8-3 run from the Thunder pulled them within 1 at 22-21 with 38 seconds left in the quarter. Kestrels 15 year old stand out, Jeremy Sochan, came off the bench late in the quarter to stroke a three ball, to ensure his side went in up 4 after one.
Worthing came out firing in the second as they hit three triples in a row, including Brendan Okoronkwo’s third of the game to tie things up at 30. The lead would change hands several times through out the quarter as Charles and Tom Ward for Thunder exchanged a number of scores. However a 9-2 run to close the half for TSK gave them breathing room heading into the break, Elliot Dadds scored 5 of those before a Sochan and-1 capped off the run. TSK 49-43 to the good at the interval.
TSK opened the second half up in quick fashion on a 9-2 run to extend their advantage to 58-45 behind 5 Tayo Oyefusi points and they would keep that lead through out the first five minutes of the quarter. Jorge Ebanks and Okoronkwo, again from beyond the arc, set about reducing the deficit and they sparked a run that would eventually see Thunder bring themselves back within 7, capped off by that man Okoronkwo’s fifth three of the game. TSK would take a 69-62 lead into the final quarter.
Travis Charles momentarily put Kestrels up 9 to open the fourth quarter, however Zaire Taylor responded with a 7-2 run of his own for Thunder, to bring them all the way back to within just 4 points. That was the wake up call Kestrels needed and it without doubt kicked them back into life, as Herm Senor II and Elliot Dadds hit a pair of triples to fuel an 8-0 run, timeout Worthing, TSK now up 81-69 with with 6:37 to play. Taylor stroked a tough fully contested triple out of the timeout and followed that up with a lay up after 4 Kestrels points, meaning Thunder still found themselves down 11. A 7-0 burst to follow for Kestrels, predominantly from successful trips to the foul line, saw them take full control of the ball now up 92-74 with just 3:09 remaining. Ebanks scored 4 points either side of a Sam Turner finish, which left the lead out at 16 and when Louie Kirkman hit a baseline jumper late, that put the nail in the coffin for TSK. Herm Senor II would dribble the ball out as the Kestrels bench and supporters erupted into a frenzy as Kestrels clinched the NBL D1 Playoff title, 100-81.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by the Finals MVP, Travis Charles who posted 25 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists, whilst Herm Senor II backed him up with 22 points, 12 assists and 8 rebounds whilst Elliot Dadds had 19 points and 5 rebounds. Worthing’s Jorge Ebanks and Zaire Taylor both had 20 points to lead them whilst Brendan Okoronkwo added 17.
TSK Head Coach and NBL D1 Coach of the Year Matt Guymon added this after leading his side to the League and Playoff double; “This was the perfect ending to a fantastic season. We had worked so hard in our preparation the last 2 weeks for this opportunity and I cannot fault the guys in anyway as they executed our game plan with such focus & determination. It was a team effort in every sense of the word at both ends of the floor and I am so pleased Chris Scarlett, Louie Kirkman & Tayo Oyefusi were able to end their careers as champions. Thank you to all our supporters who travelled in large numbers to create an amazing atmosphere, you guys were the difference behind our bench!”
Travis Charles was ecstatic with his teams victory; “All the hard work that we have put in, from the players, the coaches, my people, I gotta thank God for this opportunity. It just feels good, it’s not just about me, yeah I got MVP from one performance, but it was really a team effort, you know a family effort that came together as one.”
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/1142658/bs.html
Full Game; https://youtu.be/811SW7xc7yE
We must take this time to thank our incredible Kestrels Family that includes; Sponsors, Supporters, Volunteers, Coaching Staff, Players and anyone else in between, you have all been absolutely fantastic this season and without all of you none of this is possible. This one is for you.
#KestrelsFamily
Kestrels struck first as Travis Charles set up his shop on the inside as he put back a Louie Kirkman miss, however Alex Owumi had other ideas for Worthing and he stroked a pair of triples to give them a 4-6 lead. A back and forth start saw the game tied up a number of times over the first five minutes, until TSK strung together the first run of the game (8-0), as Herm Senor II found his stride giving Kestrels a 14-8 lead. TSK would stay out in front by 6 over the next few possessions, until an 8-3 run from the Thunder pulled them within 1 at 22-21 with 38 seconds left in the quarter. Kestrels 15 year old stand out, Jeremy Sochan, came off the bench late in the quarter to stroke a three ball, to ensure his side went in up 4 after one.
Worthing came out firing in the second as they hit three triples in a row, including Brendan Okoronkwo’s third of the game to tie things up at 30. The lead would change hands several times through out the quarter as Charles and Tom Ward for Thunder exchanged a number of scores. However a 9-2 run to close the half for TSK gave them breathing room heading into the break, Elliot Dadds scored 5 of those before a Sochan and-1 capped off the run. TSK 49-43 to the good at the interval.
TSK opened the second half up in quick fashion on a 9-2 run to extend their advantage to 58-45 behind 5 Tayo Oyefusi points and they would keep that lead through out the first five minutes of the quarter. Jorge Ebanks and Okoronkwo, again from beyond the arc, set about reducing the deficit and they sparked a run that would eventually see Thunder bring themselves back within 7, capped off by that man Okoronkwo’s fifth three of the game. TSK would take a 69-62 lead into the final quarter.
Travis Charles momentarily put Kestrels up 9 to open the fourth quarter, however Zaire Taylor responded with a 7-2 run of his own for Thunder, to bring them all the way back to within just 4 points. That was the wake up call Kestrels needed and it without doubt kicked them back into life, as Herm Senor II and Elliot Dadds hit a pair of triples to fuel an 8-0 run, timeout Worthing, TSK now up 81-69 with with 6:37 to play. Taylor stroked a tough fully contested triple out of the timeout and followed that up with a lay up after 4 Kestrels points, meaning Thunder still found themselves down 11. A 7-0 burst to follow for Kestrels, predominantly from successful trips to the foul line, saw them take full control of the ball now up 92-74 with just 3:09 remaining. Ebanks scored 4 points either side of a Sam Turner finish, which left the lead out at 16 and when Louie Kirkman hit a baseline jumper late, that put the nail in the coffin for TSK. Herm Senor II would dribble the ball out as the Kestrels bench and supporters erupted into a frenzy as Kestrels clinched the NBL D1 Playoff title, 100-81.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by the Finals MVP, Travis Charles who posted 25 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists, whilst Herm Senor II backed him up with 22 points, 12 assists and 8 rebounds whilst Elliot Dadds had 19 points and 5 rebounds. Worthing’s Jorge Ebanks and Zaire Taylor both had 20 points to lead them whilst Brendan Okoronkwo added 17.
TSK Head Coach and NBL D1 Coach of the Year Matt Guymon added this after leading his side to the League and Playoff double; “This was the perfect ending to a fantastic season. We had worked so hard in our preparation the last 2 weeks for this opportunity and I cannot fault the guys in anyway as they executed our game plan with such focus & determination. It was a team effort in every sense of the word at both ends of the floor and I am so pleased Chris Scarlett, Louie Kirkman & Tayo Oyefusi were able to end their careers as champions. Thank you to all our supporters who travelled in large numbers to create an amazing atmosphere, you guys were the difference behind our bench!”
Travis Charles was ecstatic with his teams victory; “All the hard work that we have put in, from the players, the coaches, my people, I gotta thank God for this opportunity. It just feels good, it’s not just about me, yeah I got MVP from one performance, but it was really a team effort, you know a family effort that came together as one.”
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/1142658/bs.html
Full Game; https://youtu.be/811SW7xc7yE
We must take this time to thank our incredible Kestrels Family that includes; Sponsors, Supporters, Volunteers, Coaching Staff, Players and anyone else in between, you have all been absolutely fantastic this season and without all of you none of this is possible. This one is for you.
#KestrelsFamily
DOMINANT KESTRELS ADVANCE TO THE PLAYOFF FINAL
Saturday evening saw the last competitive Kestrels game take place at St. Mary’s Leisure Centre as TSK welcomed Thames Valley Cavaliers, in the NBL D1 Playoff Semi Final. The sides had already met three times this season (2 x league & 1 x cup) with Kestrels taking the season series 2-1. However with the margin of victory single digits every time, this one left much intrigue with two very well balanced squads. Kestrels booked their semi final ticket with a convincing victory over Leicester Warriors last time out, whilst Thames Valley used a late run to see off #5 seed Derby Trailblazers in the quarter finals.
Martelle McLemore opened the scoring for TVC as he connected on a difficult jump shot, whilst Travis Charles replied with a trademark mid range jumper as neither team were able to take control of the game in the opening 5 minutes. With the scores deadlocked at 10 a piece the hosts strung together the first substantial run through a 7-0 burst, behind a balanced scoring output including a Tayo Oyefusi triple. TSK kept the lead at 6 for much of the remainder of the quarter, until Hakeem Sylla pulled the visitors within 2 on a short jumper. Charles rounded the period out though as he scored before the buzzer, TSK 23-19.
Cavaliers pulled themselves within just 1 point early on when Charles Acquah-Davis came off the bench to split a pair of free throws, however Nick Lewis and later Travis Charles had other ideas as they restored the hosts lead to 6. The Kestrels lead would grow no bigger than 6 for much of the second despite their best efforts, TVC continued to keep themselves within touching distance until the closing stages. Kestrels closed the half on an 8-3 run to finally break the 6 point lead mark and take a 42-33 advantage into the break.
It was a flurry of exchanged scores to start the second half as Charles and Senor II found their scoring groove but Sylla scored 7 straight for the visitors to lead their charge. Kestrels would however edge the lead into double figures for the first time in the ball game at 11 and whilst Bernard Hehetro trimmed it to 9 at the line, Elliot Dadds triple made sure that would be the last time, 54-42 TSK. That kick started a 16-4 run as Oyefusi and Scarlett got hot from range and prompted Coach Robert Banks to take his second time out of the half with 1:35 left in the third, Kestrels up 67-46. Another 2 triples for TSK, after Sylla split a pair at the line, ensured they would be firmly in control heading into the 4th, up 73-47.
5 straight points for Lewis followed by a Jeremy Sochan and-1 killed any hopes early on, that TVC may have had of a big come back. Kestrels continued to pour on the offensive production as Cavaliers had no answer for the balanced scoring attack and the lead stayed in the 30’s for long spells of the fourth. Herm Senor II sent St. Mary’s Leisure Centre wild when he got up for the one handed flush and the when Elliot Dadds scored 11 of TSK’s last 13 points, the crowd would lose their mind as he hit a deep triple with the foul to secure a 104-64 TSK victory.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Elliot Dadds and Travis Charles who had 21 points a piece whilst Herm Senor II added 15 points and 11 assists. 3 other Kestrels joined them in double figures in a very balanced scoring effort. Thames Valley forward Hakeem Sylla led them with 24 points and 8 rebounds whilst Martelle McLemore added 17 and Bernard Hehetro 16.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon added; “What a performance from the guys! I am so happy that they will get a chance to play for some silverware to finish their season, especially Louie Kirkman & Tayo Oyefusi who have played their last home game. Thank you to everyone who came to support, it created an electric atmosphere in the final club game at St Mary’s.”
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/1134787/bs.html
Kestrels now advance to the Playoff Final on Sunday 28th April 2019 where they’ll face off with Worthing Thunder who were the #2 seed. The final will take place at the National Basketball Performance Centre at 3:30pm on the Sunday afternoon and we hope to have some travel arrangements for the #KestrelsFamily confirmed very soon.
In the mean time you can purchase your tickets here; https://www.basketballengland.co.uk/about/shop/tickets/
Martelle McLemore opened the scoring for TVC as he connected on a difficult jump shot, whilst Travis Charles replied with a trademark mid range jumper as neither team were able to take control of the game in the opening 5 minutes. With the scores deadlocked at 10 a piece the hosts strung together the first substantial run through a 7-0 burst, behind a balanced scoring output including a Tayo Oyefusi triple. TSK kept the lead at 6 for much of the remainder of the quarter, until Hakeem Sylla pulled the visitors within 2 on a short jumper. Charles rounded the period out though as he scored before the buzzer, TSK 23-19.
Cavaliers pulled themselves within just 1 point early on when Charles Acquah-Davis came off the bench to split a pair of free throws, however Nick Lewis and later Travis Charles had other ideas as they restored the hosts lead to 6. The Kestrels lead would grow no bigger than 6 for much of the second despite their best efforts, TVC continued to keep themselves within touching distance until the closing stages. Kestrels closed the half on an 8-3 run to finally break the 6 point lead mark and take a 42-33 advantage into the break.
It was a flurry of exchanged scores to start the second half as Charles and Senor II found their scoring groove but Sylla scored 7 straight for the visitors to lead their charge. Kestrels would however edge the lead into double figures for the first time in the ball game at 11 and whilst Bernard Hehetro trimmed it to 9 at the line, Elliot Dadds triple made sure that would be the last time, 54-42 TSK. That kick started a 16-4 run as Oyefusi and Scarlett got hot from range and prompted Coach Robert Banks to take his second time out of the half with 1:35 left in the third, Kestrels up 67-46. Another 2 triples for TSK, after Sylla split a pair at the line, ensured they would be firmly in control heading into the 4th, up 73-47.
5 straight points for Lewis followed by a Jeremy Sochan and-1 killed any hopes early on, that TVC may have had of a big come back. Kestrels continued to pour on the offensive production as Cavaliers had no answer for the balanced scoring attack and the lead stayed in the 30’s for long spells of the fourth. Herm Senor II sent St. Mary’s Leisure Centre wild when he got up for the one handed flush and the when Elliot Dadds scored 11 of TSK’s last 13 points, the crowd would lose their mind as he hit a deep triple with the foul to secure a 104-64 TSK victory.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Elliot Dadds and Travis Charles who had 21 points a piece whilst Herm Senor II added 15 points and 11 assists. 3 other Kestrels joined them in double figures in a very balanced scoring effort. Thames Valley forward Hakeem Sylla led them with 24 points and 8 rebounds whilst Martelle McLemore added 17 and Bernard Hehetro 16.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon added; “What a performance from the guys! I am so happy that they will get a chance to play for some silverware to finish their season, especially Louie Kirkman & Tayo Oyefusi who have played their last home game. Thank you to everyone who came to support, it created an electric atmosphere in the final club game at St Mary’s.”
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/1134787/bs.html
Kestrels now advance to the Playoff Final on Sunday 28th April 2019 where they’ll face off with Worthing Thunder who were the #2 seed. The final will take place at the National Basketball Performance Centre at 3:30pm on the Sunday afternoon and we hope to have some travel arrangements for the #KestrelsFamily confirmed very soon.
In the mean time you can purchase your tickets here; https://www.basketballengland.co.uk/about/shop/tickets/
KESTRELS DEFEAT WARRIORS TO ADVANCE TO FINAL FOUR
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
The recently crowned NBL D1 champions returned to Places Leisure Eastleigh, where they would welcome Leicester Warriors, in the #1 vs. #8 playoff quarter final match up. Before tip off Kestrels would be presented their title in front of a packed home crowd and that would set the stage nicely for an excellent TSK performance. Warriors came in having lost their final regular season game narrowly to east midlands rivals, Loughborough Riders but had already done enough to secure an 8th place finish, with other results in their favour. Whilst Kestrels powered to victory over Essex Leopards last Sunday. The sides had already met twice in the regular season with Kestrels taking a late come from behind victory at Leicester before handing Warriors a heavy defeat at Places Leisure in March.
Kestrels opened up the game with a quick 5-0 run after Elliot Dadds stroked a corner triple, before Herm Senor II converted a pair of foul shots from the line. However Warriors American guard Taylor Johnson scored 5 of his own in reply to tie the game back up. It was an exchange of scores before any significant run came about, as Tayo Oyefusi hit a 3 ball for the home side before Alex Wilson knocked down a mid range jumper for Leicester. The first run came courtesy of TSK to the tune of 11-2 behind Travis Charles and Senor II and pushed the lead to 20-9. Carl Pearson stopped the drought for the visitors but that was it for them in the quarter, as Chris Scarlett and Jeremy Sochan came in off the bench to increase the deficit to 16, 28-12.
Again the sides would trade baskets to open the second quarter but it was the Warriors who broke that back and forth and embarked on a quick 9-2 run, to bring themselves back within 11 and spark a TSK timeout. That was the impetus that the hosts needed as they refocused in the time out and came firing back with a 10-1 run of their own. First through Charles who scored 4 quick points and again through Elliot Dadds who knocked down his second triple of the night, timeout Warriors with the lead now at 20 for Kestrels. TSK finished the half on a 13-4 run to leave them in full control at the break, 55-28.
An 11-4 opening spell for the visitors in the third made for an uneasy start to the second half for Kestrels, as a balanced scoring effort from the Warriors trimmed the gap to 20. However despite the slow start from the home side, much like the first half, the Leicester run sparked them into life behind 4 Louie Kirkman points. Senor II briefly restored the 27 point lead his side held at the half but a nip and tuck finish to the third quarter saw the East Midlands outfit cut the gap to 22.
Dadds and Nick Lewis opened the fourth quarter up and despite a Pak Chingombe triple, when Sochan and Charles added 4 more, Kestrels were back up 25. The Kestrels were able to control the game for large spells of the fourth and used some great ball movement to execute with time on their side. The lead would get to as many as 31 before it would finish 100-71 Kestrels.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II’s 28 points, 11 assists and 3 rebounds whilst Travis Charles continued his run of big double doubles with 21 points and 17 rebounds, Chris Scarlett also added 13 off the bench. Leicester Warriors American Taylor Johnson and Lamin Willian had 21 a piece for them and Martyn Gayle joined them as the only other player in double figures with 10.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon added; “This was a great team performance, especially on the defensive end. I felt that it was another balanced team effort which is so important for us at this stage of the season. The fans were great again and we hope for another packed house in the semi finals.”
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/1132892/bs.html
Kestrels now advance to the semi final where they will play host to Thames Valley Cavaliers, the game is scheduled for this coming weekend but TSK officials are currently working on securing the venue, date and time. This will all be announced in the coming days!
Kestrels opened up the game with a quick 5-0 run after Elliot Dadds stroked a corner triple, before Herm Senor II converted a pair of foul shots from the line. However Warriors American guard Taylor Johnson scored 5 of his own in reply to tie the game back up. It was an exchange of scores before any significant run came about, as Tayo Oyefusi hit a 3 ball for the home side before Alex Wilson knocked down a mid range jumper for Leicester. The first run came courtesy of TSK to the tune of 11-2 behind Travis Charles and Senor II and pushed the lead to 20-9. Carl Pearson stopped the drought for the visitors but that was it for them in the quarter, as Chris Scarlett and Jeremy Sochan came in off the bench to increase the deficit to 16, 28-12.
Again the sides would trade baskets to open the second quarter but it was the Warriors who broke that back and forth and embarked on a quick 9-2 run, to bring themselves back within 11 and spark a TSK timeout. That was the impetus that the hosts needed as they refocused in the time out and came firing back with a 10-1 run of their own. First through Charles who scored 4 quick points and again through Elliot Dadds who knocked down his second triple of the night, timeout Warriors with the lead now at 20 for Kestrels. TSK finished the half on a 13-4 run to leave them in full control at the break, 55-28.
An 11-4 opening spell for the visitors in the third made for an uneasy start to the second half for Kestrels, as a balanced scoring effort from the Warriors trimmed the gap to 20. However despite the slow start from the home side, much like the first half, the Leicester run sparked them into life behind 4 Louie Kirkman points. Senor II briefly restored the 27 point lead his side held at the half but a nip and tuck finish to the third quarter saw the East Midlands outfit cut the gap to 22.
Dadds and Nick Lewis opened the fourth quarter up and despite a Pak Chingombe triple, when Sochan and Charles added 4 more, Kestrels were back up 25. The Kestrels were able to control the game for large spells of the fourth and used some great ball movement to execute with time on their side. The lead would get to as many as 31 before it would finish 100-71 Kestrels.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II’s 28 points, 11 assists and 3 rebounds whilst Travis Charles continued his run of big double doubles with 21 points and 17 rebounds, Chris Scarlett also added 13 off the bench. Leicester Warriors American Taylor Johnson and Lamin Willian had 21 a piece for them and Martyn Gayle joined them as the only other player in double figures with 10.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon added; “This was a great team performance, especially on the defensive end. I felt that it was another balanced team effort which is so important for us at this stage of the season. The fans were great again and we hope for another packed house in the semi finals.”
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/1132892/bs.html
Kestrels now advance to the semi final where they will play host to Thames Valley Cavaliers, the game is scheduled for this coming weekend but TSK officials are currently working on securing the venue, date and time. This will all be announced in the coming days!
TSK CROWNED NBL D1 CHAMPIONS WITH VICTORY IN ESSEX
Team Solent Kestrels made the trip to Brentwood, Essex on Sunday afternoon in the final game of the regular season. With Worthing having beat Thames Valley on Saturday, the permutations were simple, win and the title will be secured. This was the third match up between TSK and Essex this season, as they had already played in the semi finals of the National Cup and once at Places Leisure Eastleigh in January, with Kestrels winning on both occasions. Kestrels came in to this one having knocked off Bradford Dragons by 25 whilst Leopards were on a a 4 game losing streak.
Travis Charles opened his account almost right away with 4 quick points as Herm Senor II found him in and around the paint. Leopards’ American Asante Sandiford scored 5 quick for the hosts, but Kestrels forward Tayo Oyefusi matched him score for score to give his side a 5-9 lead. Charles continued to heat up from his favourite mid range spot whilst Senor II converted on an and-1 to spark a timeout for Essex, TSK 5-14 to the good. Louie Kirkman briefly extended the lead to double digits but a pair of 3’s, from Finlay Wood and Sam Newman, trimmed the gap to 5 in a back and forth opening exchange to the game. The lead was back at 10 through the half way point of the quarter through Charles who was dominant all game long, however that came at the expense of a serious cut above Senor II’s eye who left the game to receive treatment. Whilst the lead reached as many as 12, Newman and this time back up big man Daniel Wagener ensured it was down to 7 by the quarter break, 17-24.
Kirkman opened the 2nd quarter with a quick score inside but it was the home side who had the spring in their step and they set about cutting the advantage to 4 through Wood and big man Lee Hodges. The sides traded baskets across the following possessions with the lead staying at 4/5 points for the visitors, until Sandiford made a pair of free throws to bring his side to within one possession. That seemed to kick Kestrels back into gear as that sparked an 8-0 run behind Charles and Senor II, who was patched up and back in full flow. With the lead back at 11 Kestrels managed the closing possessions of the half and held onto an 8 point lead at the break, 35-43.
It was a little tense for both sides to start the 2nd half as they traded scores, going blow for blow until Elliot Dadds was able to push the lead back out to double digits at 12 with just 2:23 played. However Leopards showed they were not going to lose their fight that easily and they strung together an 8-0 run behind 6 Sandiford points to bring them within just 4 points at, 50-54. Much like the 2nd quarter though, this served as a spark for Kestrels who closed the quarter on an 11-2 run through Charles and Nick Lewis, who scored the last 5 points of the period, 52-65.
Kestrels made a strong start to the final 10 minutes of the regular season and increased their lead to 18 through Charles and Kirkman on a reverse lay up and whilst Finlay Wood kept the scoreboard ticking for Essex, TSK looked to have the title well within their sights. Nick Lewis stroked a three ball to push the gap to 20 with just 4:42 left in the ball game, but Sam Newman replied with a pair of threes to bring the deficit to 14 with 3:20 to play. A bench technical followed by a pair of Charles free throws preserved the Kestrels advantage and despite another three from the Leopards, Kirkman and Elliot Dadds ensured TSK would be 18 points winners, 67-85. Kestrels secure their first NBL D1 title in just their third season in the division with a record of 22-4 and will now hold the #1 seed in the playoffs.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Travis Charles who was huge once again for Kestrels, with 33 points and 14 rebounds, whilst Louie Kirkman added 15 points and Herm Senor II chipped in 13 points and 8 assists. Essex were led by Asante Sandiford’s 18 points, with Sam Newman the only other player in double figures with 16.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon was proud of his sides title sealing victory; “I am so proud of our guys, from the opening tip you could see how much this game meant to them and I thought we were great, particularly on the defensive end. This is a huge achievement for the club, it has been over 20 years since a team from Southampton brought back a Division 1 title and this gives us a fantastic foundation moving into our new facility next season. I would also like to thank all of our supporters and sponsors who have been instrumental all season long, we now look forward to the playoffs starting on Saturday.”
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988963/bs.html
Kestrels would like to thank each and every one of our supporters, sponsors and #KestrelsFamily as with out you all, this is not possible, our success is very much your success and we look forward to you all brining the noise for the playoffs! Kestrels will play host to Leicester Warriors this Saturday at Places Leisure Eastleigh, 8pm in the quarter finals of the playoffs.
Travis Charles opened his account almost right away with 4 quick points as Herm Senor II found him in and around the paint. Leopards’ American Asante Sandiford scored 5 quick for the hosts, but Kestrels forward Tayo Oyefusi matched him score for score to give his side a 5-9 lead. Charles continued to heat up from his favourite mid range spot whilst Senor II converted on an and-1 to spark a timeout for Essex, TSK 5-14 to the good. Louie Kirkman briefly extended the lead to double digits but a pair of 3’s, from Finlay Wood and Sam Newman, trimmed the gap to 5 in a back and forth opening exchange to the game. The lead was back at 10 through the half way point of the quarter through Charles who was dominant all game long, however that came at the expense of a serious cut above Senor II’s eye who left the game to receive treatment. Whilst the lead reached as many as 12, Newman and this time back up big man Daniel Wagener ensured it was down to 7 by the quarter break, 17-24.
Kirkman opened the 2nd quarter with a quick score inside but it was the home side who had the spring in their step and they set about cutting the advantage to 4 through Wood and big man Lee Hodges. The sides traded baskets across the following possessions with the lead staying at 4/5 points for the visitors, until Sandiford made a pair of free throws to bring his side to within one possession. That seemed to kick Kestrels back into gear as that sparked an 8-0 run behind Charles and Senor II, who was patched up and back in full flow. With the lead back at 11 Kestrels managed the closing possessions of the half and held onto an 8 point lead at the break, 35-43.
It was a little tense for both sides to start the 2nd half as they traded scores, going blow for blow until Elliot Dadds was able to push the lead back out to double digits at 12 with just 2:23 played. However Leopards showed they were not going to lose their fight that easily and they strung together an 8-0 run behind 6 Sandiford points to bring them within just 4 points at, 50-54. Much like the 2nd quarter though, this served as a spark for Kestrels who closed the quarter on an 11-2 run through Charles and Nick Lewis, who scored the last 5 points of the period, 52-65.
Kestrels made a strong start to the final 10 minutes of the regular season and increased their lead to 18 through Charles and Kirkman on a reverse lay up and whilst Finlay Wood kept the scoreboard ticking for Essex, TSK looked to have the title well within their sights. Nick Lewis stroked a three ball to push the gap to 20 with just 4:42 left in the ball game, but Sam Newman replied with a pair of threes to bring the deficit to 14 with 3:20 to play. A bench technical followed by a pair of Charles free throws preserved the Kestrels advantage and despite another three from the Leopards, Kirkman and Elliot Dadds ensured TSK would be 18 points winners, 67-85. Kestrels secure their first NBL D1 title in just their third season in the division with a record of 22-4 and will now hold the #1 seed in the playoffs.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Travis Charles who was huge once again for Kestrels, with 33 points and 14 rebounds, whilst Louie Kirkman added 15 points and Herm Senor II chipped in 13 points and 8 assists. Essex were led by Asante Sandiford’s 18 points, with Sam Newman the only other player in double figures with 16.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon was proud of his sides title sealing victory; “I am so proud of our guys, from the opening tip you could see how much this game meant to them and I thought we were great, particularly on the defensive end. This is a huge achievement for the club, it has been over 20 years since a team from Southampton brought back a Division 1 title and this gives us a fantastic foundation moving into our new facility next season. I would also like to thank all of our supporters and sponsors who have been instrumental all season long, we now look forward to the playoffs starting on Saturday.”
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988963/bs.html
Kestrels would like to thank each and every one of our supporters, sponsors and #KestrelsFamily as with out you all, this is not possible, our success is very much your success and we look forward to you all brining the noise for the playoffs! Kestrels will play host to Leicester Warriors this Saturday at Places Leisure Eastleigh, 8pm in the quarter finals of the playoffs.
KESTRELS GET WIN IN LAST HOME GAME OF REGULAR SEASON
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Team Solent Kestrels welcomed Yorkshire outfit Bradford Dragons to Places Leisure Eastleigh on Saturday evening, in the final home game of the regular season. With just two games left to play, Kestrels knew a win would take them to within one game of the NBL D1 title. Bradford were the first team to beat TSK in the regular season and in dramatic fashion at that, as Rihards Sulcs connected on a heave at the buzzer before the Christmas break. Kestrels came in off the back of routing Team Newcastle last Saturday, whilst the Dragons picked up an all important victory over fellow playoff hopefuls Essex Leopards.
Kestrels got things underway as Herm Senor II scooped to the hoop for a trademark finish off glass but it was the visiting Dragons who had the better of the opening possessions, in a relatively flat start to the game. A 7-0 run for TSK kicked them into gear it would seem, as Senor II and Travis Charles found their way to the basket, to put the hosts up 9-5. However an 8-4 run for Bradford to close the quarter saw things tied up at 13 after one, as both teams shot a poor percentage early.
The 2nd saw the sides exchange blows early on and the lead would change hands a number of times across the first 3 minutes of the period. A 9-0 run to break the back and forth from TSK pushed them out in front, up 26-18, behind a balanced scoring effort from the starting group. With just 3:28 to play in the half, the hosts broke the lead out to double digits at 12, when Travis Charles connected on a face up jumper. That wouldn’t last long though as the Dragons strung 5 unanswered points together, trimming the deficit to 7, timeout Kestrels. Charles would score late just before time expired on a nice find from Nick Lewis, to put Kestrels up 34-25 at the break.
It was much of the same to start the second half in terms of both sides unable to find their offensive rhythm and the lead staying at 8 or 9 early. However a 12-1 run would swing the game in Kestrels favour and allow them to take control mid way through the 3rd quarter, a number of high quality defensive possessions led to easy scores in transition to give the hosts the momentum. Rafi Saipe would connect on a pair of triples to bring his side back to within 14 but Tayo Oyefusi replied with one of his own to quell any hopes of a Dragons run. Nick Lewis and Josh Brown pushed the lead out over 20 but Fetske was fouled on a three point attempt late in the quarter, where he would convert all three at the line to leave the score at, 58-38 TSK.
Charles and Lewis both scored on a pair of lay up attempts to open the final period and despite Dragons also scoring in reply through Sulcs and Fetske, Kestrels pushed the lead out to 25. Fetske converted on an and-1 to trim it to 22 but that was as close as Bradford would get, as TSK got the lead out to as many as 28 before finally winning 80-55, controlling the game late.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Travis Charles once again with 27 points and 8 rebounds, whilst Herm Senor II almost had himself a triple double with 17 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds and Nick Lewis chipped in 11. Bradford were led by guard Rafi Saipe who had 25 points with Ricky Fetske the only other player to join him in double figures with 10 points and 15 rebounds.
Matt Guymon, TSK Head Coach was pleased with his sides gritty showing to pull out a win; “I thought we did an excellent job staying locked in on the defensive end, it wasn’t our most clinical performance offensively but we were able to set the tone by getting stops. We were able to use a run in the second half which was allowed us to control the game down the stretch. I was impressed yet again with the number of key contributions we had from across the squad.”
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988948/bs.html
Kestrels are now just one victory away from claiming the league title but will have to travel to, and defeat, a very tough Essex Leopards side next Sunday at 4pm. For those looking to travel the game will be at the Brentwood Leisure Centre.
Kestrels got things underway as Herm Senor II scooped to the hoop for a trademark finish off glass but it was the visiting Dragons who had the better of the opening possessions, in a relatively flat start to the game. A 7-0 run for TSK kicked them into gear it would seem, as Senor II and Travis Charles found their way to the basket, to put the hosts up 9-5. However an 8-4 run for Bradford to close the quarter saw things tied up at 13 after one, as both teams shot a poor percentage early.
The 2nd saw the sides exchange blows early on and the lead would change hands a number of times across the first 3 minutes of the period. A 9-0 run to break the back and forth from TSK pushed them out in front, up 26-18, behind a balanced scoring effort from the starting group. With just 3:28 to play in the half, the hosts broke the lead out to double digits at 12, when Travis Charles connected on a face up jumper. That wouldn’t last long though as the Dragons strung 5 unanswered points together, trimming the deficit to 7, timeout Kestrels. Charles would score late just before time expired on a nice find from Nick Lewis, to put Kestrels up 34-25 at the break.
It was much of the same to start the second half in terms of both sides unable to find their offensive rhythm and the lead staying at 8 or 9 early. However a 12-1 run would swing the game in Kestrels favour and allow them to take control mid way through the 3rd quarter, a number of high quality defensive possessions led to easy scores in transition to give the hosts the momentum. Rafi Saipe would connect on a pair of triples to bring his side back to within 14 but Tayo Oyefusi replied with one of his own to quell any hopes of a Dragons run. Nick Lewis and Josh Brown pushed the lead out over 20 but Fetske was fouled on a three point attempt late in the quarter, where he would convert all three at the line to leave the score at, 58-38 TSK.
Charles and Lewis both scored on a pair of lay up attempts to open the final period and despite Dragons also scoring in reply through Sulcs and Fetske, Kestrels pushed the lead out to 25. Fetske converted on an and-1 to trim it to 22 but that was as close as Bradford would get, as TSK got the lead out to as many as 28 before finally winning 80-55, controlling the game late.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Travis Charles once again with 27 points and 8 rebounds, whilst Herm Senor II almost had himself a triple double with 17 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds and Nick Lewis chipped in 11. Bradford were led by guard Rafi Saipe who had 25 points with Ricky Fetske the only other player to join him in double figures with 10 points and 15 rebounds.
Matt Guymon, TSK Head Coach was pleased with his sides gritty showing to pull out a win; “I thought we did an excellent job staying locked in on the defensive end, it wasn’t our most clinical performance offensively but we were able to set the tone by getting stops. We were able to use a run in the second half which was allowed us to control the game down the stretch. I was impressed yet again with the number of key contributions we had from across the squad.”
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988948/bs.html
Kestrels are now just one victory away from claiming the league title but will have to travel to, and defeat, a very tough Essex Leopards side next Sunday at 4pm. For those looking to travel the game will be at the Brentwood Leisure Centre.
VICTORY IN THE NORTH EAST FOR KESTRELS
Image Courtesy | Luke Simcock
It was a long trip to the North East for Team Solent Kestrels this weekend as they faced Team Newcastle on Saturday afternoon, knowing a win would take them to within two games of the NBL D1 title. The sides had already met twice this season with Kestrels winning convincingly on both occasions, in the cup and league respectively. TSK came in this weekend off the back of two 100+ performances where they won twice in a home double header, whilst Team Newcastle picked up a much needed victory over Essex Leopards.
Team Solent Kestrels American forward Travis Charles scored 8 straight to start the game, whilst Nikola Urli and Tosan Evbuomwan got the hosts off the mark. Herm Senor II stole the ball and went coast to coast for an easy dish to Louie Kirkman for a lay up, before Travis Charles showed his athleticism to get ahead on the break for another easy score to prompt a Newcastle timeout at the mid point of the first. A pair of three’s from Team Newcastle’s American duo Nzerem and Stafford cut the lead to 4 but Chris Scarlett came off the bench to score 3 triples in a row, which almost immediately ballooned the deficit to 13. Stafford stopped the drought for the home side however a 9-5 run to close the quarter saw the visitors in front 17-32, after Scarlett’s 4th triple beat the buzzer.
It was a flurry of traded baskets to start the 2nd quarter as Laurie Owen and Tayo Oyefusi exchanged made three’s, before Charles and Nzerem continued their scoring charge. The lead stayed at 15 as neither side were able to make substantial runs to either cut or extend the advantage. That would be until Kestrels finished the half on a 12-3 run, to take a 35-58 lead in the half time interval.
Charles picked up where he left off to get the second half underway for TSK, but it was much of the same from both sides as neither could stop one another scoring. A 17-3 run from the 7 minute mark, through to the 3:30 point of the third from the visitors, saw off any hopes Newcastle may have had of a 2nd half come back. With the lead now 47-83 Kestrels were in full control and despite a 13-3 run in response from the hosts, to close the quarter, TSK still led by 26 heading into the 4th.
Newcastle momentarily cut the gap to 24 but that was as close as they got to the Kestrels, as they scored another 6 unanswered, capped off by an Oyefusi jump shot. TSK continued to pour in the offensive production as they shared the ball and kept the tempo high for large parts of the 4th. Kestrels broke the 100 point mark for the third game in a row when Sam Turner converted on his trade mark hook shot and in turn pushed the lead into 30’s. Scarlett finished things off with another triple and TSK came away from the north east with a 77-112 victory.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Travis Charles’ empathic 37 point performance, whilst Elliot Dadds had 17 points and 8 assists and Chris Scarlett added 16 points. Herm Senor II also handed out an impressive 14 assists. Team Newcastle’s Eric Stafford led them with 24 points whilst Onyekachi Nzerem backed him up with 23.
Coach Matt Guymon added; “This was another fantastic offensive performance from our guys. I was really pleased with how we shared the ball & also the tempo we were able to play at. The challenge for us now is to sustain this level of performance and continue to build towards the playoffs.”
Kestrels now turn their focus to Bradford Dragons, who they’ll welcome to Places Leisure Eastleigh next Saturday at 7:30pm. A win will leave TSK just one victory away from claiming the NBL D1 league title.
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988944/bs.html#ASFSK
Team Solent Kestrels American forward Travis Charles scored 8 straight to start the game, whilst Nikola Urli and Tosan Evbuomwan got the hosts off the mark. Herm Senor II stole the ball and went coast to coast for an easy dish to Louie Kirkman for a lay up, before Travis Charles showed his athleticism to get ahead on the break for another easy score to prompt a Newcastle timeout at the mid point of the first. A pair of three’s from Team Newcastle’s American duo Nzerem and Stafford cut the lead to 4 but Chris Scarlett came off the bench to score 3 triples in a row, which almost immediately ballooned the deficit to 13. Stafford stopped the drought for the home side however a 9-5 run to close the quarter saw the visitors in front 17-32, after Scarlett’s 4th triple beat the buzzer.
It was a flurry of traded baskets to start the 2nd quarter as Laurie Owen and Tayo Oyefusi exchanged made three’s, before Charles and Nzerem continued their scoring charge. The lead stayed at 15 as neither side were able to make substantial runs to either cut or extend the advantage. That would be until Kestrels finished the half on a 12-3 run, to take a 35-58 lead in the half time interval.
Charles picked up where he left off to get the second half underway for TSK, but it was much of the same from both sides as neither could stop one another scoring. A 17-3 run from the 7 minute mark, through to the 3:30 point of the third from the visitors, saw off any hopes Newcastle may have had of a 2nd half come back. With the lead now 47-83 Kestrels were in full control and despite a 13-3 run in response from the hosts, to close the quarter, TSK still led by 26 heading into the 4th.
Newcastle momentarily cut the gap to 24 but that was as close as they got to the Kestrels, as they scored another 6 unanswered, capped off by an Oyefusi jump shot. TSK continued to pour in the offensive production as they shared the ball and kept the tempo high for large parts of the 4th. Kestrels broke the 100 point mark for the third game in a row when Sam Turner converted on his trade mark hook shot and in turn pushed the lead into 30’s. Scarlett finished things off with another triple and TSK came away from the north east with a 77-112 victory.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Travis Charles’ empathic 37 point performance, whilst Elliot Dadds had 17 points and 8 assists and Chris Scarlett added 16 points. Herm Senor II also handed out an impressive 14 assists. Team Newcastle’s Eric Stafford led them with 24 points whilst Onyekachi Nzerem backed him up with 23.
Coach Matt Guymon added; “This was another fantastic offensive performance from our guys. I was really pleased with how we shared the ball & also the tempo we were able to play at. The challenge for us now is to sustain this level of performance and continue to build towards the playoffs.”
Kestrels now turn their focus to Bradford Dragons, who they’ll welcome to Places Leisure Eastleigh next Saturday at 7:30pm. A win will leave TSK just one victory away from claiming the NBL D1 league title.
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988944/bs.html#ASFSK
KESTRELS MAKE IT 2 FROM 2 ON THEIR HOME DOUBLE HEADER WEEKEND
Image Courtesy | Luke Simcock
In game number two of the Team Solent Kestrels’ home double header, they played host to Barking Abbey Crusaders on Sunday lunch time. It was a quick turn around for both sides who had played late on Saturday evening, Kestrels coming off a 36 point win over Leicester Warriors whilst Crusaders picked up a huge win over Reading Rockets. The sides had met twice previously this season with Kestrels winning both match ups, the first in the Trophy early on in the season and again a few weeks later at Barking in NBL D1.
Kestrels jumped out to a 7-2 lead early on behind Americans Herm Senor II and Travis Charles, but Crusaders guard Jonathan Brown stroked a pair of triples, either side of a Tayo Oyefusi jump shot, to close the gap to just 1, 9-8. However another run for the hosts, this time to the tune of 6-0, forced a Barking timeout, 15-8 TSK in front. The sides traded baskets out of the timeout through Louie Kirkman and Robin Bedford for the visitors but Kestrels were in free scoring mode and had pushed the lead out to 13 with 3:45 to play in the quarter. TSK’s bench came into the game to close the period and they brought the scoring fire power to leave the hosts up 36-17 after one.
The opening spells of the 2nd were a stalemate as both sides struggled to score the ball, Kirkman broke the drought for the home side whilst Bedford made a pair at the line for Barking. Chris Feeney trimmed the Kestrels lead to 16 when he connected on a three and Coach Guymon would call for timeout to refocus his side with 5:19 left in the half. A 14-6 run post timeout for TSK saw them close the half with a 54-30 lead as Travis Charles was dominant from the mid range once again.
Kestrels quickly set about extending their lead in the 2nd half, as Kirkman and Senor II got the scoreboard ticking for the hosts and the advantage was out at 30 with just 3 minutes played. Kyle Carey scored 4 straight for Barking but Oyefusi replied with a triple of his own to restore the deficit. Chris Scarlett and Nick Lewis had their own three point shoot out to close the quarter and that meant Kestrels were now 82-43 to the good.
Barking’s big man duo of Nathaniel Powell and Theo Hughes opened the 4th quarter scoring for them but it was ultimately too little too late as the lead continued to balloon for Kestrels. Sam Turner came off the bench to add to his tally whilst Scarlett had his eye in from distance. Kestrels would run out 51 point winners, 110-59 to move within 3 wins of the NBL D1 title.
Team Solent Kestrels point guard Herm Senor II was the high point man with 23, 7 rebounds and 5 assists whilst Travis Charles had 18 on 80% shooting and Louie Kirkman added 16. For the second time in as many days TSK had 6 players in double figures. Barking were led by impressive young guard Jonathan Brown who had 16 points with Robin Bedford the only other player in double figures with 13.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon was pleased with his sides’ two wins; “This was a great performance from the guys to finish off our double header weekend, it was another game were we had a number of contributions from all of our guys. This is testament to our depth and will be key for our confidence moving forward.”
Kestrels will now turn their attention to a long trip north next weekend as they face Team Newcastle on Saturday knowing a win will tighten their grip on 1st place in NBL D1.
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988794/
Kestrels jumped out to a 7-2 lead early on behind Americans Herm Senor II and Travis Charles, but Crusaders guard Jonathan Brown stroked a pair of triples, either side of a Tayo Oyefusi jump shot, to close the gap to just 1, 9-8. However another run for the hosts, this time to the tune of 6-0, forced a Barking timeout, 15-8 TSK in front. The sides traded baskets out of the timeout through Louie Kirkman and Robin Bedford for the visitors but Kestrels were in free scoring mode and had pushed the lead out to 13 with 3:45 to play in the quarter. TSK’s bench came into the game to close the period and they brought the scoring fire power to leave the hosts up 36-17 after one.
The opening spells of the 2nd were a stalemate as both sides struggled to score the ball, Kirkman broke the drought for the home side whilst Bedford made a pair at the line for Barking. Chris Feeney trimmed the Kestrels lead to 16 when he connected on a three and Coach Guymon would call for timeout to refocus his side with 5:19 left in the half. A 14-6 run post timeout for TSK saw them close the half with a 54-30 lead as Travis Charles was dominant from the mid range once again.
Kestrels quickly set about extending their lead in the 2nd half, as Kirkman and Senor II got the scoreboard ticking for the hosts and the advantage was out at 30 with just 3 minutes played. Kyle Carey scored 4 straight for Barking but Oyefusi replied with a triple of his own to restore the deficit. Chris Scarlett and Nick Lewis had their own three point shoot out to close the quarter and that meant Kestrels were now 82-43 to the good.
Barking’s big man duo of Nathaniel Powell and Theo Hughes opened the 4th quarter scoring for them but it was ultimately too little too late as the lead continued to balloon for Kestrels. Sam Turner came off the bench to add to his tally whilst Scarlett had his eye in from distance. Kestrels would run out 51 point winners, 110-59 to move within 3 wins of the NBL D1 title.
Team Solent Kestrels point guard Herm Senor II was the high point man with 23, 7 rebounds and 5 assists whilst Travis Charles had 18 on 80% shooting and Louie Kirkman added 16. For the second time in as many days TSK had 6 players in double figures. Barking were led by impressive young guard Jonathan Brown who had 16 points with Robin Bedford the only other player in double figures with 13.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon was pleased with his sides’ two wins; “This was a great performance from the guys to finish off our double header weekend, it was another game were we had a number of contributions from all of our guys. This is testament to our depth and will be key for our confidence moving forward.”
Kestrels will now turn their attention to a long trip north next weekend as they face Team Newcastle on Saturday knowing a win will tighten their grip on 1st place in NBL D1.
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988794/
VICTORY FOR TSK AS THEY THRASH WARRIORS
Image Courtesy | Luke Simcock
Team Solent Kestrels returned to Places Leisure Eastleigh this weekend for their final double header of the regular season, as they welcomed the in form Leicester Warriors on Saturday evening. Kestrels were in high spirits after two extremely accomplished performances last weekend, earned them two important wins, whilst the east midlands outfit came in off the back of a narrow 2 point loss at home to Essex that could prove costly in their playoff hunt. TSK were victorious when the sides met before Christmas, but it would take a late surge in the 4th to pull away for a 10 point win with Warriors pushing Kestrels all the way. Warriors were hit coming into this one as they lost one of the leagues most dominant forces since he joined them, in Raphell Thomas-Edwards, as well as Elhji Jabby and Lamin Willan missing out on Saturday nights clash.
It was a quick start for the hosts as they jumped out to a 7-2 lead behind 5 Elliot Dadds point and a Travis Charles flush. Despite Leicester’s Alex Wilson stroking a 3 in reply, Kestrels were able to push the lead out to 10 through the mid point of the quarter, as Herm Senor II found his scoring rhythm in transition. Warriors guard Carl Pearson scored 4 straight to stop the drought for the visitors but Sam Turner came off the bench for TSK to reply with 4 of his own, Kestrels up 19-9. A short 5-0 burst for Leicester to close the quarter however, left them just 5 points a drift of the hosts, 19-14.
A quick flurry of exchanged baskets got the 2nd quarter underway but a 13-3 run for TSK allowed them to balloon the lead to 15 at 32-17. The run capped off by a highlight alley-oop dunk between Herm Senor II and Nick Lewis on his return to the Kestrels line up. Warriors did however kick back into life and Pearson found his way to the rim to trim the gap to 12, sparking a Coach Guymon timeout. Post timeout the lead was right back at 18 when Chris Scarlett connected on a three ball, but yet again Warriors responded, and this time it would be sharp shooter Martyn Gayle with a three in reply. Gayle made his second three of the ball game with 2:26 left in the half to cut the deficit to 13 but Nick Lewis and Travis Charles ensured that the hosts lead was back at 17 before the half, 47-30.
A quick 6-2 run to open the half for TSK saw them push the lead over 20 for the first time, however Warriors were not to out done as that man Gayle hit a pair of jumpers to reduce the arrears once again. Charles and Pearson would have a brief coming together and both received questionable technical fouls as a result, however that seemed to spark Kestrels back into rhythm and when Tayo Oyefusi knocked down a three with 3:47 left in the 3rd, his side were now 63-39 to the good. It was a series of scores for both teams to finish the 3rd and Warriors were able to trim the gap to 17 behind American Taylor Johnson, but Sam Turner beat the 3rd quarter as he snagged an offensive board and put it back, Kestrels 69-50.
Any hopes of a come back for the visitors were dashed when Kestrels started the 4th on a 14-5 run as Louie Kirkman poured in the offensive production, pushing the lead to 83-55. Warriors guard Johnson did his best to keep the score board ticking over for them but with Kestrels now in free scoring mode there was little that could be done. A barrage of three’s late from Lewis and Josh Brown took Kestrels’ lead to 30 plus and Kirkman scored late on to take them over the 100 point mark. TSK winning 101-65.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Nick Lewis on his return with 21 points 5 rebounds and 3 assists whilst Herm Senor II had 16 points and 12 dimes and Travis Charles added 15 points and 11 rebounds. Kestrels had no less than 6 players in double figures. Warriors American led the charge for them with a game high 23 points with Martyn Gayle and Carl Pearson chipping in 11 a piece.
“This was a difficult game as we had been preparing for a much different Warriors team in regards to personnel. I’m pleased we were able to adapt quickly and ultimately put in the convincing performance we needed against a gritty team.” Added TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon.
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988937/bs.html
It was a quick start for the hosts as they jumped out to a 7-2 lead behind 5 Elliot Dadds point and a Travis Charles flush. Despite Leicester’s Alex Wilson stroking a 3 in reply, Kestrels were able to push the lead out to 10 through the mid point of the quarter, as Herm Senor II found his scoring rhythm in transition. Warriors guard Carl Pearson scored 4 straight to stop the drought for the visitors but Sam Turner came off the bench for TSK to reply with 4 of his own, Kestrels up 19-9. A short 5-0 burst for Leicester to close the quarter however, left them just 5 points a drift of the hosts, 19-14.
A quick flurry of exchanged baskets got the 2nd quarter underway but a 13-3 run for TSK allowed them to balloon the lead to 15 at 32-17. The run capped off by a highlight alley-oop dunk between Herm Senor II and Nick Lewis on his return to the Kestrels line up. Warriors did however kick back into life and Pearson found his way to the rim to trim the gap to 12, sparking a Coach Guymon timeout. Post timeout the lead was right back at 18 when Chris Scarlett connected on a three ball, but yet again Warriors responded, and this time it would be sharp shooter Martyn Gayle with a three in reply. Gayle made his second three of the ball game with 2:26 left in the half to cut the deficit to 13 but Nick Lewis and Travis Charles ensured that the hosts lead was back at 17 before the half, 47-30.
A quick 6-2 run to open the half for TSK saw them push the lead over 20 for the first time, however Warriors were not to out done as that man Gayle hit a pair of jumpers to reduce the arrears once again. Charles and Pearson would have a brief coming together and both received questionable technical fouls as a result, however that seemed to spark Kestrels back into rhythm and when Tayo Oyefusi knocked down a three with 3:47 left in the 3rd, his side were now 63-39 to the good. It was a series of scores for both teams to finish the 3rd and Warriors were able to trim the gap to 17 behind American Taylor Johnson, but Sam Turner beat the 3rd quarter as he snagged an offensive board and put it back, Kestrels 69-50.
Any hopes of a come back for the visitors were dashed when Kestrels started the 4th on a 14-5 run as Louie Kirkman poured in the offensive production, pushing the lead to 83-55. Warriors guard Johnson did his best to keep the score board ticking over for them but with Kestrels now in free scoring mode there was little that could be done. A barrage of three’s late from Lewis and Josh Brown took Kestrels’ lead to 30 plus and Kirkman scored late on to take them over the 100 point mark. TSK winning 101-65.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Nick Lewis on his return with 21 points 5 rebounds and 3 assists whilst Herm Senor II had 16 points and 12 dimes and Travis Charles added 15 points and 11 rebounds. Kestrels had no less than 6 players in double figures. Warriors American led the charge for them with a game high 23 points with Martyn Gayle and Carl Pearson chipping in 11 a piece.
“This was a difficult game as we had been preparing for a much different Warriors team in regards to personnel. I’m pleased we were able to adapt quickly and ultimately put in the convincing performance we needed against a gritty team.” Added TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon.
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988937/bs.html
KESTRELS AVENGE CUP FINAL DEFEAT WITH DOMINANT DISPLAY
Image Courtesy | Luke Simcock
Sunday evening saw Kestrels return to Places Leisure Eastleigh for the first time since 5th January after a number of rearranged fixtures and a long road schedule, where they would welcome Loughborough Riders. The sides met at the back end of January in the National Cup Final where Riders would stun TSK and secure the first piece of silverware up for grabs. Kestrels came in off the back of a late win at Rockets whilst Loughborough were pushed all the way by the in form Derby Trailblazers but would come away victorious.
Both sides set the tone early on and the game got underway a frenetic pace, with Herm Senor II making a pair of pull up jumpers whilst Riders U19 duo Hosana Kitenge and Niall Harris scored early for them. Kestrels pushed the lead at the 6 minute mark but Riders responded in timely fashion, this time behind Reis Pinnock and again Harris. However with the taste of cup final defeat still present Kestrels shifted through the gears and turned up the defensive pressure holding Riders scoreless for over 5 minutes. They were able to capitalise on a number of turnovers and missed shots from the visitors as Kestrels starting group plus Scarlett from the bench poured in 33 first quarter points to hold a 20 points lead after one.
With the hosts intentions very clear they set about building their lead further, as they opened the 2nd quarter on a 7-0 run, with Sam Turner and Josh Brown coming off the bench to pile on the pressure. Riders’ Tom Yome and Jonas Dieterich stroked a pair of triples and that would be enough to prompt Coach Guymon’s first timeout of the ball game with the score at 40-19 in favour of his side. Post timeout the sides traded baskets and that kept the lead out at 20+, all until Scarlett went back to back on a pair of 3 pointers, followed by a huge Travis Charles put back dunk that sent Places Leisure into an absolute frenzy, TSK 52-23 to the good. Riders were able to chip away at the deficit heading into the break as Niall Harris converted on an and-1 but Elliot Dadds stroked a 3 to settle Kestrels down and ensure they took a 24 point advantage into half time.
Herm Senor II opened the half with a 3 ball for the hosts, whilst the same duo of Harris and Kitenge got Riders on the scoreboard early. However neither team would score over the next 2 minutes and that would suit Kestrels much better than the visitors as that preserved their 23 point advantage. Charles broke the drought though and Elliot Dadds followed him up with a lay up of his own to replenish a 27 point deficit. Riders did finish the quarter on a 10-3 run to keep TSK within their sights but the hosts would still be up 21 heading into the 4th, 66-45.
Loughborough guard Alex Roberts hit a 3 ball to open the 4th and reduce the gap to 18 but much like the 4th, there was a scoring drought for both teams early on. Lucien Christofis broke the stalemate for Riders after 3 minutes as he split a pair at the free throw line and Charles hit a mid range jumper for the home side, to kick them back into life. A short flurry of scores for both sides followed but when Christofis was fouled on a 3 point attempt and made all of the following foul shots, Matt Guymon called for timeout to settle Kestrels down. Out of the timeout with TSK leading 71-57, Charles went to work to push the lead back to 16 with 4:21 remaining. Riders were not done though and continued to ride their momentum cutting the arrears to just 12 with 3:34 to play. A quick 6-0 run behind Charles and Dadds for TSK put any hopes of a Loughborough come back to bed, as they restored an 18 point lead. Riders would hit a 3 late to trim it to 16 but Kestrels ran out deserved 83-67 winners.
Team Solent Kestrels were led yet again by Travis Charles who posted 27 points and 15 rebounds whilst Herm Senor II had 17 points and 6 assists and Louie Kirkman chipped in 15 points. Eliott Dadds also handed out an impressive 13 assists. Loughborough Riders guard Reis Pinnock was the high point man for them with 17 whilst Niall Harris and Alex Roberts had 13 and 12 respectively.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon was extremely pleased with his sides performance; “I’m so proud of how we played today against an excellent Loughborough team. I know all the guys had the cup final disappointment at the front of their minds and it was very clear we wanted to make up for that performance. We were physical & focused on the defensive end which allowed us to play at the tempo we wanted offensively, which blew the game open early. In the 2nd half I felt we were tense on the offensive end, which allowed Loughborough to inch their way back into the game. During this spell our defence remained solid which stopped Loughborough getting the game to single digits.”
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988810/bs.html
Kestrels now turn their attentions to yet another double header this coming weekend where they will play Leicester Warriors on Saturday @ Places Leisure Eastleigh at 8pm before returning back to the same venue on Sunday to host Barking Abbey at 12pm.
Both sides set the tone early on and the game got underway a frenetic pace, with Herm Senor II making a pair of pull up jumpers whilst Riders U19 duo Hosana Kitenge and Niall Harris scored early for them. Kestrels pushed the lead at the 6 minute mark but Riders responded in timely fashion, this time behind Reis Pinnock and again Harris. However with the taste of cup final defeat still present Kestrels shifted through the gears and turned up the defensive pressure holding Riders scoreless for over 5 minutes. They were able to capitalise on a number of turnovers and missed shots from the visitors as Kestrels starting group plus Scarlett from the bench poured in 33 first quarter points to hold a 20 points lead after one.
With the hosts intentions very clear they set about building their lead further, as they opened the 2nd quarter on a 7-0 run, with Sam Turner and Josh Brown coming off the bench to pile on the pressure. Riders’ Tom Yome and Jonas Dieterich stroked a pair of triples and that would be enough to prompt Coach Guymon’s first timeout of the ball game with the score at 40-19 in favour of his side. Post timeout the sides traded baskets and that kept the lead out at 20+, all until Scarlett went back to back on a pair of 3 pointers, followed by a huge Travis Charles put back dunk that sent Places Leisure into an absolute frenzy, TSK 52-23 to the good. Riders were able to chip away at the deficit heading into the break as Niall Harris converted on an and-1 but Elliot Dadds stroked a 3 to settle Kestrels down and ensure they took a 24 point advantage into half time.
Herm Senor II opened the half with a 3 ball for the hosts, whilst the same duo of Harris and Kitenge got Riders on the scoreboard early. However neither team would score over the next 2 minutes and that would suit Kestrels much better than the visitors as that preserved their 23 point advantage. Charles broke the drought though and Elliot Dadds followed him up with a lay up of his own to replenish a 27 point deficit. Riders did finish the quarter on a 10-3 run to keep TSK within their sights but the hosts would still be up 21 heading into the 4th, 66-45.
Loughborough guard Alex Roberts hit a 3 ball to open the 4th and reduce the gap to 18 but much like the 4th, there was a scoring drought for both teams early on. Lucien Christofis broke the stalemate for Riders after 3 minutes as he split a pair at the free throw line and Charles hit a mid range jumper for the home side, to kick them back into life. A short flurry of scores for both sides followed but when Christofis was fouled on a 3 point attempt and made all of the following foul shots, Matt Guymon called for timeout to settle Kestrels down. Out of the timeout with TSK leading 71-57, Charles went to work to push the lead back to 16 with 4:21 remaining. Riders were not done though and continued to ride their momentum cutting the arrears to just 12 with 3:34 to play. A quick 6-0 run behind Charles and Dadds for TSK put any hopes of a Loughborough come back to bed, as they restored an 18 point lead. Riders would hit a 3 late to trim it to 16 but Kestrels ran out deserved 83-67 winners.
Team Solent Kestrels were led yet again by Travis Charles who posted 27 points and 15 rebounds whilst Herm Senor II had 17 points and 6 assists and Louie Kirkman chipped in 15 points. Eliott Dadds also handed out an impressive 13 assists. Loughborough Riders guard Reis Pinnock was the high point man for them with 17 whilst Niall Harris and Alex Roberts had 13 and 12 respectively.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon was extremely pleased with his sides performance; “I’m so proud of how we played today against an excellent Loughborough team. I know all the guys had the cup final disappointment at the front of their minds and it was very clear we wanted to make up for that performance. We were physical & focused on the defensive end which allowed us to play at the tempo we wanted offensively, which blew the game open early. In the 2nd half I felt we were tense on the offensive end, which allowed Loughborough to inch their way back into the game. During this spell our defence remained solid which stopped Loughborough getting the game to single digits.”
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988810/bs.html
Kestrels now turn their attentions to yet another double header this coming weekend where they will play Leicester Warriors on Saturday @ Places Leisure Eastleigh at 8pm before returning back to the same venue on Sunday to host Barking Abbey at 12pm.
TSK HOLD OFF LATE ROCKETS SURGE TO CLAIM IMPORTANT ROAD WIN
Image Courtesy | Luke Simcock
Team Solent Kestrels made the short journey across county to Berkshire late Saturday afternoon to face Reading Rockets, in game one of their important double header weekend. With the race for the NBL D1 title really hotting up Kestrels could ill afford to drop another game on the road with Loughborough looming on Sunday. Kestrels were victorious in the first meeting of the sides earlier in the season after a high scoring affair at Places Leisure Eastleigh. TSK came in off a solid bounce back performance last Sunday where they put 100 plus points on Hemel Storm whilst Rockets won in an over time thriller in Newcastle.
It was TSK who came out the blocks quicker as they set about building a 2-10 lead behind the trio of Elliot Dadds, Herm Senor II and Travis Charles, who all established themselves early to force a Coach Keane timeout for the hosts. An 11-2 run post timeout for Reading allowed them to get their noses in front at 13-12 after some sharpshooting from Danny Carter and Trae Pemberton from beyond the arc. The sides would trade baskets for the remainder of the period as AJ Carr scored 6 straight for Rockets whilst Charles and Senor II continued to tick the scoreboard over for TSK, 23-20 Reading after one.
Chris Scarlett did what he does best and momentarily tied things up with a 3, on the opening possession of the 2nd, however the hosts strung together a 7-0 run to take their first meaningful lead at 30-23. The lead got out to as many as 8 before Kestrels began to chip away at the deficit through the duo of Charles and Senor II once again. Tayo Oyefusi would split a pair at the line with 3 minutes until half time, that would see Kestrels tie the game at 34 and that served nicely as a shift in momentum for the visitors. Louie Kirkman scored 4 straight, either side of an Adrian O’Sullivan triple, before Oyefusi stroked a 3 to the end the half, TSK now up 39-43.
Rockets’ American, Pemberton would stroke 2 more 3’s in the first three minutes of the quarter as he edged his side in front 49-47 but Charles would get going from the mid range to immediately tie things up. The sides exchanged blows over the next few possessions with both teams offense’s really clicking, however a 9-0 run for Kestrels capped off by a Scarlett 3 ball, put them up 55-62 with a little over three minutes to play in the 3rd. Pemberton stopped the rot for the hosts but TSK kept the lead at 8 until Arinze Emeka-Anyakwo hit a jumper from deep as time expired in the period, Kestrels up 64-69.
The hosts got themselves within a possession early on in the 4th, but that was short lived as a 10-2 TSK run looked to have tipped the balance in their favour now up 11, 68-79 with 6:23 to play. Rockets showed they were not done and got the lead down to 5 behind Sydney Donaldson and again Pemberton but Kestrels continued to respond as Travis Charles could barely miss from the mid range and that man Chris Scarlett had his eye in from distance. A 6-0 run for the home town Rockets sparked a timeout for Matt Guymon to settle his side down with 2:37 to play, 79-84 TSK. Scarlett and O’Sullivan exchanged triples post timeout and the Irish guard trimmed it to just 4 on a made free throw with 1:25 to play. Scarlett however would stroke his third triple in a row to give Kestrels a 7 point cushion and day light between the sides. The hosts had other plans though and when Pemberton hit his 7th three, after an AJ Carr score, Kestrels lead was just 2 points with 20 seconds to play. Elliot Dadds would make 1 of 2 at the line after a crazy spell of missed opportunities for both teams and although Carr went 2 for 2 from the line with 2 seconds remaining, Kestrels would hold on for a vital 90-91 victory on the road.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Travis Charles who was in dominant fashion yet again with 29 points and 10 rebounds whilst Chris Scarlett went 6/7 from 3pt land posting 18 points and Herm Senor II chipped in a 15 point and 10 assist double double. Reading’s sharpshooter Trae Pemberton had 30 points to lead all scorers whilst Danny Carter added 14 points and 6 assists.
“This was a great win for us against a talented Reading team. We have struggled on the road the last few Saturdays, which made this a must win game. We had a number of players that stepped up at both ends of the floor and I’m proud of our guys that we were able to get over the line.”
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988925/bs.html
It was TSK who came out the blocks quicker as they set about building a 2-10 lead behind the trio of Elliot Dadds, Herm Senor II and Travis Charles, who all established themselves early to force a Coach Keane timeout for the hosts. An 11-2 run post timeout for Reading allowed them to get their noses in front at 13-12 after some sharpshooting from Danny Carter and Trae Pemberton from beyond the arc. The sides would trade baskets for the remainder of the period as AJ Carr scored 6 straight for Rockets whilst Charles and Senor II continued to tick the scoreboard over for TSK, 23-20 Reading after one.
Chris Scarlett did what he does best and momentarily tied things up with a 3, on the opening possession of the 2nd, however the hosts strung together a 7-0 run to take their first meaningful lead at 30-23. The lead got out to as many as 8 before Kestrels began to chip away at the deficit through the duo of Charles and Senor II once again. Tayo Oyefusi would split a pair at the line with 3 minutes until half time, that would see Kestrels tie the game at 34 and that served nicely as a shift in momentum for the visitors. Louie Kirkman scored 4 straight, either side of an Adrian O’Sullivan triple, before Oyefusi stroked a 3 to the end the half, TSK now up 39-43.
Rockets’ American, Pemberton would stroke 2 more 3’s in the first three minutes of the quarter as he edged his side in front 49-47 but Charles would get going from the mid range to immediately tie things up. The sides exchanged blows over the next few possessions with both teams offense’s really clicking, however a 9-0 run for Kestrels capped off by a Scarlett 3 ball, put them up 55-62 with a little over three minutes to play in the 3rd. Pemberton stopped the rot for the hosts but TSK kept the lead at 8 until Arinze Emeka-Anyakwo hit a jumper from deep as time expired in the period, Kestrels up 64-69.
The hosts got themselves within a possession early on in the 4th, but that was short lived as a 10-2 TSK run looked to have tipped the balance in their favour now up 11, 68-79 with 6:23 to play. Rockets showed they were not done and got the lead down to 5 behind Sydney Donaldson and again Pemberton but Kestrels continued to respond as Travis Charles could barely miss from the mid range and that man Chris Scarlett had his eye in from distance. A 6-0 run for the home town Rockets sparked a timeout for Matt Guymon to settle his side down with 2:37 to play, 79-84 TSK. Scarlett and O’Sullivan exchanged triples post timeout and the Irish guard trimmed it to just 4 on a made free throw with 1:25 to play. Scarlett however would stroke his third triple in a row to give Kestrels a 7 point cushion and day light between the sides. The hosts had other plans though and when Pemberton hit his 7th three, after an AJ Carr score, Kestrels lead was just 2 points with 20 seconds to play. Elliot Dadds would make 1 of 2 at the line after a crazy spell of missed opportunities for both teams and although Carr went 2 for 2 from the line with 2 seconds remaining, Kestrels would hold on for a vital 90-91 victory on the road.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Travis Charles who was in dominant fashion yet again with 29 points and 10 rebounds whilst Chris Scarlett went 6/7 from 3pt land posting 18 points and Herm Senor II chipped in a 15 point and 10 assist double double. Reading’s sharpshooter Trae Pemberton had 30 points to lead all scorers whilst Danny Carter added 14 points and 6 assists.
“This was a great win for us against a talented Reading team. We have struggled on the road the last few Saturdays, which made this a must win game. We had a number of players that stepped up at both ends of the floor and I’m proud of our guys that we were able to get over the line.”
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988925/bs.html
KESTRELS WEATHER STORM TO GET BACK IN WIN COLUMN
Image Courtesy | Luke Simcock
Sunday saw Team Solent Kestrels make the short trip around the M25 to Hemel Storm, in game number two of their road double header. Having come off the back of a disappointing loss at Derby the previous evening, Kestrels were keen to get themselves back in the win column and keep pace at the summit of NBL D1. Hemel had travelled north also as they faced a Bradford Dragons side struggling for form of late, where they held on late to win by 8. That came at the cost of influential point guard Bode Adeluola who tweaked a hamstring and would be unable to go on Sunday. Kestrels won convincingly the last time the sides met at Places Leisure Eastleigh earlier in the season but with recent roster changes, Storm were a very different side on Sunday.
Storm’s new American signing Trayvon Wright opened the scoring for the hosts with a tough turnaround jumper off the window, before an 8-0 Kestrels run behind a pair of Tayo Oyefusi three’s gave them an early advantage. Storm replied quickly though and edged in front after a pair of Blayne Freckleton free throws, sparking a spell of traded baskets for both teams. However another Oyefusi three ball kick started a 10-1 run for TSK who finished the quarter in control 16-23.
A 7-2 run for the home side helped them claw their way back to within a possession early in the 2nd, however Elliot Dadds and Chris Scarlett were on hand for Kestrels to restore an 8 point lead as they connected from deep. It was Kestrels turn for a run, to the tune of 8-0, as Travis Charles began his dominance inside to put the visitors up 14 with 4 minutes to play in the quarter. Levi Noel knocked down a free throw to bring Storm within 10 but a barrage of 3’s late from TSK gave them a 42-57 lead at the half time interval.
Now out of foul trouble, Herm Senor II got the scoring underway in the 2nd half with a pretty spin move and finish but it was Hemel who set about cutting the deficit, after Levi Noel stroked a triple before Wright brought Storm within 12. However, much like the first half Kestrels strung together another 8-0 run as Senor II got going, giving TSK a 49-69 lead. Storm closed the quarter on a 14-7 being carried by Wright to bring them within 13 heading into the 4th.
The sides traded baskets to open the 4th with neither side able to really take full control but the scoreboard favoured Kestrels who had already built a double digit deficit. A 6-0 run through the 5:30 minute point of the 4th was the run that ultimately killed any Storm hopes of a comeback, as Elliot Dadds sunk a three to extend the Kestrel advantage to 21. The lead got out to as many as 24 as Kestrels continued to pour it in from beyond the arc, eventually winning 81-101.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by a huge performance from Travis Charles as he posted 32 points, 15 rebounds and 3 assists whilst Elliot Dadds had himself a ball game scoring 21 points and handing out 12 assists and Tayo Oyefusi chipping in 15 points and 10 boards. Hemel Storm were led by Trayvon Wright’s 32 points and 11 rebounds whilst Blayne Freckleton had 18.
Head Coach Matt Guymon was very pleased with his sides offensive display; “It was again great to see us bounce back from a disappointing performance in this manner, I felt like our energy and communication set the tone for us. It was also excellent to see us shoot the ball a lot better than we did against Derby, we look forward to building on this going into next weekends tough double header.”
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988917/bs.html
Kestrels will now turn their attention to a pivotal double header this coming weekend where they’ll travel to Reading Rockets on Saturday 5pm @ Rivermead Leisure Centre before returning home on Sunday to face National Cup Winners Loughborough Riders @ Places Leisure Eastleigh, 6pm tip off.
Storm’s new American signing Trayvon Wright opened the scoring for the hosts with a tough turnaround jumper off the window, before an 8-0 Kestrels run behind a pair of Tayo Oyefusi three’s gave them an early advantage. Storm replied quickly though and edged in front after a pair of Blayne Freckleton free throws, sparking a spell of traded baskets for both teams. However another Oyefusi three ball kick started a 10-1 run for TSK who finished the quarter in control 16-23.
A 7-2 run for the home side helped them claw their way back to within a possession early in the 2nd, however Elliot Dadds and Chris Scarlett were on hand for Kestrels to restore an 8 point lead as they connected from deep. It was Kestrels turn for a run, to the tune of 8-0, as Travis Charles began his dominance inside to put the visitors up 14 with 4 minutes to play in the quarter. Levi Noel knocked down a free throw to bring Storm within 10 but a barrage of 3’s late from TSK gave them a 42-57 lead at the half time interval.
Now out of foul trouble, Herm Senor II got the scoring underway in the 2nd half with a pretty spin move and finish but it was Hemel who set about cutting the deficit, after Levi Noel stroked a triple before Wright brought Storm within 12. However, much like the first half Kestrels strung together another 8-0 run as Senor II got going, giving TSK a 49-69 lead. Storm closed the quarter on a 14-7 being carried by Wright to bring them within 13 heading into the 4th.
The sides traded baskets to open the 4th with neither side able to really take full control but the scoreboard favoured Kestrels who had already built a double digit deficit. A 6-0 run through the 5:30 minute point of the 4th was the run that ultimately killed any Storm hopes of a comeback, as Elliot Dadds sunk a three to extend the Kestrel advantage to 21. The lead got out to as many as 24 as Kestrels continued to pour it in from beyond the arc, eventually winning 81-101.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by a huge performance from Travis Charles as he posted 32 points, 15 rebounds and 3 assists whilst Elliot Dadds had himself a ball game scoring 21 points and handing out 12 assists and Tayo Oyefusi chipping in 15 points and 10 boards. Hemel Storm were led by Trayvon Wright’s 32 points and 11 rebounds whilst Blayne Freckleton had 18.
Head Coach Matt Guymon was very pleased with his sides offensive display; “It was again great to see us bounce back from a disappointing performance in this manner, I felt like our energy and communication set the tone for us. It was also excellent to see us shoot the ball a lot better than we did against Derby, we look forward to building on this going into next weekends tough double header.”
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988917/bs.html
Kestrels will now turn their attention to a pivotal double header this coming weekend where they’ll travel to Reading Rockets on Saturday 5pm @ Rivermead Leisure Centre before returning home on Sunday to face National Cup Winners Loughborough Riders @ Places Leisure Eastleigh, 6pm tip off.
TRAILBLAZERS PROVE TOO MUCH FOR TSK ON THE ROAD
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Saturday evening was the first game of a road double header for TSK this weekend as they traveled to East Midlands side, Derby Trailblazers. Kestrels were the first team to beat Derby in regular season play when they met at Places Leisure Eastleigh back in November, in a battle of the undefeated. However in an extremely competitive NBL D1 both sides have since suffered defeats but are both still firmly in the title race. Kestrels came in off the back of a very impressive performance, knocking off Team Newcastle, whilst Derby saw off Barking Abbey Crusaders.
Both teams looked to find their rhythm early offensively and establish themselves in the ball game, however it was Derby who had the better of the opening spells stringing together a 7-0 run giving them an 5-11 lead. The gap jumped out to 8 for the hosts momentarily, but an 8-0 run capped off by a Chris Scarlett jumper tied the game up at 15. Derby started to find their range from three as Tre-Shawn Wilford and Jake Wesselingh connected from deep but Elliot Dadds and Josh brown ticked the scoreboard over for the visitors, 19-23 Trailblazers after one.
A 7-0 run for the home side to start the 2nd, behind 5 more Wesselingh points, saw them push the lead out to 11 and TSK call for timeout. Malcolm Smith extended the advantage to 13 before Travis Charles set about reducing the arrears and when Scarlett connected on a jumper, the visitors had trimmed it to just 7, sparking a Coach Shaw timeout for Derby with 4:30 left in the half. Post timeout it was a battle of big men inside with Charles and Smith going blow for blow, taking the scoring load on for their respective sides, showing just why they are both arguably two of the best bigs in the league. TSK were down 33-40 heading into the half time break.
Derby’s recent new signing Isa Brandon got the scoring underway in the second half as he made his way to the hoop for two, before Americans Wilford and Smith extended the lead back to 13, timeout Kestrels. Charles converted on an and-1 opportunity post timeout but TSK were unable to slow down Derby as they continued to pour in the offensive fire power. The sides traded baskets through the mid point of the quarter, but it was the home town Trailblazers who finished the quarter the stronger and built a 15 point lead to take into the 4th.
Both teams would go scoreless to open the first two minutes of the final period and that would not help TSK’s attempts to shift the momentum, as Matt Ward-Hibbert finally broke the drought stroking a 3 ball. Derby pushed the lead to 20 on the next possession but that seemed to kick start Kestrels scoring charge. Herm Senor II and Elliot Dadds found their way to the bucket but the hosts were not to be outdone keeping the scoreboard alive also. The lead got out to as many as 23 until a flurry of late triples from Kestrels guards reduced the gap to just 11, Derby clinching the win 74-85.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Travis Charles 26 points and 8 rebounds whilst Elliot Dadds had 17 points and 9 rebounds and Herm Senor II chipped in 10 points, 12 assists and 9 steals. Derby’s American big man Malcolm Smith also had 26 points and 8 rebounds to lead them whilst Jake Wesselingh had 14 points.
Head Coach Matt Guymon was frustrated with his sides loss; “Tonight was a frustrating performance for us, having bounced back so well last Sunday. We allowed a number of Derby’s key personnel to get going and also failed to limit live ball turnovers, which ultimately cost us. Despite this, we were able to keep ourselves in the game for spells, but left ourselves with too much to do.”
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988909/bs.html
Both teams looked to find their rhythm early offensively and establish themselves in the ball game, however it was Derby who had the better of the opening spells stringing together a 7-0 run giving them an 5-11 lead. The gap jumped out to 8 for the hosts momentarily, but an 8-0 run capped off by a Chris Scarlett jumper tied the game up at 15. Derby started to find their range from three as Tre-Shawn Wilford and Jake Wesselingh connected from deep but Elliot Dadds and Josh brown ticked the scoreboard over for the visitors, 19-23 Trailblazers after one.
A 7-0 run for the home side to start the 2nd, behind 5 more Wesselingh points, saw them push the lead out to 11 and TSK call for timeout. Malcolm Smith extended the advantage to 13 before Travis Charles set about reducing the arrears and when Scarlett connected on a jumper, the visitors had trimmed it to just 7, sparking a Coach Shaw timeout for Derby with 4:30 left in the half. Post timeout it was a battle of big men inside with Charles and Smith going blow for blow, taking the scoring load on for their respective sides, showing just why they are both arguably two of the best bigs in the league. TSK were down 33-40 heading into the half time break.
Derby’s recent new signing Isa Brandon got the scoring underway in the second half as he made his way to the hoop for two, before Americans Wilford and Smith extended the lead back to 13, timeout Kestrels. Charles converted on an and-1 opportunity post timeout but TSK were unable to slow down Derby as they continued to pour in the offensive fire power. The sides traded baskets through the mid point of the quarter, but it was the home town Trailblazers who finished the quarter the stronger and built a 15 point lead to take into the 4th.
Both teams would go scoreless to open the first two minutes of the final period and that would not help TSK’s attempts to shift the momentum, as Matt Ward-Hibbert finally broke the drought stroking a 3 ball. Derby pushed the lead to 20 on the next possession but that seemed to kick start Kestrels scoring charge. Herm Senor II and Elliot Dadds found their way to the bucket but the hosts were not to be outdone keeping the scoreboard alive also. The lead got out to as many as 23 until a flurry of late triples from Kestrels guards reduced the gap to just 11, Derby clinching the win 74-85.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Travis Charles 26 points and 8 rebounds whilst Elliot Dadds had 17 points and 9 rebounds and Herm Senor II chipped in 10 points, 12 assists and 9 steals. Derby’s American big man Malcolm Smith also had 26 points and 8 rebounds to lead them whilst Jake Wesselingh had 14 points.
Head Coach Matt Guymon was frustrated with his sides loss; “Tonight was a frustrating performance for us, having bounced back so well last Sunday. We allowed a number of Derby’s key personnel to get going and also failed to limit live ball turnovers, which ultimately cost us. Despite this, we were able to keep ourselves in the game for spells, but left ourselves with too much to do.”
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988909/bs.html
KESTRELS BOUNCE BACK FROM DEFEAT IN EMPHATIC FASHION
Image Courtesy | Luke Simcock
Kestrels returned home on Sunday to their temporary home court, St Mary’s Leisure Centre, as they welcomed Team Newcastle. It would be a quick turn around for both sides with Kestrels having lost out by just a point to Worthing on Saturday evening, whilst Newcastle lost by 2 in Leicester. TSK made the long journey to the North East early this season where they won comfortable in a National Cup match up between the two sides, so would be keen to get back in the win column on Sunday and keep pace at the summit of NBL D1.
Elliot Dadds came out gunning from three as he sparked a fast start for TSK, putting them 11-2 early on and showing no signs of a hangover from the Worthing loss. Newcastle weathered the fast start from the hosts however as the Urli brothers (Fran and Nikola) cut the deficit to 5, but another 7-2 run, this time behind Herm Senor II, saw Kestrels up 20-10. Tayo Oyefusi would connect on his second 3 of the opening quarter before Chris Scarlett came off the bench for the coast to coast lay up, Kestrels firmly in control after one, up 32-17.
It was an exchange of 3 pointers to start the 2nd, as Chris Scarlett connected on back to back attempts whilst Fran Urli and Mark Elderkin responded for the visitors. Kestrels pushed the lead out to 21 after another Dadds triple but again it would be Fran Urli who responded with another 3 of his own. Newcastle did rally however and they trimmed the gap to 14 through former CoLA forward Alei Wol. There would be a short break in play for the officials to clear up a short skirmish between Tayo Oyefusi and Onyekachi Nzerem, where the officials would take their time to manage no more than a coming together. This would kill the momentum of the quarter and the lead stayed at 14 heading into the half time interval, TSK up 53-39.
Kestrels guard Elliot Dadds picked up where he left off in the first half as he stroked a 3 to start the 3rd quarter before connecting on a pull up jumper. This would start a 17-2 run for the hosts to kill off any hope of a Team Newcastle fight back and put them up 70-41 with 5 minutes gone. Travis Charles would find his touch to score 6 unanswered whilst Louie Kirkman found himself a number of easy scoring opportunities. Kestrels lead would be at 29 heading into the final period, 74-45.
After limiting the visitors to just 6 points in the 3rd, Kestrels were keen to keep the defensive intensity at a consistent level throughout the 4th and that was certainly the case, holding Newcastle to just 11 points and 17 on the half. Newcastle were able to trim the gap to 24 early on but a Josh Brown triple eventually restored the 31 point deficit from the 3rd. The lead would get out to as many as 39, before Newcastle guard Ben Seipt threw down a dunk to finish the game leaving the advantage at 37 for TSK, as they bounced right back with a comprehensive 93-56 victory.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Travis Charles’ 26 points and 6 rebounds whilst Herm Senor II had 17 points and 11 assists and Elliot Dadds chipped in 16. Team Newcastle had two players in double figures, Fran Urli leading with 16 and Ben Seipt following up with 15.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon was pleased with his sides efforts to respond to defeat so quickly; “This was a great way to bounce back for us. I loved the intensity we played at on the defensive end and thought the way we spaced the floor and shared the ball offensively was as good as it’s been all year.”
Box Score - https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988763/bs.html
Kestrels will now turn their attentions to a difficult road double header next weekend, where they will travel to face Derby Trailblazers on Saturday before taking on Hemel Storm on Sunday.
Elliot Dadds came out gunning from three as he sparked a fast start for TSK, putting them 11-2 early on and showing no signs of a hangover from the Worthing loss. Newcastle weathered the fast start from the hosts however as the Urli brothers (Fran and Nikola) cut the deficit to 5, but another 7-2 run, this time behind Herm Senor II, saw Kestrels up 20-10. Tayo Oyefusi would connect on his second 3 of the opening quarter before Chris Scarlett came off the bench for the coast to coast lay up, Kestrels firmly in control after one, up 32-17.
It was an exchange of 3 pointers to start the 2nd, as Chris Scarlett connected on back to back attempts whilst Fran Urli and Mark Elderkin responded for the visitors. Kestrels pushed the lead out to 21 after another Dadds triple but again it would be Fran Urli who responded with another 3 of his own. Newcastle did rally however and they trimmed the gap to 14 through former CoLA forward Alei Wol. There would be a short break in play for the officials to clear up a short skirmish between Tayo Oyefusi and Onyekachi Nzerem, where the officials would take their time to manage no more than a coming together. This would kill the momentum of the quarter and the lead stayed at 14 heading into the half time interval, TSK up 53-39.
Kestrels guard Elliot Dadds picked up where he left off in the first half as he stroked a 3 to start the 3rd quarter before connecting on a pull up jumper. This would start a 17-2 run for the hosts to kill off any hope of a Team Newcastle fight back and put them up 70-41 with 5 minutes gone. Travis Charles would find his touch to score 6 unanswered whilst Louie Kirkman found himself a number of easy scoring opportunities. Kestrels lead would be at 29 heading into the final period, 74-45.
After limiting the visitors to just 6 points in the 3rd, Kestrels were keen to keep the defensive intensity at a consistent level throughout the 4th and that was certainly the case, holding Newcastle to just 11 points and 17 on the half. Newcastle were able to trim the gap to 24 early on but a Josh Brown triple eventually restored the 31 point deficit from the 3rd. The lead would get out to as many as 39, before Newcastle guard Ben Seipt threw down a dunk to finish the game leaving the advantage at 37 for TSK, as they bounced right back with a comprehensive 93-56 victory.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Travis Charles’ 26 points and 6 rebounds whilst Herm Senor II had 17 points and 11 assists and Elliot Dadds chipped in 16. Team Newcastle had two players in double figures, Fran Urli leading with 16 and Ben Seipt following up with 15.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon was pleased with his sides efforts to respond to defeat so quickly; “This was a great way to bounce back for us. I loved the intensity we played at on the defensive end and thought the way we spaced the floor and shared the ball offensively was as good as it’s been all year.”
Box Score - https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988763/bs.html
Kestrels will now turn their attentions to a difficult road double header next weekend, where they will travel to face Derby Trailblazers on Saturday before taking on Hemel Storm on Sunday.
TSK SUFFER 1 POINT LOSS ON THE ROAD IN WORTHING
Image Courtesy | Luke Simcock
It was a short trip across the south coast for TSK on Saturday evening, to Worthing Thunder, in a 1 vs. 2 battle at the summit of NBL D1. With plenty of basketball still left in the season this wouldn’t quite be a title decider but would be a crucial battle nonetheless. With the sides having taking a game off of each other already this season, with Thunder winning the Trophy match up before Kestrels taking a 10 point victory at Places Leisure, both teams would know what to expect coming into this one. Kestrels came in having won convincingly at both Manchester and Nottingham, whilst Thunder came from behind to claim the National Trophy in last weekends Final vs. Loughborough.
Kestrels started much the better of the sides with their trademark uptempo style causing Thunder problems early on. TSK would build a short 6-2 lead behind a pair of Herm Senor II lay ups. Whilst Worthing’s Brendan Okoronkwo made a trip to the line to stop the momentum, the visitors continued their early tear and found themselves up 14-4 through the mid point of the quarter, prompting an early timeout for the hosts. Ex Kestrels guard Jorge Ebanks stroked a 3 out of the timeout but Kestrels’ Travis Charles would start to exert his dominance inside scoring 4 straight, 18-7 TSK. The sides traded baskets until the 2 minute mark with Kestrels lead still at 9 points, however 7 straight points from Zaire Taylor to close the period brought Thunder to within 2, 24-22.
A 9-4 run to start the 2nd quarter allowed Thunder to take a slender 3 point lead as Ebanks got going in transition and Alex Owumi found his touch from distance. Kestrels big man Charles responded in a timely manner but it would be Thunder who took a 6 point lead at 36-30 to spark a Coach Guymon timeout. The adjustments post timeout saw the visiting Kestrels string a 13-3 run together to shift the balance and put them up 4 at 43-39 behind 6 Elliot Dadds points. However the game of runs continued as the hosts showed their experience and a 7-0 run for them, saw them up 3 at the half time break, 43-46.
The 3rd quarter was a very tense affair with the lead never reaching more than 5 points for Worthing. Both teams defensive intensity took over and forced each other into low percentage looks or turnovers. However Kestrels would tie things up through Tayo Oyefusi who stroked a line drive from 3 with just 3 minutes left in the period. Thunder rallied late though and Tom Ward, followed by Taylor helped to restore their 4 point deficit heading into the 4th, 56-60.
Kestrels tied things up in the opening two possessions of the half but the lead swung straight back to the hosts as they went back up 5, through Ebanks. That would be a common theme as Ebanks scored all 13 of the Thunder points in the final quarter. The lead got out to as many as 8 at 64-72 with just over 5 minutes to play but TSK did not panic and slowly chipped away at the deficit. Senor II sunk a pair at the line before Charles would follow suit before a Senor II lay up and finally an Elliot Dadds lay up tied it all up at 72 a piece with 1:07 to play. Ebanks split a pair of free throws on the next possession to give the hosts a one point lead and Kestrels would turn the ball over out of a timeout. With 12 seconds on the clock Herm Senor II stepped up and put his body on the line, as Alex Owumi mowed him down, he would be called for the offensive foul and TSK had a possession to win it. Out of the timeout Kestrels executed to get the match up they wanted but Zaire Taylor poked the ball lose and despite Okoronkwo missing both ensuing free throws with 4 seconds to play, a half court heave came up short, Thunder holding on for a 72-73 victory.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Travis Charles’ 28 points, whilst Herm Senor II had 25 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals and Elliot Dadds chipped in 12. Worthing’s Jorge Ebanks led for them with 24 points whilst Zaire Taylor had 19.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say on his sides 3rd league defeat this season; “I’m proud of how our guys battled back in the 4th, which showed a lot of character & toughness. Ultimately we had too many turnovers that lead to transitions scores for them and that proved to be the difference. The silver lining for us is that we have maintained the head2head against Worthing.”
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988904/bs.html
Kestrels started much the better of the sides with their trademark uptempo style causing Thunder problems early on. TSK would build a short 6-2 lead behind a pair of Herm Senor II lay ups. Whilst Worthing’s Brendan Okoronkwo made a trip to the line to stop the momentum, the visitors continued their early tear and found themselves up 14-4 through the mid point of the quarter, prompting an early timeout for the hosts. Ex Kestrels guard Jorge Ebanks stroked a 3 out of the timeout but Kestrels’ Travis Charles would start to exert his dominance inside scoring 4 straight, 18-7 TSK. The sides traded baskets until the 2 minute mark with Kestrels lead still at 9 points, however 7 straight points from Zaire Taylor to close the period brought Thunder to within 2, 24-22.
A 9-4 run to start the 2nd quarter allowed Thunder to take a slender 3 point lead as Ebanks got going in transition and Alex Owumi found his touch from distance. Kestrels big man Charles responded in a timely manner but it would be Thunder who took a 6 point lead at 36-30 to spark a Coach Guymon timeout. The adjustments post timeout saw the visiting Kestrels string a 13-3 run together to shift the balance and put them up 4 at 43-39 behind 6 Elliot Dadds points. However the game of runs continued as the hosts showed their experience and a 7-0 run for them, saw them up 3 at the half time break, 43-46.
The 3rd quarter was a very tense affair with the lead never reaching more than 5 points for Worthing. Both teams defensive intensity took over and forced each other into low percentage looks or turnovers. However Kestrels would tie things up through Tayo Oyefusi who stroked a line drive from 3 with just 3 minutes left in the period. Thunder rallied late though and Tom Ward, followed by Taylor helped to restore their 4 point deficit heading into the 4th, 56-60.
Kestrels tied things up in the opening two possessions of the half but the lead swung straight back to the hosts as they went back up 5, through Ebanks. That would be a common theme as Ebanks scored all 13 of the Thunder points in the final quarter. The lead got out to as many as 8 at 64-72 with just over 5 minutes to play but TSK did not panic and slowly chipped away at the deficit. Senor II sunk a pair at the line before Charles would follow suit before a Senor II lay up and finally an Elliot Dadds lay up tied it all up at 72 a piece with 1:07 to play. Ebanks split a pair of free throws on the next possession to give the hosts a one point lead and Kestrels would turn the ball over out of a timeout. With 12 seconds on the clock Herm Senor II stepped up and put his body on the line, as Alex Owumi mowed him down, he would be called for the offensive foul and TSK had a possession to win it. Out of the timeout Kestrels executed to get the match up they wanted but Zaire Taylor poked the ball lose and despite Okoronkwo missing both ensuing free throws with 4 seconds to play, a half court heave came up short, Thunder holding on for a 72-73 victory.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Travis Charles’ 28 points, whilst Herm Senor II had 25 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals and Elliot Dadds chipped in 12. Worthing’s Jorge Ebanks led for them with 24 points whilst Zaire Taylor had 19.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say on his sides 3rd league defeat this season; “I’m proud of how our guys battled back in the 4th, which showed a lot of character & toughness. Ultimately we had too many turnovers that lead to transitions scores for them and that proved to be the difference. The silver lining for us is that we have maintained the head2head against Worthing.”
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988904/bs.html
KESTRELS DISPEL MAGIC ON THE ROAD IN THE NORTH WEST
Image Courtesy | Paul Watts
Team Solent Kestrels were back in action on Saturday evening and made the trip to the North West to face a struggling Manchester Magic side, in a top vs. bottom clash. It would be the second road game in as many weekends for TSK, as they came into this one off a convincing victory at Nottingham Hoods last Saturday. Magic however lost out narrowly to Barking Abbey and in a period of transition for the club are fighting a relegation battle at the foot of NBL D1. The two sides met previously in the early part of the season and it was the home town Kestrels who controlled proceedings from start to finish running out 89-49 winners.
Magic started the better of two sides as they showed their roster did not reflect their league record and reminded Kestrels of the scoring fire power they had amongst their ranks. Some sloppy play from the visitors also a factor, Manchester quickly built an 8 nothing lead behind 4 Richard Bell points. Louie Kirkman responded with 6 of Kestrels first 8 points and Travis Charles followed suit with a short jumper to tie the game up at 10. The lead changed hands several times over the following possessions with the teams trading baskets, as Ryan Lewis got going for the hosts before Herm Senor II found his rhythm. Magic would get up by as many as 5 at 16-21 before a pair of Senor II 3’s either side of a Jonathan Barnes jumper, closed the deficit to just 1 at the break, 22-23 Manchester.
Loick Pouale came off the bench for home side to cash in a pair of free throws before sharpshooter Chris Scarlett edged his side back in front, 27-26. Again the lead changed hands over the next 5 minutes of the quarter as both sides held a 1 point lead on a number of occasions. However the run was snapped when Kestrels strung together a 15-7 run to close the half, in large part through Charles and Tayo Oyefusi, giving them a 49-40 advantage at the break.
TSK briefly pushed the lead out to the largest of the game for them so far, at 13, as Elliot Dadds and Senor II converted lay up opportunities. However a quick 7-0 Magic run, showed just why they are a dangerous team on their home floor, trimming the gap to 6. Dadds would stroke a pull up 3 ball on the next possession but 4 quick Lewis points brought the hosts within touching distance at 56-51. This seemed to kick Kestrels into gear though and a 13-3 run would follow, as Charles and Senor II combined on several occasions to force a Manchester timeout, 69-54. Despite Magic going 1 for 2 at the line out of the timeout, Scarlett would connect on another triple and show a sign of things to come, as Kestrels strengthened their grip on the lead at 72-55
A 13-2 run to start the final period was ultimately the run that put the game out of reach for the hosts, Kirkman scoring 4 straight before Scarlett went back to back to back from distance to force a Magic timeout, 85-57 Kestrels. Young Jeremy Sochan checked in and got himself on the scoreboard right away before Sam Turner sunk a pair of free throws to keep the score ticking over. Turner would score another 4 straight either side of 4 Richard Bell points, as the bigs battled down low in the closing stages. Sochan would go coast to coast for the smooth finish plus the foul to put the icing on the cake for TSK as they ran out 97-69 winners and move to 13-2 at the summit of NBL D1.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Travis Charles’ 22 points and 6 rebounds, whilst Herm Senor II added 21 points and 9 assists and Chris Scarlett had 15 on 5-9 from three point land. Manchester forward Richard Bell had 23 points to lead all scorers to go along with 11 boards whilst Ryan Lewis had 20 points as the only other player in double figures for the hosts.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon was pleased with his sides performance on the road; “It took us a while to adjust to Manchester’s size as they were able to get a number of easy paint scores early on. We were fortunately able to regroup at half time, which saw us play with better defensive intensity and faster offensive pace. It was great for us to get a number of contributions across the board yet again.”
Kestrels will now take a break from the action next weekend as next Saturdays league match up with Loughborough Riders has been postponed due to Riders National Trophy Final game on Sunday. New date is yet to be confirmed. Kestrels are next in action Saturday 16th February 2019 on the road at Worthing Thunder.
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988805/bs.html
Magic started the better of two sides as they showed their roster did not reflect their league record and reminded Kestrels of the scoring fire power they had amongst their ranks. Some sloppy play from the visitors also a factor, Manchester quickly built an 8 nothing lead behind 4 Richard Bell points. Louie Kirkman responded with 6 of Kestrels first 8 points and Travis Charles followed suit with a short jumper to tie the game up at 10. The lead changed hands several times over the following possessions with the teams trading baskets, as Ryan Lewis got going for the hosts before Herm Senor II found his rhythm. Magic would get up by as many as 5 at 16-21 before a pair of Senor II 3’s either side of a Jonathan Barnes jumper, closed the deficit to just 1 at the break, 22-23 Manchester.
Loick Pouale came off the bench for home side to cash in a pair of free throws before sharpshooter Chris Scarlett edged his side back in front, 27-26. Again the lead changed hands over the next 5 minutes of the quarter as both sides held a 1 point lead on a number of occasions. However the run was snapped when Kestrels strung together a 15-7 run to close the half, in large part through Charles and Tayo Oyefusi, giving them a 49-40 advantage at the break.
TSK briefly pushed the lead out to the largest of the game for them so far, at 13, as Elliot Dadds and Senor II converted lay up opportunities. However a quick 7-0 Magic run, showed just why they are a dangerous team on their home floor, trimming the gap to 6. Dadds would stroke a pull up 3 ball on the next possession but 4 quick Lewis points brought the hosts within touching distance at 56-51. This seemed to kick Kestrels into gear though and a 13-3 run would follow, as Charles and Senor II combined on several occasions to force a Manchester timeout, 69-54. Despite Magic going 1 for 2 at the line out of the timeout, Scarlett would connect on another triple and show a sign of things to come, as Kestrels strengthened their grip on the lead at 72-55
A 13-2 run to start the final period was ultimately the run that put the game out of reach for the hosts, Kirkman scoring 4 straight before Scarlett went back to back to back from distance to force a Magic timeout, 85-57 Kestrels. Young Jeremy Sochan checked in and got himself on the scoreboard right away before Sam Turner sunk a pair of free throws to keep the score ticking over. Turner would score another 4 straight either side of 4 Richard Bell points, as the bigs battled down low in the closing stages. Sochan would go coast to coast for the smooth finish plus the foul to put the icing on the cake for TSK as they ran out 97-69 winners and move to 13-2 at the summit of NBL D1.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Travis Charles’ 22 points and 6 rebounds, whilst Herm Senor II added 21 points and 9 assists and Chris Scarlett had 15 on 5-9 from three point land. Manchester forward Richard Bell had 23 points to lead all scorers to go along with 11 boards whilst Ryan Lewis had 20 points as the only other player in double figures for the hosts.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon was pleased with his sides performance on the road; “It took us a while to adjust to Manchester’s size as they were able to get a number of easy paint scores early on. We were fortunately able to regroup at half time, which saw us play with better defensive intensity and faster offensive pace. It was great for us to get a number of contributions across the board yet again.”
Kestrels will now take a break from the action next weekend as next Saturdays league match up with Loughborough Riders has been postponed due to Riders National Trophy Final game on Sunday. New date is yet to be confirmed. Kestrels are next in action Saturday 16th February 2019 on the road at Worthing Thunder.
Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988805/bs.html
KESTRELS GET BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN WITH IMPRESSIVE ROAD WIN
Image Courtesy | Luke Simcock
Team Solent Kestrels were back in action on Saturday evening as they were looking to bounce back from cup final heart break last weekend. Kestrels hit the road to face another east midlands outfit, in the form of newly promoted Nottingham Hoods, who they’d previously beaten at Places Leisure Eastleigh early in the season. With the knock out competition over TSK would be keen to get back to winning ways and cement their spot at the summit of NBL D1.
The lead would swing back and forth early on as both teams were able to find ways to score, the hosts through big man duo Cole Welle and Andrej Slavik, while TSK guard Herm Senor II started how he attended to go on. A short 7-2 run for the visiting Kestrels gave them a 16-10 advantage at the 3 minute mark but that would be short lived, as NBL D1 veteran David ‘Tintin’ Watts came off the bench to score in close for the Hoods. The lead did balloon to as many as 9 through sharpshooting guard Chris Scarlett however the hosts weathered the onslaught yet again and were only down 5 after one, 23-18.
Josh Brown came off the bench and scored 5 quick points for TSK as the 2nd quarter got underway, whilst Watts continued to show his jump shooting prowess to keep things close at 28-26. A huge 17-0 run would follow for the league leading Kestrels, with a number of contributors across the board, capped off by a Sam Turner finish to blow the game wide open at 45-26. Nottingham guard Delaney Powell stopped the massive scoreless run for the hosts as he made a long pull up jumper but TSK would hold a 46-30 advantage at the break.
Hoods showed early signs of life in the third as Kieran Wright stroked a 3 ball, but Senor II bettered him with a pair of his own to put TSK up 21. Senor II would then catch fire as he scored 16 points in the first 5 minutes of the quarter, including 4 triples. With Kestrels now up 31 it was going to take something drastic from the home town Hoods to turn things around. Louie Kirkman would get in on the high scoring action as he scored 4 straight with 3 minutes left in the period. The sides traded 3 pointers to close the quarter but it would be the visitors who were firmly in control, 80-50.
The pace of the game slowed down dramatically in the 4th as the game was all but done before the quarter got going. A 9-2 Kestrels run to start the period chalked out any hope of a comeback from the hosts, as the deficit now sat at 37 with 4:54 to play. Hoods did respond with an 8-0 run of their own capped by a Euan James two handed flush but it was too little too late as TSK ran out 97-69 winners.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by American guard Herm Senor II’s 36 point explosion, on 14-19 from the field, whilst Travis Charles had 17 points and captain Louie Kirkman 12. The home town Hoods had three players also in double figures, David ‘Tintin’ Watts leading with 14 whilst Kieran Wright and Euan James added 12 and 10 respectively.
Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say on his sides bounce back performance; “I thought it was a brilliant performance from our guys and a great response after last weekends disappointment. Our ball movement and spacing was excellent as well as our defensive intensity for large spells of the game. We hope to build on this moving forward as we hit a tough run of games.”
Kestrels will hit the road again this coming Saturday to take on Manchester Magic in the north west at Manchester Basketball Centre, 6:30pm tip.
Full Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988798/bs.html
The lead would swing back and forth early on as both teams were able to find ways to score, the hosts through big man duo Cole Welle and Andrej Slavik, while TSK guard Herm Senor II started how he attended to go on. A short 7-2 run for the visiting Kestrels gave them a 16-10 advantage at the 3 minute mark but that would be short lived, as NBL D1 veteran David ‘Tintin’ Watts came off the bench to score in close for the Hoods. The lead did balloon to as many as 9 through sharpshooting guard Chris Scarlett however the hosts weathered the onslaught yet again and were only down 5 after one, 23-18.
Josh Brown came off the bench and scored 5 quick points for TSK as the 2nd quarter got underway, whilst Watts continued to show his jump shooting prowess to keep things close at 28-26. A huge 17-0 run would follow for the league leading Kestrels, with a number of contributors across the board, capped off by a Sam Turner finish to blow the game wide open at 45-26. Nottingham guard Delaney Powell stopped the massive scoreless run for the hosts as he made a long pull up jumper but TSK would hold a 46-30 advantage at the break.
Hoods showed early signs of life in the third as Kieran Wright stroked a 3 ball, but Senor II bettered him with a pair of his own to put TSK up 21. Senor II would then catch fire as he scored 16 points in the first 5 minutes of the quarter, including 4 triples. With Kestrels now up 31 it was going to take something drastic from the home town Hoods to turn things around. Louie Kirkman would get in on the high scoring action as he scored 4 straight with 3 minutes left in the period. The sides traded 3 pointers to close the quarter but it would be the visitors who were firmly in control, 80-50.
The pace of the game slowed down dramatically in the 4th as the game was all but done before the quarter got going. A 9-2 Kestrels run to start the period chalked out any hope of a comeback from the hosts, as the deficit now sat at 37 with 4:54 to play. Hoods did respond with an 8-0 run of their own capped by a Euan James two handed flush but it was too little too late as TSK ran out 97-69 winners.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by American guard Herm Senor II’s 36 point explosion, on 14-19 from the field, whilst Travis Charles had 17 points and captain Louie Kirkman 12. The home town Hoods had three players also in double figures, David ‘Tintin’ Watts leading with 14 whilst Kieran Wright and Euan James added 12 and 10 respectively.
Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say on his sides bounce back performance; “I thought it was a brilliant performance from our guys and a great response after last weekends disappointment. Our ball movement and spacing was excellent as well as our defensive intensity for large spells of the game. We hope to build on this moving forward as we hit a tough run of games.”
Kestrels will hit the road again this coming Saturday to take on Manchester Magic in the north west at Manchester Basketball Centre, 6:30pm tip.
Full Box Score; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988798/bs.html
CUP FINAL HEART BREAK FOR KESTRELS AS RIDERS TRIUMPH
Image Courtesy | Basketball England
Sunday afternoon at Essex University saw the stage set for the Final of the National Cup competition, between Loughborough Riders and Team Solent Kestrels. With the sides having navigated their way through 4 rounds prior they would both be keen to collect the first piece of Senior silverware on offer this season.
Loughborough had the better of the opening spells as GB U18 International, Hosana Kitenge, asserted his presence in the paint scoring 4 straight, followed by a Niall Harris break lay up. Kestrels took some time to come alive, but when they did, it was through their own inside presence Travis Charles, who opened his account with a pretty post move before Elliot Dadds’ driving finish in the lane followed up. Riders lead would get to no more than 5 through the quarter, as TSK kept themselves within touching distance and despite a thunderous dunk from Giannis Panaretakis for Loughborough, Kestrels’ Nick Lewis ensured the lead was just 3 at the end of 1, 14-17.
Scotland international Kyle Jimenez stroked a triple to start the 2nd but a huge 11-0 run for TSK, behind successful trips to the line from Charles and Herm Senor II, would see them in front 25-20, timeout Riders. The sides traded baskets for a number of possessions out of the timeout until Harris tied things up at 28 with 4 minutes to play in the half. With TSK in some minor foul trouble and in the penalty Riders used their momentum, taking advantage to build themselves a 4 point lead at the half 34-38.
It was a tense affair to begin the 2nd half and that showed in large part, as both teams were unable to convert going scoreless over the opening 2 minutes. Senor II eventually went 1 for 2 at the line and that would spark both teams into life. A brief 6-2 scoring run for Kestrels enabled them to tie the game back up at 41, after Charles went to work in the paint on his defender. That would be short lived however, when Lucien Christofis knocked down the first of his 4 three pointers in the quarter to push Riders ahead 41-44. TSK were able to stay within just 2 points with 3:30 minutes left in the period but when Christofis scored at the rim and Jimenez hit another 3 ball, Coach Guymon was forced into a timeout at the 3 minute mark, 45-52 Riders. An 11-0 run post timeout for Loughborough saw them blow the game wide open at 45-63 after another two Christofis triples, but Charles’ and-1 for TSK trimmed the gap to 15 at the quarter break.
Kestrels left themselves with it all to do heading into the final period and it wouldn’t get any easier when Greek forward Panaretakis, knocked down a 3 to start the quarter restoring Riders 18 point advantage. With Kestrels unable to get consistent stops Loughborough continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over and the lead would reach as many as 25. Frustrations boiled over for Nick Lewis who received his second technical foul and was therefore ejected from the ball game in an all round difficult half of basketball for TSK. The Kestrels bench were able to keep things respectable down the stretch but it was too little to late as Riders clinched the cup victory, 82-63.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by American forward Travis Charles who had 24 points and 8 rebounds whilst Herm Senor II had 12 points and 6 rebounds in a below par performance. Loughborough were led by Lucien Christofis’ MVP performance as he had 24 points on 5-8 from distance, with Kyle Jimenez backing him up adding 14 points and Hosana Kitenge 10.
Matt Guymon, TSK Head Coach commented; “It’s a disappointing way for us to end our cup run with a subpar performance, full credit to Loughborough for taking us out of our rhythm and imposing their game plan on the match up. We showed some positive spells in the first half after a slow start, however in the second half, too many lapses with our defensive communication and movement/spacing offensively allowed Riders to blow the game wide open. Thank you to everyone who made the journey to support the team and those that were able to do so from a far, we now look forward to getting ourselves back on track in NBL D1.”
Box Score - https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/1083585/bs.html
Live Stream - https://www.facebook.com/NBLengland/
Kestrels are back in action next weekend as they travel to Nottingham Hoods in NBL D1. The next home action is against Loughborough Riders on Saturday 9th February 2019 at Places Leisure Eastleigh, 8pm tip.
Loughborough had the better of the opening spells as GB U18 International, Hosana Kitenge, asserted his presence in the paint scoring 4 straight, followed by a Niall Harris break lay up. Kestrels took some time to come alive, but when they did, it was through their own inside presence Travis Charles, who opened his account with a pretty post move before Elliot Dadds’ driving finish in the lane followed up. Riders lead would get to no more than 5 through the quarter, as TSK kept themselves within touching distance and despite a thunderous dunk from Giannis Panaretakis for Loughborough, Kestrels’ Nick Lewis ensured the lead was just 3 at the end of 1, 14-17.
Scotland international Kyle Jimenez stroked a triple to start the 2nd but a huge 11-0 run for TSK, behind successful trips to the line from Charles and Herm Senor II, would see them in front 25-20, timeout Riders. The sides traded baskets for a number of possessions out of the timeout until Harris tied things up at 28 with 4 minutes to play in the half. With TSK in some minor foul trouble and in the penalty Riders used their momentum, taking advantage to build themselves a 4 point lead at the half 34-38.
It was a tense affair to begin the 2nd half and that showed in large part, as both teams were unable to convert going scoreless over the opening 2 minutes. Senor II eventually went 1 for 2 at the line and that would spark both teams into life. A brief 6-2 scoring run for Kestrels enabled them to tie the game back up at 41, after Charles went to work in the paint on his defender. That would be short lived however, when Lucien Christofis knocked down the first of his 4 three pointers in the quarter to push Riders ahead 41-44. TSK were able to stay within just 2 points with 3:30 minutes left in the period but when Christofis scored at the rim and Jimenez hit another 3 ball, Coach Guymon was forced into a timeout at the 3 minute mark, 45-52 Riders. An 11-0 run post timeout for Loughborough saw them blow the game wide open at 45-63 after another two Christofis triples, but Charles’ and-1 for TSK trimmed the gap to 15 at the quarter break.
Kestrels left themselves with it all to do heading into the final period and it wouldn’t get any easier when Greek forward Panaretakis, knocked down a 3 to start the quarter restoring Riders 18 point advantage. With Kestrels unable to get consistent stops Loughborough continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over and the lead would reach as many as 25. Frustrations boiled over for Nick Lewis who received his second technical foul and was therefore ejected from the ball game in an all round difficult half of basketball for TSK. The Kestrels bench were able to keep things respectable down the stretch but it was too little to late as Riders clinched the cup victory, 82-63.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by American forward Travis Charles who had 24 points and 8 rebounds whilst Herm Senor II had 12 points and 6 rebounds in a below par performance. Loughborough were led by Lucien Christofis’ MVP performance as he had 24 points on 5-8 from distance, with Kyle Jimenez backing him up adding 14 points and Hosana Kitenge 10.
Matt Guymon, TSK Head Coach commented; “It’s a disappointing way for us to end our cup run with a subpar performance, full credit to Loughborough for taking us out of our rhythm and imposing their game plan on the match up. We showed some positive spells in the first half after a slow start, however in the second half, too many lapses with our defensive communication and movement/spacing offensively allowed Riders to blow the game wide open. Thank you to everyone who made the journey to support the team and those that were able to do so from a far, we now look forward to getting ourselves back on track in NBL D1.”
Box Score - https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/1083585/bs.html
Live Stream - https://www.facebook.com/NBLengland/
Kestrels are back in action next weekend as they travel to Nottingham Hoods in NBL D1. The next home action is against Loughborough Riders on Saturday 9th February 2019 at Places Leisure Eastleigh, 8pm tip.
KESTRELS SUFFER NARROW DEFEAT AT CAVALIERS
Image Courtesy | Luke Simcock
Team Solent Kestrels made the short journey to Uxbridge College on Saturday evening to face Thames Valley Cavaliers for no less than the third time this season, after the sides had already met once in the league and once in National Cup. With TSK narrowly prevailing on both occasions this was always going to be a tough match up to knock off the free scoring Cavaliers for a third time. TSK came in off the back of a resounding 41 point demolition of Essex Leopards last Saturday, whilst Thames Valley lost out on the road to 2nd place Worthing Thunder in their first action post Christmas break.
Thames Valley big man Elliot Defreitas opened the scoring for the hosts with quick inside move but Kestrels Forward Tayo Oyefusi stroked a three ball to spark a 10-0 run for the visitors. A number of transition scores from guard duo Herm Senor II and Nick Lewis would prompt an early Cavaliers timeout, 10-2. The hosts had their own duo however, through Defreitas and Hakeem Sylla and when they strung 3 unanswered scores together, that would trigger a Coach Guymon timeout for the Kestrels. Post timeout TSK would settle back down and again find their rhythm on the offensive end behind 4 more Senor II points to extend the advantage to 10 at 18-8. The sides would exchange baskets to close out the first quarter, as Sylla scored on a phantom and-1 call, whilst Sam Turner and Elliot Dadds came off the bench to get on the scoreboard putting the visitors 24-17 to the good.
Again, the back and forth would continue to start the 2nd quarter as Turner connected on a jumper before Walid Mumuni and Fraser Glass contributed for the hosts off the bench. A 7-0 run for the Cavaliers brought them to within just a point, before Lewis would stop the rot for the visitors with a tough step back jumper. Thames Valley guard Prince Lartey scored 5 straight heading through the mid point of the quarter to give the hosts their first lead since the opening possession and that would prompt the 2nd Kestrels timeout, 32-34. The response was positive from TSK as they strung together a 9-2 run out of the timeout behind the guard duo of Lewis and Senor II yet again to build a 41-36 advantage with under 2 minutes to play. Sam Turner continued to contribute on the offensive end with Travis Charles in first half foul trouble but Thames Valley trimmed the deficit to 2 heading into he break, 43-41.
With American big man Travis Charles back in the game TSK started the 3rd quarter with an inside out approach and that paid dividends when Charles converted an and-1 to extend the lead to 6 at 53-47. The lead would stay at 2 possessions for long spells with Cavaliers talisman Martelle McLemore finding his range and Senor II continuing to wreak havoc on the Cavaliers guards. With just under two minutes to play in the period Sylla tied things up for the hosts, but again Senor II would ensure TSK held a slender 3 point advantage heading into the 4th, 64-61.
Lewis briefly extended the advantage to 5 to start the 4th, in what would be a tense affair that went down to the wire. However a 7-1 run for the hosts edged them in front 68-67 to spark a TSK timeout. The momentum begun to swing through the mid point of the quarter in favour of the hosts as they built a 6 point lead at 71-77 after Defreitas scored from a Kestrels turnover. The sides traded a pair of free throws but a Senor II lay up pulled trimmed the deficit to just 4 with 1:41 to play. After a number of missed opportunities from both sides Sylla snagged an offensive rebound and put it back for 2, as he restored his sides 6 point advantage with just over a minute to play. Louie Kirkman would go to the line to sink a pair of free throws with 26 second left cutting the lead to 4, before a turnover from the hosts gave Lewis the chance to score leaving the score at 79-81 with 7 seconds to play. Lartey stepped up and made two free throws to restore the 4 point lead for the hosts but Elliot Dadds was fouled on a 3 point attempt that fell agonisingly short. Dadds sunk all three to make it a 1 point game but Aidan Saunders stepped to the line and made 1 of 2 to ice the game, 82-84.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II’s 25 points, 9 rebounds and 4 steals whilst Nick Lewis chipped in 16 points and Travis Charles had a 14 point, 10 rebound double double. Hakeem Sylla led the way for Thames Valley with 24 points, whilst Elliot Defreitas backed him up with 19 points.
Coach Matt Guymon was frustrated as his side dropped one on the road; “It’s a disappointing loss for us because we could have done more to limit their offensive rebounds & deep post catches, which ultimately was the deciding factor in the game. Credit to TVC, who were able to punish us in these areas and grind out the win. We will now turn our attention and preparations towards the Cup Final next Sunday.”
Kestrels must dust themselves down very quickly as they prepare for their most important game of the season in the shape of a National Cup Final. They’ll travel to Essex University this coming Sunday as they take on Loughborough Riders at 3:30pm.
Remember you can get your tickets for both the game and the supporters coach here on the website or on these links here!
Supporters Coach Tickets - https://eshop.solent.ac.uk/product-catalogue/student-services/student-trips-and-clubs/student-trips/team-solent-kestrels-supporters-coach-for-national-cup-final-2019
Game Tickets - https://www.basketballengland.co.uk/about/shop/tickets/
Thames Valley big man Elliot Defreitas opened the scoring for the hosts with quick inside move but Kestrels Forward Tayo Oyefusi stroked a three ball to spark a 10-0 run for the visitors. A number of transition scores from guard duo Herm Senor II and Nick Lewis would prompt an early Cavaliers timeout, 10-2. The hosts had their own duo however, through Defreitas and Hakeem Sylla and when they strung 3 unanswered scores together, that would trigger a Coach Guymon timeout for the Kestrels. Post timeout TSK would settle back down and again find their rhythm on the offensive end behind 4 more Senor II points to extend the advantage to 10 at 18-8. The sides would exchange baskets to close out the first quarter, as Sylla scored on a phantom and-1 call, whilst Sam Turner and Elliot Dadds came off the bench to get on the scoreboard putting the visitors 24-17 to the good.
Again, the back and forth would continue to start the 2nd quarter as Turner connected on a jumper before Walid Mumuni and Fraser Glass contributed for the hosts off the bench. A 7-0 run for the Cavaliers brought them to within just a point, before Lewis would stop the rot for the visitors with a tough step back jumper. Thames Valley guard Prince Lartey scored 5 straight heading through the mid point of the quarter to give the hosts their first lead since the opening possession and that would prompt the 2nd Kestrels timeout, 32-34. The response was positive from TSK as they strung together a 9-2 run out of the timeout behind the guard duo of Lewis and Senor II yet again to build a 41-36 advantage with under 2 minutes to play. Sam Turner continued to contribute on the offensive end with Travis Charles in first half foul trouble but Thames Valley trimmed the deficit to 2 heading into he break, 43-41.
With American big man Travis Charles back in the game TSK started the 3rd quarter with an inside out approach and that paid dividends when Charles converted an and-1 to extend the lead to 6 at 53-47. The lead would stay at 2 possessions for long spells with Cavaliers talisman Martelle McLemore finding his range and Senor II continuing to wreak havoc on the Cavaliers guards. With just under two minutes to play in the period Sylla tied things up for the hosts, but again Senor II would ensure TSK held a slender 3 point advantage heading into the 4th, 64-61.
Lewis briefly extended the advantage to 5 to start the 4th, in what would be a tense affair that went down to the wire. However a 7-1 run for the hosts edged them in front 68-67 to spark a TSK timeout. The momentum begun to swing through the mid point of the quarter in favour of the hosts as they built a 6 point lead at 71-77 after Defreitas scored from a Kestrels turnover. The sides traded a pair of free throws but a Senor II lay up pulled trimmed the deficit to just 4 with 1:41 to play. After a number of missed opportunities from both sides Sylla snagged an offensive rebound and put it back for 2, as he restored his sides 6 point advantage with just over a minute to play. Louie Kirkman would go to the line to sink a pair of free throws with 26 second left cutting the lead to 4, before a turnover from the hosts gave Lewis the chance to score leaving the score at 79-81 with 7 seconds to play. Lartey stepped up and made two free throws to restore the 4 point lead for the hosts but Elliot Dadds was fouled on a 3 point attempt that fell agonisingly short. Dadds sunk all three to make it a 1 point game but Aidan Saunders stepped to the line and made 1 of 2 to ice the game, 82-84.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II’s 25 points, 9 rebounds and 4 steals whilst Nick Lewis chipped in 16 points and Travis Charles had a 14 point, 10 rebound double double. Hakeem Sylla led the way for Thames Valley with 24 points, whilst Elliot Defreitas backed him up with 19 points.
Coach Matt Guymon was frustrated as his side dropped one on the road; “It’s a disappointing loss for us because we could have done more to limit their offensive rebounds & deep post catches, which ultimately was the deciding factor in the game. Credit to TVC, who were able to punish us in these areas and grind out the win. We will now turn our attention and preparations towards the Cup Final next Sunday.”
Kestrels must dust themselves down very quickly as they prepare for their most important game of the season in the shape of a National Cup Final. They’ll travel to Essex University this coming Sunday as they take on Loughborough Riders at 3:30pm.
Remember you can get your tickets for both the game and the supporters coach here on the website or on these links here!
Supporters Coach Tickets - https://eshop.solent.ac.uk/product-catalogue/student-services/student-trips-and-clubs/student-trips/team-solent-kestrels-supporters-coach-for-national-cup-final-2019
Game Tickets - https://www.basketballengland.co.uk/about/shop/tickets/
TSK GET BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN WITH NEW YEAR OPENER
Image Courtesy | Luke Simcock
Saturday evening saw the return of NBL D1 basketball to Places Leisure Eastleigh for the first time in 6 weeks, as TSK kick started the new year by playing host to Essex Leopards, whom they knocked out of the National Cup just weeks before the break. After a short festive break, Kestrels would look to get back to winning ways as they suffered a shock last second defeat to Bradford Dragons, before losing out to BBL opposition Cheshire Phoenix by 11, just two days before Christmas. Essex on the other hand, would look to keep a run of good form alive from before the break as they’d won 3 out of 4 in the league behind the addition of new American swing man Asante Sandiford.
Herm Senor II showed quickly that any worries of the Christmas break rust wouldn’t be necessary, as he stroked a three ball to get Kestrels off the mark. Leopards big man Lee Hodges asserted himself in the paint early for the visitors and replied on the following possession however. The sides would exchange 3 pointers early on as Luke Mascall-Wright cashed in for the visitors before Nick Lewis knocked down one of his own, starting in place of the injured Elliot Dadds. The first meaningful run came midway through the 1st quarter and it was the hosts who capitalised on a number of transition opportunities, through Lewis and Senor II, to put them 18-9 to the good. Rory Winter would momentarily stop the slump for the Leopards with a triple but another 6 unanswered from TSK increased the deficit to 24-12. 15 Year Old Jeremy Sochan came off the bench to continue the offensive production for Kestrels as he found his way to the basket before Sandiford replied for the hosts to close the quarter, 27-16.
Kestrels big man Sam Turner increased the lead to 13 on the opening possession of the 2nd quarter after some nice work by Senor II to find him. The sides traded baskets in the early stages of the 2nd, Travis Charles finding his touch for the home side whilst Chuck Duru and Findlay Wood kept the scoreboard ticking for the Big Cats. Kestrels did however manage to break the back and forth and push the advantage to 17, capped off with a Travis Charles and-1, sparking an Essex timeout with 5 minutes to play in the half. Charles continued his scoring outburst post timeout as converted with some pretty work in the post but Mascall-Wright continued to show his sharpshooting ability from beyond the arc replying with 2 consecutive triples. Again the sides traded scores to close the half and the score stood at 50-33 heading into the break.
With Leopards influential scorer Sandiford out of the game on 4 fouls to start the 2nd half, Kestrels were able to capitalise and flew out the blocks on a 10-3 run, extending the gap to 24. Tayo Oyefusi reminded everyone of his scoring package and he would increase the lead to 31 as Leopards called for timeout. Kestrels front line continued to pour on the misery for Essex as Charles and Turner dominated inside to close the 3rd quarter with the lead now 79-49 to the hosts.
The final period started in sloppy fashion as both sides squandered chances to either extend or reduce the deficit early on. Sam Turner and Leopards’ Findlay Wood scored 4 each to get the scoring going and the lead stayed at 30 in large part over the first 5 minutes of the 4th. However Kestrels closed the game with a flurry of scores through Charles, Lewis and Oyefusi to cap off a comprehensive 41 point victory, 101-60.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Tayo Oyefusi’s 21 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals, whilst Nick Lewis and Travis Charles also had 21 points a piece and Kestrels combined for a huge 32 assists as a team. Essex Leopards had 3 players with 11 points to lead their scoring charge, Findlay Wood, Lee Hodges and Luke Mascall-Wright whilst Hodges collected 15 boards.
“It was fantastic to be back at Places Leisure in front of our home fans after a month on the road to finish 2018. I felt a renewed sense of purpose & energy from the guys at both ends of the floor and that was reflected in the performance. Hopefully we can continue with this mentality to build some momentum over the next few weeks with some important games on the schedule.”
You can check out the full box score here; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988778/index.html
Kestrels now turn their attention to a tricky road match up at Thames Valley Cavaliers, who they have beaten narrowly on two occasions this season already. That game is next Saturday 12th January 2019, 6pm at Uxbridge College.
REMINDER; You can now buy your tickets for the final on Sunday 20th January 2019 at Essex University Sports Arena please follow the link to do so; https://www.basketballengland.co.uk/about/shop/tickets/
All information for the supporters coach will be available this week on our social media platforms.
Herm Senor II showed quickly that any worries of the Christmas break rust wouldn’t be necessary, as he stroked a three ball to get Kestrels off the mark. Leopards big man Lee Hodges asserted himself in the paint early for the visitors and replied on the following possession however. The sides would exchange 3 pointers early on as Luke Mascall-Wright cashed in for the visitors before Nick Lewis knocked down one of his own, starting in place of the injured Elliot Dadds. The first meaningful run came midway through the 1st quarter and it was the hosts who capitalised on a number of transition opportunities, through Lewis and Senor II, to put them 18-9 to the good. Rory Winter would momentarily stop the slump for the Leopards with a triple but another 6 unanswered from TSK increased the deficit to 24-12. 15 Year Old Jeremy Sochan came off the bench to continue the offensive production for Kestrels as he found his way to the basket before Sandiford replied for the hosts to close the quarter, 27-16.
Kestrels big man Sam Turner increased the lead to 13 on the opening possession of the 2nd quarter after some nice work by Senor II to find him. The sides traded baskets in the early stages of the 2nd, Travis Charles finding his touch for the home side whilst Chuck Duru and Findlay Wood kept the scoreboard ticking for the Big Cats. Kestrels did however manage to break the back and forth and push the advantage to 17, capped off with a Travis Charles and-1, sparking an Essex timeout with 5 minutes to play in the half. Charles continued his scoring outburst post timeout as converted with some pretty work in the post but Mascall-Wright continued to show his sharpshooting ability from beyond the arc replying with 2 consecutive triples. Again the sides traded scores to close the half and the score stood at 50-33 heading into the break.
With Leopards influential scorer Sandiford out of the game on 4 fouls to start the 2nd half, Kestrels were able to capitalise and flew out the blocks on a 10-3 run, extending the gap to 24. Tayo Oyefusi reminded everyone of his scoring package and he would increase the lead to 31 as Leopards called for timeout. Kestrels front line continued to pour on the misery for Essex as Charles and Turner dominated inside to close the 3rd quarter with the lead now 79-49 to the hosts.
The final period started in sloppy fashion as both sides squandered chances to either extend or reduce the deficit early on. Sam Turner and Leopards’ Findlay Wood scored 4 each to get the scoring going and the lead stayed at 30 in large part over the first 5 minutes of the 4th. However Kestrels closed the game with a flurry of scores through Charles, Lewis and Oyefusi to cap off a comprehensive 41 point victory, 101-60.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Tayo Oyefusi’s 21 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals, whilst Nick Lewis and Travis Charles also had 21 points a piece and Kestrels combined for a huge 32 assists as a team. Essex Leopards had 3 players with 11 points to lead their scoring charge, Findlay Wood, Lee Hodges and Luke Mascall-Wright whilst Hodges collected 15 boards.
“It was fantastic to be back at Places Leisure in front of our home fans after a month on the road to finish 2018. I felt a renewed sense of purpose & energy from the guys at both ends of the floor and that was reflected in the performance. Hopefully we can continue with this mentality to build some momentum over the next few weeks with some important games on the schedule.”
You can check out the full box score here; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988778/index.html
Kestrels now turn their attention to a tricky road match up at Thames Valley Cavaliers, who they have beaten narrowly on two occasions this season already. That game is next Saturday 12th January 2019, 6pm at Uxbridge College.
REMINDER; You can now buy your tickets for the final on Sunday 20th January 2019 at Essex University Sports Arena please follow the link to do so; https://www.basketballengland.co.uk/about/shop/tickets/
All information for the supporters coach will be available this week on our social media platforms.
KESTRELS RUN PHOENIX CLOSE IN BBL TROPHY DEBUT
Team Solent Kestrels made their BBL Trophy debut on Sunday afternoon, as they looked to head into the Christmas break on a high after suffering their first defeat of the regular season last time out. The long trip to the North West saw them match up with last years BBL Cup winners, Cheshire Phoenix at Ellesmere Port Sports Village. After matching up with BBL competition in pre season, TSK would be keen to measure their progress against top tier opposition once again.
Cheshire opened the game on a 10-4 scoring run as they had a balance scoring load with 4 of their starters scoring for them, whilst Travis Charles scored 4 quick ones for the visitors. Kestrels would be boosted by the reintroduction of Jon Averkamp back into the line up and he came off the bench to cut down the Phoenix advantage at 10-14. The hosts increased their lead to 8 behind Louis Sayers and PG Daniel Norl but TSK came firing back, closing the quarter on a 7-2 run after Chris Scarlett stroked a triple, 17-20 Cheshire after one.
Kestrels rode the momentum into the beginning of the 2nd period as Averkamp converted in close, before another Scarlett long bomb prompted a Coach Thomas timeout for the hosts, with the game tied at 22. Cheshire scored 4 straight, out of the timeout, which in turn saw Coach Guymon return the favour and call for his first timeout of the ball game. The teams exchanged blows for long spells of the second and whilst Phoenix led for the most part, they never moved ahead by any more than 5. An 11-5 run to close the half for TSK saw them lead by as many as 4 after an Averkamp and-1, however Momcilo Latinovic hit a tough step back triple to finish the half, leaving Kestrels up just 1, 39-38.
The lead changed hands a number of times as the 2nd half got going, firstly with Herm Senor II who connected on a tricky fade away and then Phoenix 7 footer CJ Gettys edged his side back in front 41-43. 5 straight Senor II points would give Kestrels a 3 point lead through the 7 minute mark of the 3rd but that sparked the home side into action, with a short 7-2 run to restore their lead 48-50. The first meaningful run, that opened up the biggest deficit of the half thus far, came through the mid way point of the period, as Phoenix strung together a 7-0 run behind successful back to back trips to the line putting them up 52-59. Again the sides traded baskets and the lead stayed at 7 heading into the 4th, 60-67.
Phoenix would push the lead to double digits to start the 4th of a Disraeli Lufadeju put back and despite Eliot Dadds and Louie Kirkman’s best efforts, the lead extended to 11 after a Norl trey ball. That would be capped off with an and-1 on the following possession which ballooned the lead to 14. Kestrels would claw it back to 11 behind Senor II but that was as close as they got, with the lead getting to as many as 15 down the stretch. Senor II scored the last 4 TSK points to keep the deficit at 11, Cheshire surviving and advancing to the quarter finals, 75-86.
Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II’s 26 points, while Travis Charles added 22 and Jon Averkamp 7 points respectively. Cheshire’s Daniel Norl led the way for them with 20 points, with Sol Rolls-Tyson stepping up off the bench to add 17 as well as Momcilo Latinovic chipping in 17 too.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon was really proud of how his side competed; “This was a great opportunity for us to bounce back and finish the calendar year on a high and I felt for large spells of the game we were able to play our style of basketball. We knew it was going to be tough against BBL level opposition however I thought we gave a great account of ourselves. Unfortunately a run at the back end of the 3rd and into 4th left us with too much to do down the stretch. The break has come at a great time for our guys to rest and recharge and we look forward to an exciting 2019 for our club.”
You can check out the full box score here; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBL/1043654/bs.html
Kestrels are back in action in the new year on Saturday 5th January 2019 where they will play host to Essex Leopards back at Places Leisure Eastleigh, 7:30pm tip.
Cheshire opened the game on a 10-4 scoring run as they had a balance scoring load with 4 of their starters scoring for them, whilst Travis Charles scored 4 quick ones for the visitors. Kestrels would be boosted by the reintroduction of Jon Averkamp back into the line up and he came off the bench to cut down the Phoenix advantage at 10-14. The hosts increased their lead to 8 behind Louis Sayers and PG Daniel Norl but TSK came firing back, closing the quarter on a 7-2 run after Chris Scarlett stroked a triple, 17-20 Cheshire after one.
Kestrels rode the momentum into the beginning of the 2nd period as Averkamp converted in close, before another Scarlett long bomb prompted a Coach Thomas timeout for the hosts, with the game tied at 22. Cheshire scored 4 straight, out of the timeout, which in turn saw Coach Guymon return the favour and call for his first timeout of the ball game. The teams exchanged blows for long spells of the second and whilst Phoenix led for the most part, they never moved ahead by any more than 5. An 11-5 run to close the half for TSK saw them lead by as many as 4 after an Averkamp and-1, however Momcilo Latinovic hit a tough step back triple to finish the half, leaving Kestrels up just 1, 39-38.
The lead changed hands a number of times as the 2nd half got going, firstly with Herm Senor II who connected on a tricky fade away and then Phoenix 7 footer CJ Gettys edged his side back in front 41-43. 5 straight Senor II points would give Kestrels a 3 point lead through the 7 minute mark of the 3rd but that sparked the home side into action, with a short 7-2 run to restore their lead 48-50. The first meaningful run, that opened up the biggest deficit of the half thus far, came through the mid way point of the period, as Phoenix strung together a 7-0 run behind successful back to back trips to the line putting them up 52-59. Again the sides traded baskets and the lead stayed at 7 heading into the 4th, 60-67.
Phoenix would push the lead to double digits to start the 4th of a Disraeli Lufadeju put back and despite Eliot Dadds and Louie Kirkman’s best efforts, the lead extended to 11 after a Norl trey ball. That would be capped off with an and-1 on the following possession which ballooned the lead to 14. Kestrels would claw it back to 11 behind Senor II but that was as close as they got, with the lead getting to as many as 15 down the stretch. Senor II scored the last 4 TSK points to keep the deficit at 11, Cheshire surviving and advancing to the quarter finals, 75-86.
Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II’s 26 points, while Travis Charles added 22 and Jon Averkamp 7 points respectively. Cheshire’s Daniel Norl led the way for them with 20 points, with Sol Rolls-Tyson stepping up off the bench to add 17 as well as Momcilo Latinovic chipping in 17 too.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon was really proud of how his side competed; “This was a great opportunity for us to bounce back and finish the calendar year on a high and I felt for large spells of the game we were able to play our style of basketball. We knew it was going to be tough against BBL level opposition however I thought we gave a great account of ourselves. Unfortunately a run at the back end of the 3rd and into 4th left us with too much to do down the stretch. The break has come at a great time for our guys to rest and recharge and we look forward to an exciting 2019 for our club.”
You can check out the full box score here; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBL/1043654/bs.html
Kestrels are back in action in the new year on Saturday 5th January 2019 where they will play host to Essex Leopards back at Places Leisure Eastleigh, 7:30pm tip.
TSK LOSE UNBEATEN RECORD ON THE BUZZER IN BRADFORD
Image Courtesy | Alex Daniel Photography
It was a cold and wet trip north for Team Solent Kestrels in their final NBL D1 action before the Christmas break, where they would look to stay undefeated vs. Bradford Dragons. It was the first meeting between the sides this season and whilst Dragons enjoyed a fast start to the season, since losing American Drexler Clark to injury, they have struggled to find their rhythm. Kestrels came in on a high after booking their National Cup Final ticket last weekend and were looking to stay top of the tree at Christmas.
Bradford big man Allie Fullah came out aggressive attempting to impose himself from the low post as he scored 4 quick points, whilst Elliot Dadds found his range from distance for the visitors. Senor II would follow up a slower start than usual for Kestrels, with a pair of lay ups, to put TSK up 7-4. Bradford, despite being under manned with out big man Ricky Fetske, would continue to hunt the paint on drives and earned themselves 4 consecutive trips to foul line, converting all 8 attempts to go up 7-12 through the half way point of the quarter. Kestrels replied immediately however as Nick Lewis came into the game off the bench and a 6-0 run edged them back in front. The lead swung back again in favour of the hosts as this time Jermaine Laing sparked a 9-3 run for the Dragons, but timely scores from Nick Lewis and Sam Turner from the free throw line trimmed the gap to just 1 at 22-23 after the 1st.
Scoring would go back and forth to start the 2nd as both teams found their rhythm converting on a number of back to back possessions. A short 6-0 run from the hosts behind 4 Joaquin Calvo points gave them a 30-36 lead. However TSK would turn up the defensive intensity, forcing a number of Dragons turnovers with their full court press, allowing them a number of easy scores to go in front 39-36. The hosts rallied to close the half though and edged in front 39-41.
Dragons came flying out to start the second half as Rihards Sulcs scored 7 out of 10 straight points forcing a Coach Guymon timeout to make some adjustments. He would do just that as a 14-2 run post timeout for the visitors, behind Nick Lewis and Travis Charles, propelled them into a narrow 1 point lead with just 3 minutes to play in the quarter. The hosts weathered the onslaught from TSK and despite Charles extending the deficit from the line to 4, Bradford tied it up at 59 a piece to head into the final period.
The 4th started in tense fashion with both sides finding easy scoring opportunities early on, however another 10-0 run for the hosts, behind a pair of Andreas Lycoudis 3’s, gave them a 61-69 advantage with 6 minutes to play. Much in the fashion of the game though, another long scoring run from TSK, saw them tie the game up at 75 a piece capped by a Herm Senor II triple. Charles gave Kestrels the lead with just under 2 minutes to play but Lycoudis managed to get the shooters roll on a triple on the following possession. Senor II went one on one on the next trip down the floor and it was nothing but net on a floater to give TSK a 79-78 lead with 59 seconds to play. Nick Lewis would go down with cramp on Bradford’s next offensive possession and an after a scramble defensively Sulcs converted on a lay up to put Dragons up 1 with 47 seconds left. Charles restored the visitors advantage at 81-80 and after a 5 second call on Fullah, Kestrels would go to the line for 2 free throws, after Dragons had to foul. Senor II stepped up and sunk both, however Lycoudis would go coast to coast and kick out to Sulcs who’s heave from 3 went in with just 3 seconds left. Elliot Dadds would then received the inbound and in his steps was a judged to have committed a charge on Sulcs with the referee on the opposite baseline having spotted the infringement. With just a second left and last ditch attempt from Sulcs found the net and Bradford handed Kestrels their first loss of the season, 83-86.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Nick Lewis 25 points, whilst Herm Senor II had 19 points in just 15 minutes after being marred by foul trouble and Travis Charles chipped in 17. Bradford’s hero Rihard Sulcs had 30 points to lead them with Andreas Lycoudis backing him up with 18 points.
Coach Matt Guymon gave us his thoughts on his sides first loss in NBL D1 action this season; “We missed a great opportunity to keep our undefeated streak alive this weekend against an undermanned Bradford team. We have moved away from our identity as a defensive minded team that gets stops and plays at a relentless pace in transition. We need to reflect on the last 2-3 weeks and refocus over the D1 break. Full credit to Bradford who were excellent at both ends of the floor. Sulcs was brilliant all game and his final 3 possession carried them over the line.”
You can check out the full box score here; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988773/bs.html
TSK will now take a break from NBL D1 play over the Christmas break and are next in action in the league on Saturday 5th January 2018 vs. Essex Leopards at Places Leisure Eastleigh. However this Sunday presents the unique opportunity for TSK to match up with BBL opposition in the first round of the BBL Trophy on the road at Cheshire Phoenix.
For any travelling fans the game is Sunday, 5:30pm @ Ellesmere Port Sports Village, Cheshire.
Bradford big man Allie Fullah came out aggressive attempting to impose himself from the low post as he scored 4 quick points, whilst Elliot Dadds found his range from distance for the visitors. Senor II would follow up a slower start than usual for Kestrels, with a pair of lay ups, to put TSK up 7-4. Bradford, despite being under manned with out big man Ricky Fetske, would continue to hunt the paint on drives and earned themselves 4 consecutive trips to foul line, converting all 8 attempts to go up 7-12 through the half way point of the quarter. Kestrels replied immediately however as Nick Lewis came into the game off the bench and a 6-0 run edged them back in front. The lead swung back again in favour of the hosts as this time Jermaine Laing sparked a 9-3 run for the Dragons, but timely scores from Nick Lewis and Sam Turner from the free throw line trimmed the gap to just 1 at 22-23 after the 1st.
Scoring would go back and forth to start the 2nd as both teams found their rhythm converting on a number of back to back possessions. A short 6-0 run from the hosts behind 4 Joaquin Calvo points gave them a 30-36 lead. However TSK would turn up the defensive intensity, forcing a number of Dragons turnovers with their full court press, allowing them a number of easy scores to go in front 39-36. The hosts rallied to close the half though and edged in front 39-41.
Dragons came flying out to start the second half as Rihards Sulcs scored 7 out of 10 straight points forcing a Coach Guymon timeout to make some adjustments. He would do just that as a 14-2 run post timeout for the visitors, behind Nick Lewis and Travis Charles, propelled them into a narrow 1 point lead with just 3 minutes to play in the quarter. The hosts weathered the onslaught from TSK and despite Charles extending the deficit from the line to 4, Bradford tied it up at 59 a piece to head into the final period.
The 4th started in tense fashion with both sides finding easy scoring opportunities early on, however another 10-0 run for the hosts, behind a pair of Andreas Lycoudis 3’s, gave them a 61-69 advantage with 6 minutes to play. Much in the fashion of the game though, another long scoring run from TSK, saw them tie the game up at 75 a piece capped by a Herm Senor II triple. Charles gave Kestrels the lead with just under 2 minutes to play but Lycoudis managed to get the shooters roll on a triple on the following possession. Senor II went one on one on the next trip down the floor and it was nothing but net on a floater to give TSK a 79-78 lead with 59 seconds to play. Nick Lewis would go down with cramp on Bradford’s next offensive possession and an after a scramble defensively Sulcs converted on a lay up to put Dragons up 1 with 47 seconds left. Charles restored the visitors advantage at 81-80 and after a 5 second call on Fullah, Kestrels would go to the line for 2 free throws, after Dragons had to foul. Senor II stepped up and sunk both, however Lycoudis would go coast to coast and kick out to Sulcs who’s heave from 3 went in with just 3 seconds left. Elliot Dadds would then received the inbound and in his steps was a judged to have committed a charge on Sulcs with the referee on the opposite baseline having spotted the infringement. With just a second left and last ditch attempt from Sulcs found the net and Bradford handed Kestrels their first loss of the season, 83-86.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Nick Lewis 25 points, whilst Herm Senor II had 19 points in just 15 minutes after being marred by foul trouble and Travis Charles chipped in 17. Bradford’s hero Rihard Sulcs had 30 points to lead them with Andreas Lycoudis backing him up with 18 points.
Coach Matt Guymon gave us his thoughts on his sides first loss in NBL D1 action this season; “We missed a great opportunity to keep our undefeated streak alive this weekend against an undermanned Bradford team. We have moved away from our identity as a defensive minded team that gets stops and plays at a relentless pace in transition. We need to reflect on the last 2-3 weeks and refocus over the D1 break. Full credit to Bradford who were excellent at both ends of the floor. Sulcs was brilliant all game and his final 3 possession carried them over the line.”
You can check out the full box score here; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988773/bs.html
TSK will now take a break from NBL D1 play over the Christmas break and are next in action in the league on Saturday 5th January 2018 vs. Essex Leopards at Places Leisure Eastleigh. However this Sunday presents the unique opportunity for TSK to match up with BBL opposition in the first round of the BBL Trophy on the road at Cheshire Phoenix.
For any travelling fans the game is Sunday, 5:30pm @ Ellesmere Port Sports Village, Cheshire.
KESTRELS BOOK CUP FINAL TICKET AS THEY KNOCK OFF 'BIG CATS'
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Sunday afternoon in Brentwood, Essex was the setting for Team Solent Kestrels’ 2nd consecutive National Cup Semi Final appearance. Kestrels, having navigated their way past Bristol Hurricanes, Team Newcastle and Thames Valley Cavaliers, found themselves with the opportunity to match up with D1 returnees Essex Leopards, for the first time this season. Essex, who have been revitalised of late with the addition of American forward Asante Sandiford, knocked off Team Derby Spartans, Westminster Warriors, Nottingham Hoods and Manchester Magic on their way to the semi finals.
Travis Charles opened the TSK account on the opening possession of the game, however Essex big man Lee Hodges replied on the following possession with a score in close, to get his side on the board. It was a cagey start for both sides with the teams exchanging scores through their point guards Herm Senor II and Findlay Wood, until Kestrels strung a 9-2 run together to put them up 15-8 around the 6 minute mark. Again with the lead at 7, the sides traded baskets until Hodges scored 4 straight to trim the gap to 3. Senor II momentarily restored a 5 point advantage but TSK would then go scoreless over the final four minutes of the quarter, allowing Leopards to take a 21-22 lead into the quarter break.
Wood stroked a 3 off of some clinical ball movement from the hosts to start the 2nd quarter before Elliot Dadds scored 4 straight to tie the game up at 25. Leopards restored a 4 point gap again when Sam Newman went coast to coast for a two handed flush but again Kestrels came straight back behind a Tayo Oyefusi three ball and Senor II lay up. That would spark the start of a 13-0 run for the visitors as they turned up the defensive intensity allowing for a number of easy scores in transition. Essex did manage to stop the rot before the half and trimmed the Kestrels lead to 6 at 38-32.
Leopards showed their fight flying out of the blocks to start the half with a 10-0 run, behind 8 Luke Mascall-Wright points, prompting an early Coach Guymon timeout to settle his side down. American big man Charles, got Kestrels back on track post timeout with a quick score from the post but Essex forward Chuck Duru restored a 4 point advantage on the following possession. Kestrels trimmed the gap to 1 before both teams scoring dried up, over a scoreless 3 minute period on the back side of the 3rd quarter. However an 11-2 flurry late in the quarter saw Kestrels retake their 6 point lead they held at the break, as Chris Scarlett started to heat up from beyond the arc, 54-48 heading into the 4th.
Kestrels bench would swing the momentum to begin the final period as Josh Brown and Chris Scarlett scored 5 straight points, followed by Elliot Dadds and Nick Lewis scores. Leopards would take their second time out in as many minutes as Kestrels poured it on the lead now at 66-48 with 7 minutes to play. The sides would trade baskets over the ensuing possessions as Charles came back into the game for TSK whilst sharp shooting guard Andre Lavinier came off the bench for the shots to score 8 quick points. Leopards American Sandiford would trim the deficit to 12 with just 3:49 on the clock and Coach Guymon would call for time to settle his squad down. The home side would pull within 7 out of the timeout through a Mascall-Wright triple but that would be as close as they got with Charles and Lewis putting the game to bed in the closing minutes. Kestrels took the win 81-70 and advance to the National Cup final for the 2nd time in 3 seasons.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Travis Charles’ 25 points, 11 rebounds and 2 assists, whilst Herm Senor II 16 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds and 6 steals and Elliot Dadds chipped in 14 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Essex were led by Luke Mascall-Wright’s 21 points while Asante Sandiford was the only other player in double figures for the hosts with 14.
Matt Guymon, TSK Head Coach was delighted as his team reached the cup final and had this to say; “It’s fantastic for the club to make the cup final for the 2nd time in 3 years. Essex made life difficult for us today and we struggled at times to build a consistent rhythm offensively. We were able to show resilience throughout the game and I have to give credit to our bench who gave us an excellent spark to blow open the game in the 4th.”
You can check out the full box score here; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/1064333/bs.html
TSK will now advance to the final where they’ll face Loughborough Riders, who came from behind late to beat Hemel Storm 90-89. The final will be held at the new Essex University Arena on Sunday 20th January 2019 at 3:30pm, all details on travel and tickets for the Kestrels Family will be on its way to you all shortly!
Travis Charles opened the TSK account on the opening possession of the game, however Essex big man Lee Hodges replied on the following possession with a score in close, to get his side on the board. It was a cagey start for both sides with the teams exchanging scores through their point guards Herm Senor II and Findlay Wood, until Kestrels strung a 9-2 run together to put them up 15-8 around the 6 minute mark. Again with the lead at 7, the sides traded baskets until Hodges scored 4 straight to trim the gap to 3. Senor II momentarily restored a 5 point advantage but TSK would then go scoreless over the final four minutes of the quarter, allowing Leopards to take a 21-22 lead into the quarter break.
Wood stroked a 3 off of some clinical ball movement from the hosts to start the 2nd quarter before Elliot Dadds scored 4 straight to tie the game up at 25. Leopards restored a 4 point gap again when Sam Newman went coast to coast for a two handed flush but again Kestrels came straight back behind a Tayo Oyefusi three ball and Senor II lay up. That would spark the start of a 13-0 run for the visitors as they turned up the defensive intensity allowing for a number of easy scores in transition. Essex did manage to stop the rot before the half and trimmed the Kestrels lead to 6 at 38-32.
Leopards showed their fight flying out of the blocks to start the half with a 10-0 run, behind 8 Luke Mascall-Wright points, prompting an early Coach Guymon timeout to settle his side down. American big man Charles, got Kestrels back on track post timeout with a quick score from the post but Essex forward Chuck Duru restored a 4 point advantage on the following possession. Kestrels trimmed the gap to 1 before both teams scoring dried up, over a scoreless 3 minute period on the back side of the 3rd quarter. However an 11-2 flurry late in the quarter saw Kestrels retake their 6 point lead they held at the break, as Chris Scarlett started to heat up from beyond the arc, 54-48 heading into the 4th.
Kestrels bench would swing the momentum to begin the final period as Josh Brown and Chris Scarlett scored 5 straight points, followed by Elliot Dadds and Nick Lewis scores. Leopards would take their second time out in as many minutes as Kestrels poured it on the lead now at 66-48 with 7 minutes to play. The sides would trade baskets over the ensuing possessions as Charles came back into the game for TSK whilst sharp shooting guard Andre Lavinier came off the bench for the shots to score 8 quick points. Leopards American Sandiford would trim the deficit to 12 with just 3:49 on the clock and Coach Guymon would call for time to settle his squad down. The home side would pull within 7 out of the timeout through a Mascall-Wright triple but that would be as close as they got with Charles and Lewis putting the game to bed in the closing minutes. Kestrels took the win 81-70 and advance to the National Cup final for the 2nd time in 3 seasons.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Travis Charles’ 25 points, 11 rebounds and 2 assists, whilst Herm Senor II 16 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds and 6 steals and Elliot Dadds chipped in 14 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Essex were led by Luke Mascall-Wright’s 21 points while Asante Sandiford was the only other player in double figures for the hosts with 14.
Matt Guymon, TSK Head Coach was delighted as his team reached the cup final and had this to say; “It’s fantastic for the club to make the cup final for the 2nd time in 3 years. Essex made life difficult for us today and we struggled at times to build a consistent rhythm offensively. We were able to show resilience throughout the game and I have to give credit to our bench who gave us an excellent spark to blow open the game in the 4th.”
You can check out the full box score here; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/1064333/bs.html
TSK will now advance to the final where they’ll face Loughborough Riders, who came from behind late to beat Hemel Storm 90-89. The final will be held at the new Essex University Arena on Sunday 20th January 2019 at 3:30pm, all details on travel and tickets for the Kestrels Family will be on its way to you all shortly!
TSK LEAVE IT LATE BUT MOVE TO 10-0 WITH WIN IN LEICESTER
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Team Solent Kestrels hit the road Saturday afternoon for the first of their 4 game road stand, after a long run of fixtures at Places Leisure Eastleigh, through the month of November. A run in fact that has been instrumental in the Kestrels’ unbeaten start to the NBL D1 season and Coach Matt Guymon’s side would be looking to extend that form at Leicester Warriors. Leicester’s 1-7 record in no way reflected their scoring fire power and this would pose a tough test for TSK. Warriors would also be buoyed by the addition of forward Raphell Thomas-Edwards, a former junior Warriors and England International, who has since played NCAA DI college basketball state side.
Neither side had the better of the play in the opening stages of the first quarter as they traded scores for large spells. Warriors found their range from beyond the arc through Jamal Lewis, whilst Kestrels found a number of scoring opportunities in close behind the pairing of Herm Senor II and Travis Charles. A 10-0 run for TSK, across the 4 minute mark of the quarter, gave them the first meaningful advantage at 19-12 to spark a Coach Karl Brown timeout for the hosts. Nick Lewis came off the bench to sink a pair of free throws for the visitors, before sharpshooting guard Martyn Gayle drained a three for the home side to leave the score at 21-15 TSK after one.
Elliot Dadds converted on a lay up early in the 2nd to increase the gap 8 but that was as big a lead as Kestrels would build in the first half. An 11-2 run from the East Midlands side behind two more Gayle three’s saw them edge in front 25-26 and Coach Guymon use his first timeout of the ball game. The lead changed hands several times post timeout with both teams finding ways to score the ball. However a 10-3 run to close out the half from the hosts duo of Gayle and Thomas-Edwards, saw them take 39-46 lead into the interval.
The hosts momentarily pushed the lead out to 12 after a quick 5 point swing to start the half, but Louie Kirkman and Elliot Dadds ensured the lead wouldn’t increase as they replied for TSK. Both sides traded baskets for long spells of the third and the lead would stay at around 8 or 9 in favour of the Warriors. That was until a frantic 10-0 run to close the period for Kestrels, behind 6 Dadds points, brought them within 1 heading into the 4th.
Kestrels would ride the momentum from the back end of the 3rd, as Travis Charles found his rhythm to put the visitors up 4. However an 8-2 run for the Warriors behind 5 Thomas-Edwards points saw them edge back in front by 2, with 4:57 to play. Leicester big man Jabby extended the lead to 4 out of a timeout but a 9-2 Kestrels run meant they were now in 77-74 to the good with less than 2 minutes to play. The hosts would then go scoreless over the final two minutes allowing Kestrels to close the game out from the free throw line, winning 84-74.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Travis Charles’ huge stat line, 24 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists, while Nick Lewis chipped in 23 points and Elliot Dadds had 14. Leicester Warriors guard Martyn Gayle led them with 22 points whilst Raphell Thomas-Edwards had 19 points on his season debut.
TSK Play caller Matt Guymon had this to say after his sides 10th victory in a row in league play; “Credit to Leicester as they were excellent at both ends of the floor today. We got ourselves in a hole in the 2nd quarter as we struggled to defend the 3 point line. I was proud of our guys and how they responded at the end of the 3rd to get us back in the game and also our composure late in the 4th to secure the win.”
You can check out the full box score here; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988755/bs.html#ASFSK
Kestrels will now turn their attentions to a semi final match up with Essex Leopards next Sunday where they will look to book their spot in January’s final. 4pm tip off @ The Brentwood Centre, Essex.
Neither side had the better of the play in the opening stages of the first quarter as they traded scores for large spells. Warriors found their range from beyond the arc through Jamal Lewis, whilst Kestrels found a number of scoring opportunities in close behind the pairing of Herm Senor II and Travis Charles. A 10-0 run for TSK, across the 4 minute mark of the quarter, gave them the first meaningful advantage at 19-12 to spark a Coach Karl Brown timeout for the hosts. Nick Lewis came off the bench to sink a pair of free throws for the visitors, before sharpshooting guard Martyn Gayle drained a three for the home side to leave the score at 21-15 TSK after one.
Elliot Dadds converted on a lay up early in the 2nd to increase the gap 8 but that was as big a lead as Kestrels would build in the first half. An 11-2 run from the East Midlands side behind two more Gayle three’s saw them edge in front 25-26 and Coach Guymon use his first timeout of the ball game. The lead changed hands several times post timeout with both teams finding ways to score the ball. However a 10-3 run to close out the half from the hosts duo of Gayle and Thomas-Edwards, saw them take 39-46 lead into the interval.
The hosts momentarily pushed the lead out to 12 after a quick 5 point swing to start the half, but Louie Kirkman and Elliot Dadds ensured the lead wouldn’t increase as they replied for TSK. Both sides traded baskets for long spells of the third and the lead would stay at around 8 or 9 in favour of the Warriors. That was until a frantic 10-0 run to close the period for Kestrels, behind 6 Dadds points, brought them within 1 heading into the 4th.
Kestrels would ride the momentum from the back end of the 3rd, as Travis Charles found his rhythm to put the visitors up 4. However an 8-2 run for the Warriors behind 5 Thomas-Edwards points saw them edge back in front by 2, with 4:57 to play. Leicester big man Jabby extended the lead to 4 out of a timeout but a 9-2 Kestrels run meant they were now in 77-74 to the good with less than 2 minutes to play. The hosts would then go scoreless over the final two minutes allowing Kestrels to close the game out from the free throw line, winning 84-74.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Travis Charles’ huge stat line, 24 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists, while Nick Lewis chipped in 23 points and Elliot Dadds had 14. Leicester Warriors guard Martyn Gayle led them with 22 points whilst Raphell Thomas-Edwards had 19 points on his season debut.
TSK Play caller Matt Guymon had this to say after his sides 10th victory in a row in league play; “Credit to Leicester as they were excellent at both ends of the floor today. We got ourselves in a hole in the 2nd quarter as we struggled to defend the 3 point line. I was proud of our guys and how they responded at the end of the 3rd to get us back in the game and also our composure late in the 4th to secure the win.”
You can check out the full box score here; https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988755/bs.html#ASFSK
Kestrels will now turn their attentions to a semi final match up with Essex Leopards next Sunday where they will look to book their spot in January’s final. 4pm tip off @ The Brentwood Centre, Essex.
KESTRELS GROUND ROCKETS TO KEEP WIN STREAK
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Saturday evening saw Team Solent Kestrels welcome local Berkshire outfit, Reading Rockets to Places Leisure Eastleigh in NBL D1 action. It would be another chance for TSK to put their unbeaten streak on the line with it currently standing at 8, as they sit at the summit of Division 1. Rockets came into the action fresh off a weekend break and a 4-2 record on the season so far, whilst Kestrels defeated Hemel Storm last time out despite not playing their basketball. With the local rivalry between the sides this match up is always a tense affair.
The sides traded scores in the early parts of this one as AJ Carr established himself for the visitors whilst Travis Charles and Herm Senor II got going for TSK. The sides would be locked at 11 a piece through the mid point of the first quarter. A 7-0 run for Kestrels with 5 Louie Kirkman points, meant the hosts would take the first meaningful lead up 16-11. Rockets were not done for the quarter though and they managed to string together a 9-2 run to close the period, behind Sydney Donaldson and Trae Pemberton’s jump shooting, 18-20 to the visitors.
Reading started the 2nd with a renewed energy and another 9-2 run behind a balanced scoring attack, pushed them out to the biggest lead of the game at 20-29, sparking a Coach Guymon timeout. Travis Charles would score 8 straight points out of the timeout for the home team and bring them right back within striking distance. Herm Senor II converted on a drive to the hoop to put his side up 34-31 and cap off a huge 14-2 run for the hosts, with 2:30 to play in the half. Carr and Irish guard O’Sullivan would stop the run, as Rockets momentarily retook the lead, but Charles scored again and that would tie the game at 38 heading into the break.
Senor II would set the tone for the 2nd half on the opening possession as he got the and-1 opportunity to go, followed by Charles who knocked down the short jumper. Carr and O’Sullivan replied for the visitors to bring them back within 1, but a 7-0 run behind 4 Senor II points increased the Kestrels advantage to 8. Danny Carter came off the bench for Reading to reduce the gap to 4 but that would be short lived, as Sam Turner and Nick Lewis came off the Kestrels bench to restore a 9 point deficit. There were a flurry of scores to close to period but Lewis’ lay up would leave the score at 62-52, heading into the 4th.
Neither team managed to take control early in the 4th quarter as they both scored at will but the lead was still stood at 8 just 3 minutes in. Donaldson sunk three back to back three’s for the Rockets to bring them back within 5, but Senor II replied with one of his own and when Kirkman scored in transition, Kestrels were back up 9 with a little over 4 minutes to play. Rockets sharpshooter Pemberton got in on the act from beyond the arc, as he went back to back, either side of an Elliot Dadds jumper, trimming it to 75-70. Senor II hit a three ball, before Lewis navigated his way to the rim to put TSK up 10 with 1:47 to play. Kestrels were able to ice the game from the line as Reading fouled to stop the clock late, holding on to win 86-75. TSK improving to 9-0 and tightening their grip on top spot in NBL D1.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Travis Charles who had 27 points, while Herm Senor II had 26 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds and Tayo Oyefusi continued to do everything his team needed to win with 16 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 block. Reading’s American forward AJ Carr had 23 points to pace them, with Sydney Donaldson and Trae Pemberton posting 17 and 16 points respectively.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say on his sides 9th straight victory in regular season play; “I think we started the game very flat on the defensive end which is unusual for us. This allowed Reading to find a rhythm & their confidence early in the game. I’m proud of how we responded in the 3rd quarter defending much better & playing at our tempo which allowed us to control the game down the stretch.”
Kestrels will now take the show on the road for the month of December with 4 games in a row on the road including a National Cup Semi Final vs. Essex Leopards and a BBL Trophy 1st round tie with Cheshire Phoenix. Next weekend sees TSK travel to Leicester Warriors on Saturday afternoon.
The sides traded scores in the early parts of this one as AJ Carr established himself for the visitors whilst Travis Charles and Herm Senor II got going for TSK. The sides would be locked at 11 a piece through the mid point of the first quarter. A 7-0 run for Kestrels with 5 Louie Kirkman points, meant the hosts would take the first meaningful lead up 16-11. Rockets were not done for the quarter though and they managed to string together a 9-2 run to close the period, behind Sydney Donaldson and Trae Pemberton’s jump shooting, 18-20 to the visitors.
Reading started the 2nd with a renewed energy and another 9-2 run behind a balanced scoring attack, pushed them out to the biggest lead of the game at 20-29, sparking a Coach Guymon timeout. Travis Charles would score 8 straight points out of the timeout for the home team and bring them right back within striking distance. Herm Senor II converted on a drive to the hoop to put his side up 34-31 and cap off a huge 14-2 run for the hosts, with 2:30 to play in the half. Carr and Irish guard O’Sullivan would stop the run, as Rockets momentarily retook the lead, but Charles scored again and that would tie the game at 38 heading into the break.
Senor II would set the tone for the 2nd half on the opening possession as he got the and-1 opportunity to go, followed by Charles who knocked down the short jumper. Carr and O’Sullivan replied for the visitors to bring them back within 1, but a 7-0 run behind 4 Senor II points increased the Kestrels advantage to 8. Danny Carter came off the bench for Reading to reduce the gap to 4 but that would be short lived, as Sam Turner and Nick Lewis came off the Kestrels bench to restore a 9 point deficit. There were a flurry of scores to close to period but Lewis’ lay up would leave the score at 62-52, heading into the 4th.
Neither team managed to take control early in the 4th quarter as they both scored at will but the lead was still stood at 8 just 3 minutes in. Donaldson sunk three back to back three’s for the Rockets to bring them back within 5, but Senor II replied with one of his own and when Kirkman scored in transition, Kestrels were back up 9 with a little over 4 minutes to play. Rockets sharpshooter Pemberton got in on the act from beyond the arc, as he went back to back, either side of an Elliot Dadds jumper, trimming it to 75-70. Senor II hit a three ball, before Lewis navigated his way to the rim to put TSK up 10 with 1:47 to play. Kestrels were able to ice the game from the line as Reading fouled to stop the clock late, holding on to win 86-75. TSK improving to 9-0 and tightening their grip on top spot in NBL D1.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Travis Charles who had 27 points, while Herm Senor II had 26 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds and Tayo Oyefusi continued to do everything his team needed to win with 16 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 block. Reading’s American forward AJ Carr had 23 points to pace them, with Sydney Donaldson and Trae Pemberton posting 17 and 16 points respectively.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say on his sides 9th straight victory in regular season play; “I think we started the game very flat on the defensive end which is unusual for us. This allowed Reading to find a rhythm & their confidence early in the game. I’m proud of how we responded in the 3rd quarter defending much better & playing at our tempo which allowed us to control the game down the stretch.”
Kestrels will now take the show on the road for the month of December with 4 games in a row on the road including a National Cup Semi Final vs. Essex Leopards and a BBL Trophy 1st round tie with Cheshire Phoenix. Next weekend sees TSK travel to Leicester Warriors on Saturday afternoon.
TSK BOOK SEMI FINAL TICKET WITH WIN OVER TVC
Image Courtesy | Paul Watts
Sunday afternoon at Uxbridge College was the stage for TSK’s National Cup Quarter Final show down with Thames Valley Cavaliers. Kestrels were looking to book their spot in the semi final stage of the competition, for the 2nd consecutive season, with their second win of the year over Cavaliers. The sides met on the opening night of NBL D1 action at Places Leisure Eastleigh and it would take some late game Herm Senor II heroics for Kestrels to clinch the win. TSK came in off the back of a shut out victory over Hemel Storm on Saturday evening, whilst Thames Valley slipped to a defeat, to an improving Team Newcastle side 92-85.
Kestrels started the better of the sides with two quick scores from Herm Senor II and Louie Kirkman, whilst Cavaliers split a pair free throws, through Hakeem Sylla, to get on the scoreboard. As expected it would be a cagey affair and neither side were able to establish control early on. TSK took a 4 point lead after Elliot Dadds connected on a three ball, but that would be short lived, as Aiden Saunders replied with a three of his own for the hosts. Cavaliers American guard, Martelle McLemore, would score 9 of his sides next 13 points to edge them in front 19-21. Although Nick Lewis came off the bench to restore the visitors lead, Thames Valley scored the final 5 points of the quarter to go in 22-26 to the good after one.
It would be a back and forth start to the second quarter and that favoured Thames Valley as they got up by as many as 9 points early on. A short 7-2 run for TSK in response prompted a TVC timeout but they would weather the run immediately as Prince Lartey found his way to the basket. An 11-0 run with just 3 minutes left in the quarter behind Travis Charles and Elliot Dadds meant Kestrels had flipped the script and taken a 46-40 lead. Despite a short response from the Cavaliers, Kestrels went into the break up 1, 49-48.
The lead changed hands several times in the early goings of the 2nd half as Senor II found his scoring rhythm for TSK whilst Sylla continued to cause problems for Kestrels inside. Foul trouble for TSK big man Charles, meant he would have to sit out for the 3rd quarter and Sylla took full advantage. The first meaningful run would come with 4 minutes left in the period, as Nick Lewis and Herm Senor sparked an 11-3 burst to push TSK in front 70-62. Lartey would however beat the buzzer to ensure the lead was just 6 heading into the 4th.
Lewis hit a three to open the 4th and Charles came back into the fold to put Kestrels up by double digits at 11, prompting a TVC timeout. The sides traded scores over the ensuing possessions and Louie Kirkman extended the visitors lead to 12 when he scored in close, with a little over 5 minutes to play. The game looked to be out of sight and Kestrels all but home and dry when, with 1:33 on the clock, Elliot Dadds stroked a 3 ball to put his side up 88-76. However Walid Mumuni clanked in a 3 followed by a Sylla alley-oop to reduce the arrears to 7 with 53 second left. Kirkman split a pair of free throws, then TVC would hit back to back to 3’s to bring them within 2 with 23 seconds to play. Dadds would however step to line on two occasions to ice the game and despite a late Sylla lay up, Kestrels held on for a 93-89 victory. The win securing their 2nd National Cup Semi Final appearance in as many seasons.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II who had 23 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds whilst Travis Charles had 21 points and 10 rebounds and Elliot Dadds capped off a fine weekend with 20 points. Thames Valley big man Hakeem Sylla led them with 21 points while American guard Martelle McLemore had 18 points.
Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon was proud of his teams gritty performance; “I felt this game was spoilt by the referee’s lack of man management/consistency, meaning a number of key players for both teams had to sit out extended minutes. I thought we responded well in the 2nd half and we were able to just do enough down the stretch to grind out the win.”
You can check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/1054806/bs.html#ASFSK
TSK will now await the semi final draw where they will face one of Essex Leopards, Hemel Storm or Loughborough Riders on the weekend of the 8/9th December 2018.
Kestrels started the better of the sides with two quick scores from Herm Senor II and Louie Kirkman, whilst Cavaliers split a pair free throws, through Hakeem Sylla, to get on the scoreboard. As expected it would be a cagey affair and neither side were able to establish control early on. TSK took a 4 point lead after Elliot Dadds connected on a three ball, but that would be short lived, as Aiden Saunders replied with a three of his own for the hosts. Cavaliers American guard, Martelle McLemore, would score 9 of his sides next 13 points to edge them in front 19-21. Although Nick Lewis came off the bench to restore the visitors lead, Thames Valley scored the final 5 points of the quarter to go in 22-26 to the good after one.
It would be a back and forth start to the second quarter and that favoured Thames Valley as they got up by as many as 9 points early on. A short 7-2 run for TSK in response prompted a TVC timeout but they would weather the run immediately as Prince Lartey found his way to the basket. An 11-0 run with just 3 minutes left in the quarter behind Travis Charles and Elliot Dadds meant Kestrels had flipped the script and taken a 46-40 lead. Despite a short response from the Cavaliers, Kestrels went into the break up 1, 49-48.
The lead changed hands several times in the early goings of the 2nd half as Senor II found his scoring rhythm for TSK whilst Sylla continued to cause problems for Kestrels inside. Foul trouble for TSK big man Charles, meant he would have to sit out for the 3rd quarter and Sylla took full advantage. The first meaningful run would come with 4 minutes left in the period, as Nick Lewis and Herm Senor sparked an 11-3 burst to push TSK in front 70-62. Lartey would however beat the buzzer to ensure the lead was just 6 heading into the 4th.
Lewis hit a three to open the 4th and Charles came back into the fold to put Kestrels up by double digits at 11, prompting a TVC timeout. The sides traded scores over the ensuing possessions and Louie Kirkman extended the visitors lead to 12 when he scored in close, with a little over 5 minutes to play. The game looked to be out of sight and Kestrels all but home and dry when, with 1:33 on the clock, Elliot Dadds stroked a 3 ball to put his side up 88-76. However Walid Mumuni clanked in a 3 followed by a Sylla alley-oop to reduce the arrears to 7 with 53 second left. Kirkman split a pair of free throws, then TVC would hit back to back to 3’s to bring them within 2 with 23 seconds to play. Dadds would however step to line on two occasions to ice the game and despite a late Sylla lay up, Kestrels held on for a 93-89 victory. The win securing their 2nd National Cup Semi Final appearance in as many seasons.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II who had 23 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds whilst Travis Charles had 21 points and 10 rebounds and Elliot Dadds capped off a fine weekend with 20 points. Thames Valley big man Hakeem Sylla led them with 21 points while American guard Martelle McLemore had 18 points.
Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon was proud of his teams gritty performance; “I felt this game was spoilt by the referee’s lack of man management/consistency, meaning a number of key players for both teams had to sit out extended minutes. I thought we responded well in the 2nd half and we were able to just do enough down the stretch to grind out the win.”
You can check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/1054806/bs.html#ASFSK
TSK will now await the semi final draw where they will face one of Essex Leopards, Hemel Storm or Loughborough Riders on the weekend of the 8/9th December 2018.
KESTRELS WEATHER STORM TO KEEP UNBEATEN STREAK ALIVE
Image Courtesy | Paul Watts
Saturday evening saw Team Solent Kestrels back at Places Leisure Eastleigh for yet another home game in November, as they welcomed Hemel Storm to the south coast. TSK came in off the back of an impressive performance last time out as they served Derby Trailblazers their first loss of the season, whilst Hemel came in off the back of a loss on the road at Reading. With Hemel’s offensive fire power and hunger for a victory and TSK’s fantastic defensive record this one would be a clash of opposing styles.
TSK had the better of the opening possessions and they found themselves up 6-0 early on after a Louie Kirkman spin move bobbled in. Tom Adorian got one to go off the glass to get Storm’s offensive production started and Bode Adeluola brought them back to within 1, at 7-6. However a 9-2 run for the hosts capped off by Nick Lewis coming off the bench to score at will, prompted the visitors first timeout of the game. Hemel’s dry spell continued post timeout as the lead increased to 21-8 behind an Elliot Dadds triple, they did manage to to get back on the score board before the quarter was up. TSK were in control after one, up 23-12.
Hemel showed why they are one of the leagues top scorers as they came racing out the blocks in the 2nd quarter with an 8-2 run to trim the deficit to just 5, at 25-20. Coach Guymon would call for a timeout to settle his side down, and it did just that. Kestrels found their scoring rhythm again behind Jon Averkamp and another Elliot Dadds three ball. The lead got to as many as 9 before Hemel rallied and when former Team Northumbria guard, Blayne Freckleton, stroked a trademark three they were within 5. Nick Lewis replied with 5 points of his own including a tough turnaround jumper over a heavy contest, before Levi Noel left the visitors within 8 at the half, 37-29.
Tayo Oyefusi cashed in from beyond the arc as Kestrels started the 2nd half in dominant fashion, before Louie Kirkman cleaned up a Senor II miss, to put the hosts up 42-29. Kestrels would continue to extend the lead this time through Dadds and a Senor II lay up, however Levi Noel and Freckleton ensured that TSK would not go out of sight as Storm hit back. Adeluola reduced the deficit to just 6 points at 46-40 mid way through the third quarter but that would be as close as they would get for the quarter. The sides traded baskets to close the period, as Chris Scarlett converted on a baseline drive for two, restoring a double digit lead for TSK at 54-44.
Hemel started the 4th with plenty of fight and sparked a 6-0 run early on to bring them with 4. However a 7-2 run in reply for the home team Kestrels, behind a Louie Kirkman and-1, meant they would retake a 9 point lead with 5 minutes left. A massive 17-6 swing to close the game out for TSK saw them run out 76-56 winners and keep their undefeated streak alive, moving them to 8-0 on the regular season.
Kestrels were led by Elliot Dadds who had 22 points on 8-12 shooting, he was backed up by Nick Lewis’ 13 points and Herm Senor’s 12. Hemel Storm forward Leome Francis had 14 points off the bench whilst Bode Adeluola chipped in 12 and Levi Noel had 10.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon gave his thoughts on another win for his side; “I thought our defensive focus was great tonight. Hemel are one of the higher scoring teams in the league, so to hold them to 58, shows how locked in our guys were. We still need to be more clinical on the offensive end, but this will come as the new guys become moe integrated into the system.”
You can check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988743/bs.html
TSK had the better of the opening possessions and they found themselves up 6-0 early on after a Louie Kirkman spin move bobbled in. Tom Adorian got one to go off the glass to get Storm’s offensive production started and Bode Adeluola brought them back to within 1, at 7-6. However a 9-2 run for the hosts capped off by Nick Lewis coming off the bench to score at will, prompted the visitors first timeout of the game. Hemel’s dry spell continued post timeout as the lead increased to 21-8 behind an Elliot Dadds triple, they did manage to to get back on the score board before the quarter was up. TSK were in control after one, up 23-12.
Hemel showed why they are one of the leagues top scorers as they came racing out the blocks in the 2nd quarter with an 8-2 run to trim the deficit to just 5, at 25-20. Coach Guymon would call for a timeout to settle his side down, and it did just that. Kestrels found their scoring rhythm again behind Jon Averkamp and another Elliot Dadds three ball. The lead got to as many as 9 before Hemel rallied and when former Team Northumbria guard, Blayne Freckleton, stroked a trademark three they were within 5. Nick Lewis replied with 5 points of his own including a tough turnaround jumper over a heavy contest, before Levi Noel left the visitors within 8 at the half, 37-29.
Tayo Oyefusi cashed in from beyond the arc as Kestrels started the 2nd half in dominant fashion, before Louie Kirkman cleaned up a Senor II miss, to put the hosts up 42-29. Kestrels would continue to extend the lead this time through Dadds and a Senor II lay up, however Levi Noel and Freckleton ensured that TSK would not go out of sight as Storm hit back. Adeluola reduced the deficit to just 6 points at 46-40 mid way through the third quarter but that would be as close as they would get for the quarter. The sides traded baskets to close the period, as Chris Scarlett converted on a baseline drive for two, restoring a double digit lead for TSK at 54-44.
Hemel started the 4th with plenty of fight and sparked a 6-0 run early on to bring them with 4. However a 7-2 run in reply for the home team Kestrels, behind a Louie Kirkman and-1, meant they would retake a 9 point lead with 5 minutes left. A massive 17-6 swing to close the game out for TSK saw them run out 76-56 winners and keep their undefeated streak alive, moving them to 8-0 on the regular season.
Kestrels were led by Elliot Dadds who had 22 points on 8-12 shooting, he was backed up by Nick Lewis’ 13 points and Herm Senor’s 12. Hemel Storm forward Leome Francis had 14 points off the bench whilst Bode Adeluola chipped in 12 and Levi Noel had 10.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon gave his thoughts on another win for his side; “I thought our defensive focus was great tonight. Hemel are one of the higher scoring teams in the league, so to hold them to 58, shows how locked in our guys were. We still need to be more clinical on the offensive end, but this will come as the new guys become moe integrated into the system.”
You can check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988743/bs.html
TSK KEEP TOP SPOT AND STAY UNDEFEATED AFTER WIN OVER DERBY
Saturday saw the battle of the undefeated for the second consecutive weekend at Places Leisure Eastleigh, Team Solent Kestrels welcomed Derby Trailblazers as both teams put their winning streaks on the line. Kestrels came in full of confidence as they saw off a very talented Worthing team last time out, to take top spot in NBL D1. Whilst Derby were also in good spirits as their trip east last weekend resulted in two victories, over Essex and Barking Abbey respectively. Adding to the excitement for the home fans was a chance to see both new signings in the line up together for the first time, after both featuring separately last weekend.
It was Kestrels new big man Travis Charles who got things underway with a jumper early on but Derby’s American duo of Malcolm Smith (previously of Team Northumbria) and Tre-Shawn Wilford replied instantly to put them up 2-4 with two minutes played. The East Midlands outfit had the better of the opening possessions and when Kayne King converted his first lay up, he would give the visitors a 3-8 advantage. TSK would rally to tie things up at 10, after an Elliot Dadds 3 pointer and Charles would edge them in front on the next possession after Herm Senor II found him for the easy two. The lead would swing back and forth a number of times before the hosts managed to take a 21-18 lead into the quarter break.
Nick Lewis came off the bench and got things going for TSK in the 2nd quarter, as he sparked a 6-1 run to put the home side up 27-19 and prompt a Coach Shaw timeout for Derby. Whilst the Trailblazers’ Jake Wesselingh hit a three out of the timeout another run from TSK, this time to the tune of 8-2, resulted in a second timeout for the visitors with the score 35-24. A 10-0 run post timeout put Kestrels up by 21 after some fantastic sharp shooting from Nick Lewis, who scored 8 of the 10. Derby did however show why they are undefeated this point, as they weathered the storm and trimmed the deficit to head into the break with Kestrels now leading 50-35.
Smith opened the 2nd half with a quick score for Derby to reduce the arrears to 13. However a 15-0 run followed for TSK and put them firmly back in the driving seat up 65-37, as Senor II and Charles would get going. Wesselingh again stopped the rot for the Trailblazers as he connected from beyond the arc before Elliot Dadds split a pair of free throws. Much like the first half, Derby would again string together a 10-0 run to finish the quarter, behind 7 Wilford points and head into the 4th down just 16, after being behind by as many as 28.
Derby youngster Luke Ptak trimmed the gap to 14 early in the fourth but that would be as close as they would get, as TSK ramped up the intensity and effectively killed the game with a 13-2 run. Louie Kirkman and Charles poured in the points and continued to build the lead for Kestrels, who held the visitors to just 6 points in the final period. Kestrels eventually ran out 89-56 winners keeping their undefeated start to the season alive, moving to 7-0 at the summit of NBL D1.
TSK were led by Nick Lewis’ 21 points, whilst Louie Kirkman and Travis Charles had 16 points each in a very balance scoring load for the hosts. Derby were led by American Malcolm Smith’s 16 points with Tre-Shawn Wilford and Kayne King the only others in double figures with 11 and 10 points respectively.
Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon praised his sides performance; “This was an excellent performance from our guys, especially on the defensive end. Holding the highest scoring team in the league to 56 is a huge statement. We shot the ball very well from 3pt range tonight which I think saved us at times offensively. We now need to focus on our execution over the next few weeks & continue to integrate our new additions.”
You can check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988730/bs.html
League leading Team Solent Kestrels now turn their attention to another double header weekend that will see them welcome high scoring Hemel Storm to Places Leisure Eastleigh next Saturday evening, 8pm tip off. Before they make the short journey to Thames Valley Cavaliers in the National Cup Quarter Finals on Sunday, 3pm tip off at Uxbridge College.
It was Kestrels new big man Travis Charles who got things underway with a jumper early on but Derby’s American duo of Malcolm Smith (previously of Team Northumbria) and Tre-Shawn Wilford replied instantly to put them up 2-4 with two minutes played. The East Midlands outfit had the better of the opening possessions and when Kayne King converted his first lay up, he would give the visitors a 3-8 advantage. TSK would rally to tie things up at 10, after an Elliot Dadds 3 pointer and Charles would edge them in front on the next possession after Herm Senor II found him for the easy two. The lead would swing back and forth a number of times before the hosts managed to take a 21-18 lead into the quarter break.
Nick Lewis came off the bench and got things going for TSK in the 2nd quarter, as he sparked a 6-1 run to put the home side up 27-19 and prompt a Coach Shaw timeout for Derby. Whilst the Trailblazers’ Jake Wesselingh hit a three out of the timeout another run from TSK, this time to the tune of 8-2, resulted in a second timeout for the visitors with the score 35-24. A 10-0 run post timeout put Kestrels up by 21 after some fantastic sharp shooting from Nick Lewis, who scored 8 of the 10. Derby did however show why they are undefeated this point, as they weathered the storm and trimmed the deficit to head into the break with Kestrels now leading 50-35.
Smith opened the 2nd half with a quick score for Derby to reduce the arrears to 13. However a 15-0 run followed for TSK and put them firmly back in the driving seat up 65-37, as Senor II and Charles would get going. Wesselingh again stopped the rot for the Trailblazers as he connected from beyond the arc before Elliot Dadds split a pair of free throws. Much like the first half, Derby would again string together a 10-0 run to finish the quarter, behind 7 Wilford points and head into the 4th down just 16, after being behind by as many as 28.
Derby youngster Luke Ptak trimmed the gap to 14 early in the fourth but that would be as close as they would get, as TSK ramped up the intensity and effectively killed the game with a 13-2 run. Louie Kirkman and Charles poured in the points and continued to build the lead for Kestrels, who held the visitors to just 6 points in the final period. Kestrels eventually ran out 89-56 winners keeping their undefeated start to the season alive, moving to 7-0 at the summit of NBL D1.
TSK were led by Nick Lewis’ 21 points, whilst Louie Kirkman and Travis Charles had 16 points each in a very balance scoring load for the hosts. Derby were led by American Malcolm Smith’s 16 points with Tre-Shawn Wilford and Kayne King the only others in double figures with 11 and 10 points respectively.
Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon praised his sides performance; “This was an excellent performance from our guys, especially on the defensive end. Holding the highest scoring team in the league to 56 is a huge statement. We shot the ball very well from 3pt range tonight which I think saved us at times offensively. We now need to focus on our execution over the next few weeks & continue to integrate our new additions.”
You can check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988730/bs.html
League leading Team Solent Kestrels now turn their attention to another double header weekend that will see them welcome high scoring Hemel Storm to Places Leisure Eastleigh next Saturday evening, 8pm tip off. Before they make the short journey to Thames Valley Cavaliers in the National Cup Quarter Finals on Sunday, 3pm tip off at Uxbridge College.
KESTRELS VICTORIOUS IN BATTLE OF UNDEFEATED
Sunday lunch time saw game number two of double header weekend for TSK as they welcomed local south coast side Worthing Thunder to Places Leisure Eastleigh, in a match up of two undefeated sides in NBL D1 action. TSK came in off the back of a convincing win on Saturday evening over Manchester Magic, whilst Worthing had made the long trip to Bradford on Saturday where they came away with a 14 point victory over the Yorkshire outfit. With 40 minutes of basketball already in both sides legs, this would be a battle of mental and physical toughness. The game would see TSK new signing Travis Charles make his debut in front of the home crowd and the 6’6 forward would be keen to stamp his mark early on in his rookie season. Also adding to the intrigue of this match up, would be the controversial ruling around Nick Lewis not being able to feature against his previous team; there will be full details of that coming soon.
Kestrels came storming out of the gates in this one as Herm Senor II punished Worthing’s trade mark gambling defence with back to back scores and Louie Kirkman also added 4 quick points to force an early Thunder timeout. The visitors made some adjustments post time out and got themselves off the mark behind Alex Owumi and Tom Ward. Thunder pulled within two as Ward scored 5 unanswered but an 10-1 run to close the quarter behind some more sharp shooting from Senor II and Chris Scarlett, left TSK 24-13 to the good, after one.
The visitors trimmed the gap to just 5 early on in the 2nd, but Tayo Oyefusi restored order as he stroked a 3 ball to put Kestrels up 27-18 around the 7 minutes mark. Thunder then kicked into gear and a 14-2 run with a number of guys hitting the 3 ball would see them edge in front 29-32. Zaire Taylor would extend the lead to 5 at the line but Louie Kirkman weathered the onslaught as he converted on an and-1 to bring Kestrels back to within 2 with just 2 minutes left in the half. Worthing rallied and managed to string together a 7-2 run to close the half and pushed their advantage to 7 at the break, up 34-41.
Former Kestrels Guard, Jorge Ebanks, started the 2nd half with a triple to briefly extend the gap to double figures at 10. However, a quick 11-0 run for the hosts behind Senor II and Travis Charles saw them edge in front by 1 with only 3 minutes played in the half. Thunder quelled the fast start from TSK and managed to score 5 straight in reply to retake a 4 point lead through the mid point of the period. Kestrels edged back in front through Charles who converted on an and-1 opportunity but Brendan Okoronkwo tied proceedings back up at 51. TSK finished the quarter on an 8-1 to regain control of the ball game and take a 59-52 lead into the 4th quarter.
A quick 4-0 run for the hosts put them up 11 early on in the final period, but Okoronkwo pulled his side back within 5 with 4:30 on the clock, after his three pointer was good. Not to be out done though, Kestrels sharpshooter, Chris Scarlett, connected on a tough contested 3 on the next possession, to leave the game nicely poised for the final 4 minutes. With Kestrels up 69-61, Owumi made a pair of free throws to close the gap to 6 but a monumental offensive tip in from Elliot Dadds gave Kestrels back their 8 point advantage heading into the final 2 minutes. The final two minutes belonged to the hosts as they dominated defensively, forcing Worthing into poor shots and turnovers, resulting in a Senor II coast to coast lay up plus the foul to put this one out of reach with Kestrels 77-65. Despite Okoronkwo knocking down a jumper late, Kestrels held on to pick up the 77-67 victory and move to 6-0 in NBL D1.
TSK were led by Herm Senor II’s 23 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists, whilst Louie Kirkman had 19 points and 5 rebounds and debutant Travis Charles added 18 points and 8 rebounds. Also a special mention to Tayo Oyefusi who had 20 rebounds in the ball game. Worthing Thunder’s Brendan Okoronkwo was their high point man with 15 points whilst Alex Owumi and Tom Ward had 14 and 11 points respectively.
Matt Guymon, Kestrels Head Coach was in jubilant spirits as he commended his sides efforts; “This was a resilient performance from our guys. After starting well, we got ourselves into a hole in the 2nd quarter as our pace slowed and we struggled to attack their match-up zone. The 2nd half we were focused defensively & guarded their key personnel well, this allowed us to play at a faster tempo and ultimately control the game.”
You can check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988731/bs.html
Kestrels now turn their attentions to another undefeated side in Derby Trailblazers, they will match up this coming Saturday 10th November 2018 at Places Leisure Eastleigh, 7:30pm.
Kestrels came storming out of the gates in this one as Herm Senor II punished Worthing’s trade mark gambling defence with back to back scores and Louie Kirkman also added 4 quick points to force an early Thunder timeout. The visitors made some adjustments post time out and got themselves off the mark behind Alex Owumi and Tom Ward. Thunder pulled within two as Ward scored 5 unanswered but an 10-1 run to close the quarter behind some more sharp shooting from Senor II and Chris Scarlett, left TSK 24-13 to the good, after one.
The visitors trimmed the gap to just 5 early on in the 2nd, but Tayo Oyefusi restored order as he stroked a 3 ball to put Kestrels up 27-18 around the 7 minutes mark. Thunder then kicked into gear and a 14-2 run with a number of guys hitting the 3 ball would see them edge in front 29-32. Zaire Taylor would extend the lead to 5 at the line but Louie Kirkman weathered the onslaught as he converted on an and-1 to bring Kestrels back to within 2 with just 2 minutes left in the half. Worthing rallied and managed to string together a 7-2 run to close the half and pushed their advantage to 7 at the break, up 34-41.
Former Kestrels Guard, Jorge Ebanks, started the 2nd half with a triple to briefly extend the gap to double figures at 10. However, a quick 11-0 run for the hosts behind Senor II and Travis Charles saw them edge in front by 1 with only 3 minutes played in the half. Thunder quelled the fast start from TSK and managed to score 5 straight in reply to retake a 4 point lead through the mid point of the period. Kestrels edged back in front through Charles who converted on an and-1 opportunity but Brendan Okoronkwo tied proceedings back up at 51. TSK finished the quarter on an 8-1 to regain control of the ball game and take a 59-52 lead into the 4th quarter.
A quick 4-0 run for the hosts put them up 11 early on in the final period, but Okoronkwo pulled his side back within 5 with 4:30 on the clock, after his three pointer was good. Not to be out done though, Kestrels sharpshooter, Chris Scarlett, connected on a tough contested 3 on the next possession, to leave the game nicely poised for the final 4 minutes. With Kestrels up 69-61, Owumi made a pair of free throws to close the gap to 6 but a monumental offensive tip in from Elliot Dadds gave Kestrels back their 8 point advantage heading into the final 2 minutes. The final two minutes belonged to the hosts as they dominated defensively, forcing Worthing into poor shots and turnovers, resulting in a Senor II coast to coast lay up plus the foul to put this one out of reach with Kestrels 77-65. Despite Okoronkwo knocking down a jumper late, Kestrels held on to pick up the 77-67 victory and move to 6-0 in NBL D1.
TSK were led by Herm Senor II’s 23 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists, whilst Louie Kirkman had 19 points and 5 rebounds and debutant Travis Charles added 18 points and 8 rebounds. Also a special mention to Tayo Oyefusi who had 20 rebounds in the ball game. Worthing Thunder’s Brendan Okoronkwo was their high point man with 15 points whilst Alex Owumi and Tom Ward had 14 and 11 points respectively.
Matt Guymon, Kestrels Head Coach was in jubilant spirits as he commended his sides efforts; “This was a resilient performance from our guys. After starting well, we got ourselves into a hole in the 2nd quarter as our pace slowed and we struggled to attack their match-up zone. The 2nd half we were focused defensively & guarded their key personnel well, this allowed us to play at a faster tempo and ultimately control the game.”
You can check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988731/bs.html
Kestrels now turn their attentions to another undefeated side in Derby Trailblazers, they will match up this coming Saturday 10th November 2018 at Places Leisure Eastleigh, 7:30pm.
HUGE WIN FOR TSK AS THEY STAY UNDEFEATED VS. MAGIC
Image Courtesy | Paul Watts
Team Solent Kestrels played host to a young Manchester Magic side at Places Leisure Eastleigh on Saturday evening. Kestrels we’re looking to keep their undefeated start to the NBL D1 season alive whilst Magic would be hoping to emulate their cup form of last weekend, and get their first victory on the board in league play. It would be also be an opportunity for TSK new signing, Nick Lewis to make his home debut and he definitely did not disappoint the home fans.
Kestrels started the contest much the better side and Jon Averkamp connected from beyond the arc to open the hosts account early on. In fact Kestrels dominant start meant they would find themselves 11-0 to the good with just under 4 minutes played, with American duo Averkamp and Herm Senor II carrying the scoring load. Magic got off the mark through the mid point of the quarter behind their own American big man and Andre Gayle knocked down his first triple to trim the gap to just 7. However a 10-4 run to close the quarter, after some impressive individual play from Nick Lewis off the bench allowed Kestrels to sit firmly in control after one up, 22-9.
Lewis would open the 2nd quarter on an 11-0 run of his own, finding a variety of ways to score the ball for the home side, before Sam Turner capped off a fine fast break for TSK to push the lead to 35-9. Magic captain Josh Houghton weather the storm out of a timeout followed by another Gayle three ball and whilst the visitors did their best to get back in the ball game, they were unable to slow down the scoring fire power of the Kestrels. 44-23 the score at the break.
The teams traded baskets in the early goings of the third quarter and Manchester showed there was still some life left in them as big man Jonathan Barnes scored on back to back possessions. Houghton did trim the deficit to 19 when he connected in a fall away jump shot but Kestrels rallied behind their strong guard play and pushed the advantage back to 23. Jeremy Sochan came off the bench to show why he is deserving of valuable minutes at this level and got himself on the score sheet almost immediately. Lewis and Magic’s Gayle traded 3 balls to close the quarter before Louie Kirkman scored with just seconds left to increase the gap to 26 at, 64-38 after 3.
Magic would give their younger players the opportunity to play extended minutes in the final period but TSK’s very own youngster Sochan scored 7 straight points including an alley-oop, on a dime from Averkamp, to send the home crowd wild and extend the lead to 30. This would all be in the midst of a 16-3 run to open up the 4th and by the time the 5 minute mark came about Kestrels had ballooned the deficit to 39, 80-41. Despite Manchester’s best efforts, Kestrels experience would see them cruise to victory and see the game out down the stretch, 89-49 victory for the hosts.
Kestrels were led by Nick Lewis who posted 31 points, 5 steals and 4 rebounds on his home debut, while Jon Averkamp had 19 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists and big man Sam Turner had 10 points off the bench. Magic were led by guard Andre Gayle who had 16 points with Jonathan Barnes and Saul May adding 9 a piece.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon praised his sides professional performance; “Tonight was a clinical performance from our guys at both ends of the floor. It was great that everyone got to contribute, which really shows our depth this season. Our defensive energy and execution was excellent in large part and that really fuelled us.”
You can check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988719/
Kestrels started the contest much the better side and Jon Averkamp connected from beyond the arc to open the hosts account early on. In fact Kestrels dominant start meant they would find themselves 11-0 to the good with just under 4 minutes played, with American duo Averkamp and Herm Senor II carrying the scoring load. Magic got off the mark through the mid point of the quarter behind their own American big man and Andre Gayle knocked down his first triple to trim the gap to just 7. However a 10-4 run to close the quarter, after some impressive individual play from Nick Lewis off the bench allowed Kestrels to sit firmly in control after one up, 22-9.
Lewis would open the 2nd quarter on an 11-0 run of his own, finding a variety of ways to score the ball for the home side, before Sam Turner capped off a fine fast break for TSK to push the lead to 35-9. Magic captain Josh Houghton weather the storm out of a timeout followed by another Gayle three ball and whilst the visitors did their best to get back in the ball game, they were unable to slow down the scoring fire power of the Kestrels. 44-23 the score at the break.
The teams traded baskets in the early goings of the third quarter and Manchester showed there was still some life left in them as big man Jonathan Barnes scored on back to back possessions. Houghton did trim the deficit to 19 when he connected in a fall away jump shot but Kestrels rallied behind their strong guard play and pushed the advantage back to 23. Jeremy Sochan came off the bench to show why he is deserving of valuable minutes at this level and got himself on the score sheet almost immediately. Lewis and Magic’s Gayle traded 3 balls to close the quarter before Louie Kirkman scored with just seconds left to increase the gap to 26 at, 64-38 after 3.
Magic would give their younger players the opportunity to play extended minutes in the final period but TSK’s very own youngster Sochan scored 7 straight points including an alley-oop, on a dime from Averkamp, to send the home crowd wild and extend the lead to 30. This would all be in the midst of a 16-3 run to open up the 4th and by the time the 5 minute mark came about Kestrels had ballooned the deficit to 39, 80-41. Despite Manchester’s best efforts, Kestrels experience would see them cruise to victory and see the game out down the stretch, 89-49 victory for the hosts.
Kestrels were led by Nick Lewis who posted 31 points, 5 steals and 4 rebounds on his home debut, while Jon Averkamp had 19 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists and big man Sam Turner had 10 points off the bench. Magic were led by guard Andre Gayle who had 16 points with Jonathan Barnes and Saul May adding 9 a piece.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon praised his sides professional performance; “Tonight was a clinical performance from our guys at both ends of the floor. It was great that everyone got to contribute, which really shows our depth this season. Our defensive energy and execution was excellent in large part and that really fuelled us.”
You can check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988719/
KESTRELS BOOK QUARTER FINAL SPOT AFTER CUP WIN IN NEWCASTLE
Image Courtesy | Joe Pinchin
After picking up a hard fought victory at Loughborough on Saturday evening, TSK continued their journey North on Sunday to face Team Newcastle for a spot in the National Cup Quarter Finals. Whilst Kestrels played on Saturday evening, Team Newcastle faced Worthing Thunder on the south coast and had to make the journey back through the night for a 2pm Sunday tip off.
Kestrels started the better of the two sides as Jon Averkamp got to the line for a pair followed by an Elliot Dadds triple. Averkamp and Louie Kirkman scored back to back mid way through the first quarter and that put the visitors up 15-9. However some sharpshooting from the hosts kept them right within striking distance and after 4 three’s in the quarter they would cut the Kestrels lead to just 2 at 21-19 after one.
Chris Scarlett came off the bench to get in on the three point shooting act going back to back to start the 2nd, but Fuentes for Newcastle ensured that their hot start from beyond the arc continued in reply. A 7-0 run for the hosts gave them the boost they needed and reduced the deficit to just 2 but a Coach Guymon timeout would steady the ship and Kestrels would blow the game open with a 14-2 run behind 6 Averkamp points leaving them 45-31 to the good. Herm Senor II capped off the half with a 3 ball to leave the TSK with a 48-34 lead.
Both teams exchanged blows early in the second half, as they both found success from beyond the arc, through Dadds and Hanson respectively and the lead stayed at 14 for much of the opening stages. A 9-0 for TSK however ballooned their lead to 21 at 64-43 capped off with a Nick Lewis three ball. Lewis scored Kestrels final 7 points of the quarter as Kestrels held an 18 point advantage heading into the 4th.
A 10-1 run to get the 4th underway for the visitors ultimately put this one out of site, as they got up 78-51. Jeremy Sochan scored 8 straight points as Kestrels continued to find the their way to the basket, despite Newcastle’s best efforts. TSK eventually ran out 94-68 winners and booked their spot in the Quarter Finals of the National Cup, where they will travel to Thames Valley Cavaliers on Sunday 18th November 2018.
Kestrels were led by Nick Lewis’ 14 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists whilst 5 other players featured in double figures including Louie Kirkman double double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. Newcastle’s Onyekachi Nzerem had 28 points and David Hanson backed him up with 20 points.
Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon added; “It was great to secure back to back wins this weekend. Newcastle were missing a number of key guys, so credit to them for competing the way they did under very difficult circumstances. We look forward to moving on and playing Thames Valley Cavaliers in the quarter finals.”
TSK will now turn their attentions to another double header weekend, as they welcome Manchester Magic to Places Leisure Eastleigh on Saturday evening, 8pm. Followed by Worthing Thunder on Sunday lunch time, 12:30pm.
Kestrels started the better of the two sides as Jon Averkamp got to the line for a pair followed by an Elliot Dadds triple. Averkamp and Louie Kirkman scored back to back mid way through the first quarter and that put the visitors up 15-9. However some sharpshooting from the hosts kept them right within striking distance and after 4 three’s in the quarter they would cut the Kestrels lead to just 2 at 21-19 after one.
Chris Scarlett came off the bench to get in on the three point shooting act going back to back to start the 2nd, but Fuentes for Newcastle ensured that their hot start from beyond the arc continued in reply. A 7-0 run for the hosts gave them the boost they needed and reduced the deficit to just 2 but a Coach Guymon timeout would steady the ship and Kestrels would blow the game open with a 14-2 run behind 6 Averkamp points leaving them 45-31 to the good. Herm Senor II capped off the half with a 3 ball to leave the TSK with a 48-34 lead.
Both teams exchanged blows early in the second half, as they both found success from beyond the arc, through Dadds and Hanson respectively and the lead stayed at 14 for much of the opening stages. A 9-0 for TSK however ballooned their lead to 21 at 64-43 capped off with a Nick Lewis three ball. Lewis scored Kestrels final 7 points of the quarter as Kestrels held an 18 point advantage heading into the 4th.
A 10-1 run to get the 4th underway for the visitors ultimately put this one out of site, as they got up 78-51. Jeremy Sochan scored 8 straight points as Kestrels continued to find the their way to the basket, despite Newcastle’s best efforts. TSK eventually ran out 94-68 winners and booked their spot in the Quarter Finals of the National Cup, where they will travel to Thames Valley Cavaliers on Sunday 18th November 2018.
Kestrels were led by Nick Lewis’ 14 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists whilst 5 other players featured in double figures including Louie Kirkman double double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. Newcastle’s Onyekachi Nzerem had 28 points and David Hanson backed him up with 20 points.
Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon added; “It was great to secure back to back wins this weekend. Newcastle were missing a number of key guys, so credit to them for competing the way they did under very difficult circumstances. We look forward to moving on and playing Thames Valley Cavaliers in the quarter finals.”
TSK will now turn their attentions to another double header weekend, as they welcome Manchester Magic to Places Leisure Eastleigh on Saturday evening, 8pm. Followed by Worthing Thunder on Sunday lunch time, 12:30pm.
ROAD VICTORY FOR TSK AS THEY OUTLAST RIDERS
Image Courtesy | Joe Pinchin
Team Solent Kestrels hit the road on Saturday to the East Midlands where they would match up with last years NBL D1 champions Loughborough Riders in the first game of their road double header. TSK came in off the back of a convincing win over Nottingham Hoods at Places Leisure Eastleigh last time out, whilst Loughborough saw off Essex Leopards in a high scoring affair.
The game started in typical fashion between the two well coached sides, with the trading of baskets, Jon Averkamp opening the Kestrels account while Jonas Dieterich’s jumper got the hosts on the scoreboard. The lead changed hands several times, until the Riders managed to build a slight 5 points lead at 10-15 after Alex Roberts connected on a triple. A 6-0 run in reply however, saw TSK edge back in front when Herm Senor II got to the hoop for the score in close. It ended all square at 19 at the end of one as both sides missed on a number of attempts in the final minutes of the quarter.
Kestrels opened the 2nd quarter with an 8-0 scoring run as debutant Nick Lewis got his first TSK points with the hoop and the harm. Riders showed some respite as they trimmed the deficit to 4 but that would be short lived as another meaningful run from the visitors, capped off by Tayo Oyefusi free throws, left them up 11 with just under 4 minutes until the break. Herm Senor II and Sam Turner combined to increase the gap to 13 but after Loughborough’s Kyle Jimenez sunk a pair of free throws, Kestrels went into the half up 43-32.
The hosts came out of the half time break with a renewed focus and a 10-4 run in their favour brought them to within 5 at 47-42. Kestrels regrouped almost immediately and responded with a 6-0 run to restore the advantage and force a Coach Jarram timeout for the Riders. Post timeout TSK took their biggest lead of the game at 18, after Lewis and Senor II stroked a three ball each. In a period of runs, Loughborough would not be done as Thomas Yome and Kyle Jimenez combined to string an 8-0 stint together to pull their side back within 10 points heading into the 4th, 67-57 TSK.
American big man, Averkamp, opened proceedings in 4th but would be matched by a Reis Pinnock lay up on the ensuing possession. Riders would momentarily pull to within 8 behind Giannis Panaretakis, but 6 consecutive Kestrels points restored a 14 point gap for the visitors forcing a timeout for the home team. Again swinging the balance of play Riders responded with a short 5-0 run behind Roberts and Niall Harris prompting a Kestrels timeout with the score at 75-66 with 3:53 left in the ball game. The teams traded baskets of the timeout before back to back scores from Elliot Dadds and Louie Kirkman put TSK out of sight 81-68 with less than 2 minutes left. Lucien Christofis stroked a three ball to bring it to 10 but a Coach Jarram Technical, where Senor II made the free throw, followed by a Nick Lewis score wrapped up the victory for Kestrels, 84-71.
Kestrels were led by Jon Averkamp’s 28 points and 8 rebounds whilst Herm Senor II had 19 points and 7 assists, with captain Louie Kirkman adding 11 on his return to the side. Loughborough’s Alex Roberts and Niall Harris had 13 points a piece to lead their balanced attack.
Matt Guymon, TSK’s Head Coach gave us his thoughts on the win; “It was great to finally pick up a win at Loughborough. I thought we were very good for spells but our game control allowed the Riders to keep the pressure on us until the final minutes. I’m pleased with how this group is coming together and it’s great to see so many guys contributing at both ends of the floor.”
You can check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988714/
The game started in typical fashion between the two well coached sides, with the trading of baskets, Jon Averkamp opening the Kestrels account while Jonas Dieterich’s jumper got the hosts on the scoreboard. The lead changed hands several times, until the Riders managed to build a slight 5 points lead at 10-15 after Alex Roberts connected on a triple. A 6-0 run in reply however, saw TSK edge back in front when Herm Senor II got to the hoop for the score in close. It ended all square at 19 at the end of one as both sides missed on a number of attempts in the final minutes of the quarter.
Kestrels opened the 2nd quarter with an 8-0 scoring run as debutant Nick Lewis got his first TSK points with the hoop and the harm. Riders showed some respite as they trimmed the deficit to 4 but that would be short lived as another meaningful run from the visitors, capped off by Tayo Oyefusi free throws, left them up 11 with just under 4 minutes until the break. Herm Senor II and Sam Turner combined to increase the gap to 13 but after Loughborough’s Kyle Jimenez sunk a pair of free throws, Kestrels went into the half up 43-32.
The hosts came out of the half time break with a renewed focus and a 10-4 run in their favour brought them to within 5 at 47-42. Kestrels regrouped almost immediately and responded with a 6-0 run to restore the advantage and force a Coach Jarram timeout for the Riders. Post timeout TSK took their biggest lead of the game at 18, after Lewis and Senor II stroked a three ball each. In a period of runs, Loughborough would not be done as Thomas Yome and Kyle Jimenez combined to string an 8-0 stint together to pull their side back within 10 points heading into the 4th, 67-57 TSK.
American big man, Averkamp, opened proceedings in 4th but would be matched by a Reis Pinnock lay up on the ensuing possession. Riders would momentarily pull to within 8 behind Giannis Panaretakis, but 6 consecutive Kestrels points restored a 14 point gap for the visitors forcing a timeout for the home team. Again swinging the balance of play Riders responded with a short 5-0 run behind Roberts and Niall Harris prompting a Kestrels timeout with the score at 75-66 with 3:53 left in the ball game. The teams traded baskets of the timeout before back to back scores from Elliot Dadds and Louie Kirkman put TSK out of sight 81-68 with less than 2 minutes left. Lucien Christofis stroked a three ball to bring it to 10 but a Coach Jarram Technical, where Senor II made the free throw, followed by a Nick Lewis score wrapped up the victory for Kestrels, 84-71.
Kestrels were led by Jon Averkamp’s 28 points and 8 rebounds whilst Herm Senor II had 19 points and 7 assists, with captain Louie Kirkman adding 11 on his return to the side. Loughborough’s Alex Roberts and Niall Harris had 13 points a piece to lead their balanced attack.
Matt Guymon, TSK’s Head Coach gave us his thoughts on the win; “It was great to finally pick up a win at Loughborough. I thought we were very good for spells but our game control allowed the Riders to keep the pressure on us until the final minutes. I’m pleased with how this group is coming together and it’s great to see so many guys contributing at both ends of the floor.”
You can check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988714/
KESTRELS MOVE TO 3-0 AFTER DOMINATE DISPLAY OVER HOODS
Image Courtesy | Kelsi Laird
Team Solent Kestrels continued their NBL D1 campaign on Saturday evening when they welcomed newly promoted Nottingham McDonalds Hoods to Place Leisure Eastleigh. TSK came in off the back of two wins on a double header weekend last time out whilst Hoods comfortably defeated D1 returnees Essex Leopards. With both teams missing influential starters it would be a battle of strength in numbers for the victorious side.
Kestrels started on a 4-0 run however whilst they held Hoods scoreless over the first 4 minutes of action, struggled to find convert on a number of high percentage looks. Out of an early TO the visitors did get off the mark behind American big man Cole Welle. However a 7-0 run followed for TSK behind back to back Jon Averkamp dunks which put the home town side up 11-2 with 4 minutes left in the 1st. A short response saw the East Midlands outfit cut the gap to 7 but but Brandon Holloway and Chris Scarlett came in off the bench to leave Kestrels up 17-8 after 1.
The hosts pushed the deficit to 14 early on in the 2nd quarter after another Scarlett triple, but an almost 3 minute scoreless spell for both sides meant the lead stayed at 14 mid way through the period. There would be some respite for the Hoods as they trimmed the gap to just 7 points at 26-19 after Delaney Powell connected from beyond the arc but would all be short lived as Tayo Oyefusi replied on the next possession. 15 year old TSK prospect Jeremy Sochan came into the game with 3 minutes to play in the half and almost instantly got himself on the scoresheet after sinking a pair at the charity stripe to increase the deficit to 12. The teams traded baskets to close the half which meant Kestrels went into the break 35-26 to the good.
An 11-0 run to get things going in the 2nd half jumped the Kestrels lead out to 20 and a clear shift in momentum for the hosts. The Kestrels starting group really ramping up the defensive intensity leading to several transition scores for Elliot Dadds, Herm Senor II and Scarlett. Powell stopped the rot for the travelling Hoods but the game would continue to move further out of reach as Elliot Dadds converted on an and-1 opportunity to increase the gap to 23, at 53-30. Scarlett scored 5 more points to close the period and Kestrels were well and truly in charge 58-34.
Kestrels would jump out to as much as a 28 point lead in stages of the final period, despite Hoods hitting from beyond the arc through Aaron Maher and Cole Welle continuing to score, Kestrels were in control for the final 10 minutes. The exclamation point was Sochan going coast to coast for a two handed flush with the 15 year old hot shot sending the TSK crowd into a frenzy down the stretch. Kestrels move to 3-0 in NBL D1 finishing up 74-50 victors.
TSK were led by Herm Senor II’s 20 points and 11 assists, while Jon Averkamp posted 14 points and 11 rebounds of his own. Chris Scarlett added 13 points in his first start of the season. Hoods guard Luke Mitchell had 11 points for the visitors whilst American big man, Cole Welle, had 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Matt Guymon, Kestrels Head coach commented this on his sides performance; “I’m so proud of how our guys locked in defensively and really stuck together for 40 minutes tonight. We will continue to focus on our offensive execution, but overall I felt this was a big step in the right direction for the group. Without our captain, Louie Kirkman who welcomed the birth of his new born daughter, guys stepped up with key contributions across the board.”
TSK now turn their attention to a very tricky road double header as they travel to Loughborough Student Riders on Saturday afternoon in NBL D1 action before heading further north on Sunday as they look to advance to the next round of the National Cup vs. Team Newcastle University.
Kestrels started on a 4-0 run however whilst they held Hoods scoreless over the first 4 minutes of action, struggled to find convert on a number of high percentage looks. Out of an early TO the visitors did get off the mark behind American big man Cole Welle. However a 7-0 run followed for TSK behind back to back Jon Averkamp dunks which put the home town side up 11-2 with 4 minutes left in the 1st. A short response saw the East Midlands outfit cut the gap to 7 but but Brandon Holloway and Chris Scarlett came in off the bench to leave Kestrels up 17-8 after 1.
The hosts pushed the deficit to 14 early on in the 2nd quarter after another Scarlett triple, but an almost 3 minute scoreless spell for both sides meant the lead stayed at 14 mid way through the period. There would be some respite for the Hoods as they trimmed the gap to just 7 points at 26-19 after Delaney Powell connected from beyond the arc but would all be short lived as Tayo Oyefusi replied on the next possession. 15 year old TSK prospect Jeremy Sochan came into the game with 3 minutes to play in the half and almost instantly got himself on the scoresheet after sinking a pair at the charity stripe to increase the deficit to 12. The teams traded baskets to close the half which meant Kestrels went into the break 35-26 to the good.
An 11-0 run to get things going in the 2nd half jumped the Kestrels lead out to 20 and a clear shift in momentum for the hosts. The Kestrels starting group really ramping up the defensive intensity leading to several transition scores for Elliot Dadds, Herm Senor II and Scarlett. Powell stopped the rot for the travelling Hoods but the game would continue to move further out of reach as Elliot Dadds converted on an and-1 opportunity to increase the gap to 23, at 53-30. Scarlett scored 5 more points to close the period and Kestrels were well and truly in charge 58-34.
Kestrels would jump out to as much as a 28 point lead in stages of the final period, despite Hoods hitting from beyond the arc through Aaron Maher and Cole Welle continuing to score, Kestrels were in control for the final 10 minutes. The exclamation point was Sochan going coast to coast for a two handed flush with the 15 year old hot shot sending the TSK crowd into a frenzy down the stretch. Kestrels move to 3-0 in NBL D1 finishing up 74-50 victors.
TSK were led by Herm Senor II’s 20 points and 11 assists, while Jon Averkamp posted 14 points and 11 rebounds of his own. Chris Scarlett added 13 points in his first start of the season. Hoods guard Luke Mitchell had 11 points for the visitors whilst American big man, Cole Welle, had 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Matt Guymon, Kestrels Head coach commented this on his sides performance; “I’m so proud of how our guys locked in defensively and really stuck together for 40 minutes tonight. We will continue to focus on our offensive execution, but overall I felt this was a big step in the right direction for the group. Without our captain, Louie Kirkman who welcomed the birth of his new born daughter, guys stepped up with key contributions across the board.”
TSK now turn their attention to a very tricky road double header as they travel to Loughborough Student Riders on Saturday afternoon in NBL D1 action before heading further north on Sunday as they look to advance to the next round of the National Cup vs. Team Newcastle University.
TSK ADVANCE TO THE 4TH ROUND AFTER LATE SCARE
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Team Solent Kestrels kicked off their National Cup campaign with a third round tie on Sunday evening at Places Leisure Eastleigh when they played host to Bristol Hurricanes. The Hurricanes a Division 4 side, would have a heavy Lithuanian presence in their line up and were certainly ready for an upset. Kestrels came into Sundays match up fresh off a 22 points victory over Barking Abbey Crusaders on the road.
The game started in sluggish fashion with the visitors having the better of the opening play finding themselves top 5-7 after Paplovuchinas stroked a three pointer. Peter Turay came off the bench to edge Kestrels back in front at 11-10 and back to back Elliot Dadds scores pushed the hosts in front by 5. Chris Scarlett also came off the bench to keep the scoreboard ticking over and he scored 5 points to close the quarter with TSK in front 20-14.
Scarlett continued his sharpshooting to begin the 2nd quarter giving TSK their biggest lead yet at 9 but Hurricanes stand out guard Kosarevas scored on back to back drives to leave his side down 23-18. The sides traded baskets for much of the 2nd period with Kestrels increasing the lead to 8 but Hurricanes continuing to hand around with short runs to keep them within touching distance. TSK led at the break 38-34.
Hurricanes pulled within 1 point early on in the second half prompting a Kestrels timeout and a 12-4 run out of the TO restored the advantage for the hosts behind Sam Turner and Herm Senor II. Back to back triples from the visitors pulled them with 6 and despite traded blows to finish the quarter the gap would remain that way heading into the 4th, TSK 60-54 to the good.
An 8-2 run for Bristol meant this one was going down to the wire with the sides tied at 62 with just 6 minutes left in the ball game and an upset very much on the cards. However some poor decision making from the visitors left them in the penalty with over 4 minutes to play as Kirkman and Turner capitalised on this. Kestrels showed the quality and professionalism down the stretch to close the game out behind Herm Senor II who scored 6 straight to put the D4 outfit out of sight, Kestrels advancing with a 79-69 victory.
TSK were led by Louie Kirkman’s 21 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals, whilst Elliot Dadds had 16 and Herm Senor II had 15 points , 7 assists and 6 rebounds. Hurricanes were led by Kosarevas who had 21 points but was later ejected for a double technical and back court duo Andriekus and Armonas had 16 and 12 respectively.
Matt Guymon, TSK Head Coach commented this on his sides performance; “It was a tough game for us today against a very talented D4 team. I thought for the most part we were very solid defensively, but we now need to refocus on our ball movement/spacing/execution offensively so that we are able to create higher percentage scoring options. I am pleased we are able to advance in the cup and secure 2 wins this weekend.”
Kestrels now advance to the fourth round where they will face Team Newcastle University on the road on Sunday 28th October 2018. However in the mean time the team will turn their attentions to next Saturday evening when they will play host to another NBL D1 new comer in Nottingham Hoods at Places Leisure Centre, 7:30pm tip off.
The game started in sluggish fashion with the visitors having the better of the opening play finding themselves top 5-7 after Paplovuchinas stroked a three pointer. Peter Turay came off the bench to edge Kestrels back in front at 11-10 and back to back Elliot Dadds scores pushed the hosts in front by 5. Chris Scarlett also came off the bench to keep the scoreboard ticking over and he scored 5 points to close the quarter with TSK in front 20-14.
Scarlett continued his sharpshooting to begin the 2nd quarter giving TSK their biggest lead yet at 9 but Hurricanes stand out guard Kosarevas scored on back to back drives to leave his side down 23-18. The sides traded baskets for much of the 2nd period with Kestrels increasing the lead to 8 but Hurricanes continuing to hand around with short runs to keep them within touching distance. TSK led at the break 38-34.
Hurricanes pulled within 1 point early on in the second half prompting a Kestrels timeout and a 12-4 run out of the TO restored the advantage for the hosts behind Sam Turner and Herm Senor II. Back to back triples from the visitors pulled them with 6 and despite traded blows to finish the quarter the gap would remain that way heading into the 4th, TSK 60-54 to the good.
An 8-2 run for Bristol meant this one was going down to the wire with the sides tied at 62 with just 6 minutes left in the ball game and an upset very much on the cards. However some poor decision making from the visitors left them in the penalty with over 4 minutes to play as Kirkman and Turner capitalised on this. Kestrels showed the quality and professionalism down the stretch to close the game out behind Herm Senor II who scored 6 straight to put the D4 outfit out of sight, Kestrels advancing with a 79-69 victory.
TSK were led by Louie Kirkman’s 21 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals, whilst Elliot Dadds had 16 and Herm Senor II had 15 points , 7 assists and 6 rebounds. Hurricanes were led by Kosarevas who had 21 points but was later ejected for a double technical and back court duo Andriekus and Armonas had 16 and 12 respectively.
Matt Guymon, TSK Head Coach commented this on his sides performance; “It was a tough game for us today against a very talented D4 team. I thought for the most part we were very solid defensively, but we now need to refocus on our ball movement/spacing/execution offensively so that we are able to create higher percentage scoring options. I am pleased we are able to advance in the cup and secure 2 wins this weekend.”
Kestrels now advance to the fourth round where they will face Team Newcastle University on the road on Sunday 28th October 2018. However in the mean time the team will turn their attentions to next Saturday evening when they will play host to another NBL D1 new comer in Nottingham Hoods at Places Leisure Centre, 7:30pm tip off.
KESTRELS VICTORIOUS AFTER HUGE 4TH QUARTER
Image Courtesy | Graham Hodges
Team Solent Kestrels made the trip to East London on Saturday lunch time to face Barking Abbey Crusaders in their first road action of the regular season. With the sides having already met once this season in the National Trophy both teams would be familiar with one another heading into this one. TSK came out on top at Places Leisure Eastleigh two weekends previous, however with Barking picking up a win behind a massive performance from star guard Ade Adebayo Saturdays contest was set to be a much closer affair.
Adebayo opened the scoring from the line for the hosts followed by a Jonathan Brown lay up, to give them quick 0-3 lead after some sloppy Kestrels play. Elliot Dadds and Herm Senor II found scores in transition to lift TSK however and give the visitors a 13-7 lead midway through the quarter. Crusaders closed the gap to just 2 when Robin Bedford came off the bench to hit a pull up jumper but Senor II stroked a 3 ball on the following possession and Kestrels big man Sam Turner went to 1 for 2 at the line to close the quarter, 19-13 TSK.
It was a battle of guard play early on in the 2nd, as Brown converted a lay up to start the period for Crusaders whilst Chris Scarlett and Tautvydas Mieliauskas traded triples. TSK new signing Brandon Holloway also got in on the guard show as he sliced through the Barking zone for a floater in the paint. The home side strung together a 7-2 run to pull them to within 1 and prompt a Coach Guymon timeout, however post timeout it would get worse before it got better as another 7 unanswered points saw Barking’s lead stretch to 6 up 26-32. Senor II scored 4 straight to close the deficit to just 2 points, before some strange refereeing decisions saw the sides living at the free throw line to close the half tied up at 34.
A very slow start to the third quarter with both teams struggling to score meant neither side scoring in the opening three minutes, however it was Jonathan St. Hiliare who stroked a 3 ball to break the deadlock for the hosts. A 7-1 TSK run capped off by a steal and coast to coast lay up by Senor II triggered a Crusaders timeout with the score 41-38 in favour of the visitors. It was Barking’s turn to string a run together to the tune of 6-0 in response to put them 41-44 to the good and after the teams traded baskets to close the quarter Crusaders edged in front 45-48.
Kestrels would fly out of the gate to begin the final period and put together a game changing 14-2 run as a huge shift in momentum left them up 59-50 heading into a Barking timeout. Scottish guard Chris Feeney would stop the run momentarily as he scored out of the timeout but Senor II scored 4 straight and pushed the lead to double figures forcing Coach Lloyd Gardner to use his third and final timeout. Another massive unanswered 10-0 run would ultimately kill the game off for the Kestrels as Jon Averkamp and Elliot Dadds cashed in from beyond the arc. After a massive 34 point haul in the 4th quarter TSK ran out 79-57 winners as the final scoreline did not match up with just how close this one was.
TSK were led by guard duo Herm Senor II and Elliot Dadds who had 29 points and 26 points respectively, Senor II also dishing out 7 assists whilst Dadds snagged 13 rebounds. Barking Abbey guard Robin Bedford was their high point man with 12 points whilst Jonathan Brown and Theo Hughes had 9 each.
“Firstly credit to Barking who did a great job defensively for a large majority of the game. We struggled to find any scoring rhythm for 3 quarters but I was pleased with how our guys responded in the 4th defensively to spark a run that ultimately blew the game open for us. We are looking forward to getting back on the floor at home tomorrow in the cup.”
TSK take on Bristol Hurricanes at Places Leisure Eastleigh in the third round of the National Cup at 6pm on Sunday, come down and bring the noise!
Check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988705/
Adebayo opened the scoring from the line for the hosts followed by a Jonathan Brown lay up, to give them quick 0-3 lead after some sloppy Kestrels play. Elliot Dadds and Herm Senor II found scores in transition to lift TSK however and give the visitors a 13-7 lead midway through the quarter. Crusaders closed the gap to just 2 when Robin Bedford came off the bench to hit a pull up jumper but Senor II stroked a 3 ball on the following possession and Kestrels big man Sam Turner went to 1 for 2 at the line to close the quarter, 19-13 TSK.
It was a battle of guard play early on in the 2nd, as Brown converted a lay up to start the period for Crusaders whilst Chris Scarlett and Tautvydas Mieliauskas traded triples. TSK new signing Brandon Holloway also got in on the guard show as he sliced through the Barking zone for a floater in the paint. The home side strung together a 7-2 run to pull them to within 1 and prompt a Coach Guymon timeout, however post timeout it would get worse before it got better as another 7 unanswered points saw Barking’s lead stretch to 6 up 26-32. Senor II scored 4 straight to close the deficit to just 2 points, before some strange refereeing decisions saw the sides living at the free throw line to close the half tied up at 34.
A very slow start to the third quarter with both teams struggling to score meant neither side scoring in the opening three minutes, however it was Jonathan St. Hiliare who stroked a 3 ball to break the deadlock for the hosts. A 7-1 TSK run capped off by a steal and coast to coast lay up by Senor II triggered a Crusaders timeout with the score 41-38 in favour of the visitors. It was Barking’s turn to string a run together to the tune of 6-0 in response to put them 41-44 to the good and after the teams traded baskets to close the quarter Crusaders edged in front 45-48.
Kestrels would fly out of the gate to begin the final period and put together a game changing 14-2 run as a huge shift in momentum left them up 59-50 heading into a Barking timeout. Scottish guard Chris Feeney would stop the run momentarily as he scored out of the timeout but Senor II scored 4 straight and pushed the lead to double figures forcing Coach Lloyd Gardner to use his third and final timeout. Another massive unanswered 10-0 run would ultimately kill the game off for the Kestrels as Jon Averkamp and Elliot Dadds cashed in from beyond the arc. After a massive 34 point haul in the 4th quarter TSK ran out 79-57 winners as the final scoreline did not match up with just how close this one was.
TSK were led by guard duo Herm Senor II and Elliot Dadds who had 29 points and 26 points respectively, Senor II also dishing out 7 assists whilst Dadds snagged 13 rebounds. Barking Abbey guard Robin Bedford was their high point man with 12 points whilst Jonathan Brown and Theo Hughes had 9 each.
“Firstly credit to Barking who did a great job defensively for a large majority of the game. We struggled to find any scoring rhythm for 3 quarters but I was pleased with how our guys responded in the 4th defensively to spark a run that ultimately blew the game open for us. We are looking forward to getting back on the floor at home tomorrow in the cup.”
TSK take on Bristol Hurricanes at Places Leisure Eastleigh in the third round of the National Cup at 6pm on Sunday, come down and bring the noise!
Check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988705/
SENOR II SINKS CAVALIERS AS TSK PICK UP OPENING NIGHT WIN
Herm Senor II hit the game winning floater with 1.3 seconds left | Image Courtesy Mirror Box Studios
Saturday evening saw the curtain raised on Team Solent Kestrels’ NBL D1 season, as they welcomed newly promoted Thames Valley Cavaliers to Places Leisure Eastleigh. TSK split their games last weekend in the National Trophy defeating Barking Abbey before losing out on the road to Worthing Thunder. Cavaliers came into the match up off the back of a home defeat to local rivals Reading Rockets.
Elliot Dadds opened the scoring for the hosts in what was an extremely closely contested opening stanza with neither side really taking full control. Kestrels strung together a 7-0 run to take a 12-7 lead through the mid-point of the period but Cavaliers tied things up shortly after. The visitors American Martelle McLemore got his eye in as he scored his sides last 7 points of the quarter but a Herm Senor II lay up just before time expired edged TSK in front 20-19 after one.
The 2nd quarter was a period of two halves, as Thames Valley established the first meaningful lead of the game behind a 14-2 run with Hakeem Sylla and Walid Mumuni coming off the bench to get on the scoresheet. With Kestrels down 11 a change of tempo was needed to claw their way back into the game before the half and a Senor II 3 pointer would spark just that. Josh Brown and Elliot Dadds continued the barrage of threes and when Jon Averkamp converted inside to tie the game at 35, Cavaliers called for timeout with their lead wiped out completely just one minute before the break. TSK did edge in front out of the timeout however Andre Baptiste knocked down a triple to see Cavaliers take a 37-38 lead into the half time interval.
A 9-3 run to start the half for the home town Kestrels meant they would hold a slender 5 point advantage through the early part of the 3rd quarter and despite McLemore’s best efforts TSK would build the lead behind Sam Turner and Senor II to 8 and force a Cavaliers timeout. The sides then traded baskets to close out the third with Kestrels now up 56-51 heading into the final period.
Chris Scarlett opened the 4th with a three ball that sent the home crowd into a frenzy but a 6-0 run in reply from the Cavs behind strong play from Baptiste pulled them to within 2. Averkamp scored 4 straight as Senor II continued to find him around the basket but with McLemore heating up once more Cavaliers were still within 1 point with just 4 minutes to play. Prince Lartey edged the visitors in front 65-66 but Averkamp replied out of the ensuing timeout to restore the lead. Both teams came up with scores on their next possessions leaving the game tied at 69. Baptiste had a chance to put his team ahead but came up short, enter Herm Senor II… He let time wind wind down and with 1.3 seconds left connected with a floater to put TSK up 71-69. McLemore would get a good look at a chance to win the game but his shot fell short and Kestrels picked up their first win of the season.
Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II’s 23 points, 9 assist and 6 rebounds, Jon Averkamp backed him up with 16 points and 8 rebounds, whilst Elliot Dadds had 12 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds. Cavaliers American Martelle McLemore had an impressive 27 points and 7 rebounds whilst Andre Baptiste was the only other player in double figures with 13.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon was proud of his sides grit to tough out the win; “I’m so proud of the guys to grind this one out against a talented Thames Valley team. Herm will deservedly take the headlines following his big shot late, but this truly was a team performance with so many guys contributing at critical times at both ends of the floor.”
Kestrels will turn their attention to Barking Abbey Crusaders next Saturday on the road before returning home to Places Leisure Eastleigh on Sunday to take on Bristol Hurricanes in the National Cup (6pm tip off).
Box Score; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988698/bs.html
Elliot Dadds opened the scoring for the hosts in what was an extremely closely contested opening stanza with neither side really taking full control. Kestrels strung together a 7-0 run to take a 12-7 lead through the mid-point of the period but Cavaliers tied things up shortly after. The visitors American Martelle McLemore got his eye in as he scored his sides last 7 points of the quarter but a Herm Senor II lay up just before time expired edged TSK in front 20-19 after one.
The 2nd quarter was a period of two halves, as Thames Valley established the first meaningful lead of the game behind a 14-2 run with Hakeem Sylla and Walid Mumuni coming off the bench to get on the scoresheet. With Kestrels down 11 a change of tempo was needed to claw their way back into the game before the half and a Senor II 3 pointer would spark just that. Josh Brown and Elliot Dadds continued the barrage of threes and when Jon Averkamp converted inside to tie the game at 35, Cavaliers called for timeout with their lead wiped out completely just one minute before the break. TSK did edge in front out of the timeout however Andre Baptiste knocked down a triple to see Cavaliers take a 37-38 lead into the half time interval.
A 9-3 run to start the half for the home town Kestrels meant they would hold a slender 5 point advantage through the early part of the 3rd quarter and despite McLemore’s best efforts TSK would build the lead behind Sam Turner and Senor II to 8 and force a Cavaliers timeout. The sides then traded baskets to close out the third with Kestrels now up 56-51 heading into the final period.
Chris Scarlett opened the 4th with a three ball that sent the home crowd into a frenzy but a 6-0 run in reply from the Cavs behind strong play from Baptiste pulled them to within 2. Averkamp scored 4 straight as Senor II continued to find him around the basket but with McLemore heating up once more Cavaliers were still within 1 point with just 4 minutes to play. Prince Lartey edged the visitors in front 65-66 but Averkamp replied out of the ensuing timeout to restore the lead. Both teams came up with scores on their next possessions leaving the game tied at 69. Baptiste had a chance to put his team ahead but came up short, enter Herm Senor II… He let time wind wind down and with 1.3 seconds left connected with a floater to put TSK up 71-69. McLemore would get a good look at a chance to win the game but his shot fell short and Kestrels picked up their first win of the season.
Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II’s 23 points, 9 assist and 6 rebounds, Jon Averkamp backed him up with 16 points and 8 rebounds, whilst Elliot Dadds had 12 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds. Cavaliers American Martelle McLemore had an impressive 27 points and 7 rebounds whilst Andre Baptiste was the only other player in double figures with 13.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon was proud of his sides grit to tough out the win; “I’m so proud of the guys to grind this one out against a talented Thames Valley team. Herm will deservedly take the headlines following his big shot late, but this truly was a team performance with so many guys contributing at critical times at both ends of the floor.”
Kestrels will turn their attention to Barking Abbey Crusaders next Saturday on the road before returning home to Places Leisure Eastleigh on Sunday to take on Bristol Hurricanes in the National Cup (6pm tip off).
Box Score; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/988698/bs.html
KESTRELS OPEN TROPHY DEFENCE WITH A BIG WIN OVER CRUSADERS
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Team Solent Kestrels got their season underway on Saturday evening as they welcomed Barking Abbey Crusaders to Places Leisure Eastleigh in the National Trophy competition. TSK won the competition last season and would start their defence with a double header, vs. Barking and then on the road at south coast rivals Worthing Thunder on Sunday.
The hosts flew out of the gate with a quick 6-0 run led by American duo Herm Senor II and Jon Averkamp forcing Crusaders into a quick timeout to make some early adjustments. Theo Hughes answered out of the TO for the visitors to get them off the mark but Averkamp responded instantly with another 4 of his own to put TSK up 10-2 just 4 minutes in. The visitors managed to trim the deficit to just 4 at 15-11 after guard Ade Adebayo got his scoring tally of the mark, however Sam Turner came off the bench for Kestrels to score back to back baskets with his side now up 23-15. Crusaders closed the quarter on a 7-2 run to reduce the gap to 3, 23-20.
Both sides traded baskets in the early goings of the second quarter as Turner continued to finish well around the hoop for the home team. A 12-3 run for TSK through the mid point of the period force Crusaders Head Coach Lloyd Gardner into his second timeout with the score out at 39-27. Another 6 unanswered points post TO including 4 more from Averkamp pushed Kestrels to their biggest lead of the half at 18. The visitors did show some resolve as they trimmed the deficit to 15 before the half time interval, Kestrels leading 47-32.
Barking Abbey guard Mieliauskas brought them to within 14 points early in the 2nd half, but Averkamp scored the 11 of his sides first 13 points of the period to balloon the advantage to 61-35. Tayo Oyefusi and James Chute got in on the scoring act as TSK put themselves firmly in the driving seat heading into the 4th quarter up 68-48.
Sharp shooter Chris Scarlett opened the fourth quarter action with three triples in and amongst an Elliot Dadds lay up to push the lead to 29. Adebayo continued to be a handful for the hosts but his efforts would be extinguished as Itchen College big man Peter Turay checked in and got himself straight on the scoreboard with a bucket inside. Kestrels extended the lead further to close the game out, running out 95-60 winners to set up a win and advance game with Worthing Thunder.
TSK were led by Jon Averkamp’s 28 points and 8 rebounds, whilst Herm Senor II had an 11 point/10 assist double double and Chris Scarlett had 12 points off the bench. Barking Abbey’s young line up was spearheaded by Ade Adebayo’s 19 points and 5 rebounds whilst Nathaniel Powell had 9 points and 7 boards.
Matt Guymon, TSK’s Head Coach commented this on his sides victory; “I was proud of how we started our trophy campaign. Our guys were locked in defensively & that led to us being able to play in transition. I thought we had a number of standout performances but it was great to see Jon Averkamp showing his full versatility offensively. We need to recover quickly as we have a tough test tomorrow on the road.”
You can check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/973330/bs.html#ASFSK
The hosts flew out of the gate with a quick 6-0 run led by American duo Herm Senor II and Jon Averkamp forcing Crusaders into a quick timeout to make some early adjustments. Theo Hughes answered out of the TO for the visitors to get them off the mark but Averkamp responded instantly with another 4 of his own to put TSK up 10-2 just 4 minutes in. The visitors managed to trim the deficit to just 4 at 15-11 after guard Ade Adebayo got his scoring tally of the mark, however Sam Turner came off the bench for Kestrels to score back to back baskets with his side now up 23-15. Crusaders closed the quarter on a 7-2 run to reduce the gap to 3, 23-20.
Both sides traded baskets in the early goings of the second quarter as Turner continued to finish well around the hoop for the home team. A 12-3 run for TSK through the mid point of the period force Crusaders Head Coach Lloyd Gardner into his second timeout with the score out at 39-27. Another 6 unanswered points post TO including 4 more from Averkamp pushed Kestrels to their biggest lead of the half at 18. The visitors did show some resolve as they trimmed the deficit to 15 before the half time interval, Kestrels leading 47-32.
Barking Abbey guard Mieliauskas brought them to within 14 points early in the 2nd half, but Averkamp scored the 11 of his sides first 13 points of the period to balloon the advantage to 61-35. Tayo Oyefusi and James Chute got in on the scoring act as TSK put themselves firmly in the driving seat heading into the 4th quarter up 68-48.
Sharp shooter Chris Scarlett opened the fourth quarter action with three triples in and amongst an Elliot Dadds lay up to push the lead to 29. Adebayo continued to be a handful for the hosts but his efforts would be extinguished as Itchen College big man Peter Turay checked in and got himself straight on the scoreboard with a bucket inside. Kestrels extended the lead further to close the game out, running out 95-60 winners to set up a win and advance game with Worthing Thunder.
TSK were led by Jon Averkamp’s 28 points and 8 rebounds, whilst Herm Senor II had an 11 point/10 assist double double and Chris Scarlett had 12 points off the bench. Barking Abbey’s young line up was spearheaded by Ade Adebayo’s 19 points and 5 rebounds whilst Nathaniel Powell had 9 points and 7 boards.
Matt Guymon, TSK’s Head Coach commented this on his sides victory; “I was proud of how we started our trophy campaign. Our guys were locked in defensively & that led to us being able to play in transition. I thought we had a number of standout performances but it was great to see Jon Averkamp showing his full versatility offensively. We need to recover quickly as we have a tough test tomorrow on the road.”
You can check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/973330/bs.html#ASFSK
BACK TO WINNING WAYS FOR TSK IN FINAL PRE SEASON TEST
IMAGE COURTESY | DAMIAN PUDNER
Saturday saw TSK take to the floor for their final pre season preparations as they welcomed NBL Division 2 outfit London Greenhouse Pioneers to Places Leisure Eastleigh. It would serve as a final test before next weekends double header National Trophy action vs. Barking Abbey Crusaders and Worthing Thunder respectively. With the Kestrels facing BBL opposition in their last two outings Pioneers would pose a different kind of match up for the hosts.
Pioneers would open the scoring early through forward Hufschlag, however this served as a wake up for TSK who found second gear pretty quickly stringing together a 12-3 run behind Herm Senor II’s play in transition. Elliot Dadds got in on the scoring act when he converted on a pretty left hand drive, right hand finish before James Chute came off the bench and knocked down a turn around jumper to increase the lead to 17-7. The visiting D2 side showed just why they are one of the stronger outfits in their division as they hit back to back three balls followed by a trip to the line from guard Lazzarotto to bring his side within 2. Ben Maranan went 2 for 2 at the line to close out the quarter with Kestrels up 19-15.
Senor II and Chris Scarlett kicked started the 2nd quarter with a scoring barrage knocking down 3’s and scoring at ease in the open court prompting a Greenhouse timeout with the hosts back in front 26-17. Despite a quick score from Hufschlag out of the timeout it was much of the same from TSK with another Scarlett 3 ball and Jon Averkamp scoring in the paint. Kestrels extended the lead to 17 which triggered another Coach Krneta timeout for the visitors with just 3 minutes left in the half. The sides traded baskets out of the timeout before a 9-4 run to close the half from the hosts meant they held a commanding 52-31 advantage going into the break.
With the scoreline not being a priority for both sides, the second half allowed for each of the sides to try different line up combinations as well as tweak tactical elements on both ends of the floors. Senor II took full advantage scoring the first 10 points of the half for TSK capped off with a pretty and-1. Ben Maranan and big man Sam Turner came off the bench to get in on the scoring act whilst the quarter was capped off with another Senor three ball, Kestrels up 71-44 after 3.
The 4th saw the game slow down, especially for the visitors, playing most of their ball in the half court, with Kestrels limiting them to just 12 points in the period. Scoring didn’t dry up for TSK however with Turner and Senor continuing to extend the lead early on, whilst Maranan got to the line before cashing in from distance to push the lead to over 30. An 8-0 run to close the game meant Kestrels would run out 92-56 winners on the night.
The hosts were led by Herm Senor II’s 31 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds and 3 steals. Whilst Ben Maranan, James Chute and Jon Averkamp all had 11 a piece. London Greenhouse’s Hufschlag led the way with 16 points and guard Mango chipped in 12 points.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say on his sides final pre season performance; “It was great to be back at Places Leisure for our final pre season game against a well coached London Greenhouse Pioneers Team. After a positive week of practice we were able to see improvement in a number of the areas we were focusing on, which will hopefully give us some momentum going into the first week of the season. Pre season has provided us with the opportunity to test ourselves against a range of opposition and were excited to get going next weekend.”
With pre season in the books, it’s time for the games to begin for real now!
Team Solent Kestrels begin their campaign next Saturday 29th September 2018 at Places Leisure Eastleigh when they welcome Barking Abbey Crusaders in the National Trophy, 7:30pm tip off. Come down and make some noise as we start our defence of the trophy…
Pioneers would open the scoring early through forward Hufschlag, however this served as a wake up for TSK who found second gear pretty quickly stringing together a 12-3 run behind Herm Senor II’s play in transition. Elliot Dadds got in on the scoring act when he converted on a pretty left hand drive, right hand finish before James Chute came off the bench and knocked down a turn around jumper to increase the lead to 17-7. The visiting D2 side showed just why they are one of the stronger outfits in their division as they hit back to back three balls followed by a trip to the line from guard Lazzarotto to bring his side within 2. Ben Maranan went 2 for 2 at the line to close out the quarter with Kestrels up 19-15.
Senor II and Chris Scarlett kicked started the 2nd quarter with a scoring barrage knocking down 3’s and scoring at ease in the open court prompting a Greenhouse timeout with the hosts back in front 26-17. Despite a quick score from Hufschlag out of the timeout it was much of the same from TSK with another Scarlett 3 ball and Jon Averkamp scoring in the paint. Kestrels extended the lead to 17 which triggered another Coach Krneta timeout for the visitors with just 3 minutes left in the half. The sides traded baskets out of the timeout before a 9-4 run to close the half from the hosts meant they held a commanding 52-31 advantage going into the break.
With the scoreline not being a priority for both sides, the second half allowed for each of the sides to try different line up combinations as well as tweak tactical elements on both ends of the floors. Senor II took full advantage scoring the first 10 points of the half for TSK capped off with a pretty and-1. Ben Maranan and big man Sam Turner came off the bench to get in on the scoring act whilst the quarter was capped off with another Senor three ball, Kestrels up 71-44 after 3.
The 4th saw the game slow down, especially for the visitors, playing most of their ball in the half court, with Kestrels limiting them to just 12 points in the period. Scoring didn’t dry up for TSK however with Turner and Senor continuing to extend the lead early on, whilst Maranan got to the line before cashing in from distance to push the lead to over 30. An 8-0 run to close the game meant Kestrels would run out 92-56 winners on the night.
The hosts were led by Herm Senor II’s 31 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds and 3 steals. Whilst Ben Maranan, James Chute and Jon Averkamp all had 11 a piece. London Greenhouse’s Hufschlag led the way with 16 points and guard Mango chipped in 12 points.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say on his sides final pre season performance; “It was great to be back at Places Leisure for our final pre season game against a well coached London Greenhouse Pioneers Team. After a positive week of practice we were able to see improvement in a number of the areas we were focusing on, which will hopefully give us some momentum going into the first week of the season. Pre season has provided us with the opportunity to test ourselves against a range of opposition and were excited to get going next weekend.”
With pre season in the books, it’s time for the games to begin for real now!
Team Solent Kestrels begin their campaign next Saturday 29th September 2018 at Places Leisure Eastleigh when they welcome Barking Abbey Crusaders in the National Trophy, 7:30pm tip off. Come down and make some noise as we start our defence of the trophy…
KESTRELS RUN OUT OF STEAM AT BBL RAIDERS IN PRE SEASON
IMAGE COURTESY | DAMIAN PUDNER
Pre season match up number three for TSK, saw them make the long journey down to the South West this past Friday evening to face more BBL opposition, Plymouth Raiders. With a new Head Coach at the helm and a revamped roster, it would provide another stern test for Coach Guymon’s Kestrels as they continue preparation for the new NBL season.
After a slight delay to the action with referee’s held up en route, Kestrels stormed out of the blocks early with Tayo Oyefusi connecting on a corner three ball before Jon Averkamp led the break with a one handed finish. Raiders looked to exert their height advantage in the paint early with Zak Wells and American forward Javis Howard going to work. Another Oyefusi three pointer would start an 11-0 run for TSK mid way through the first quarter and would be capped off by a Herm Senor II triple of his own, the score now at 18-7. Raiders Estonian forward Jarvelainen stopped the rot from beyond the arc, but the Kestrels would hold on to the lead heading into the quarter break up 20-13.
The second was a slower affair, at least for TSK as Jarvelainen continued to shoot the ball well and get to the line for the hosts to trim the deficit. Ben Maranan came in off the bench for the visiting Kestrels to stroke a three but Raiders fought their way back and levelled the scores at 23. The sides would trade baskets to close the half out with Plymouth edging in front now up 29-31.
Jon Averkamp tied up the game with a put back to get things underway for TSK in the 2nd half, followed by a Louie Kirkman steal and dish for an easy two for Senor II. However Josh Wilcher replied instantly for the home team as he scooped to the hoop for an and-1. Raiders attempts to build some momentum behind influential playmaker Donte Nicholas were short lived as back to back triples from Kestrels kept things touch tight through the mid point of the quarter. However an 18-4 run to close out the quarter behind Jarvelainen and Nicholas strong play saw the hosts now in control 47-61 heading into the final period.
The final quarter would be a difficult one for TSK and much the same story as the Flyers match up the previous week. Raiders turned up the pressure defensively and Kestrels did not have much left in the tank to reduce the arrears. Plymouth would run out 59-85 winners in an extremely valuable exercise for both squads.
Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II’s 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists whilst Jon Averkamp added 17 points and 10 rebounds and Tayo Oyefusi chipped in 8 points and 10 rebounds. Plymouth’s American guard Donte Nicholas poured in 24 points and 10 rebounds whilst Joonas Jarvelainen had 22 points and 7 rebounds in as many minutes.
Matt Guymon TSK’s play caller added; “We had another great start, playing fast & getting stops defensively which allowed us to push the ball consistently in transition. We continued to show some excellent spells at both ends throughout the first half against tough BBL opposition but it was a similar story to last week in the second half as we were not able to respond to their runs. The tactical elements I have no concerns that we will get figured out. The challenge for us right now is the lack of fight/toughness when adversity hits us, this is something we will be working to resolve quickly.”
Team Solent Kestrels have their final pre season fixture this weekend as they play host to London Greenhouse Pioneers who are in NBL Division 2, at Places Leisure Eastleigh on Saturday 22nd September. Tip off is 7pm and entry is FREE so come on down and check out the new look TSK before the first meaningful action of the season on the 29th.
After a slight delay to the action with referee’s held up en route, Kestrels stormed out of the blocks early with Tayo Oyefusi connecting on a corner three ball before Jon Averkamp led the break with a one handed finish. Raiders looked to exert their height advantage in the paint early with Zak Wells and American forward Javis Howard going to work. Another Oyefusi three pointer would start an 11-0 run for TSK mid way through the first quarter and would be capped off by a Herm Senor II triple of his own, the score now at 18-7. Raiders Estonian forward Jarvelainen stopped the rot from beyond the arc, but the Kestrels would hold on to the lead heading into the quarter break up 20-13.
The second was a slower affair, at least for TSK as Jarvelainen continued to shoot the ball well and get to the line for the hosts to trim the deficit. Ben Maranan came in off the bench for the visiting Kestrels to stroke a three but Raiders fought their way back and levelled the scores at 23. The sides would trade baskets to close the half out with Plymouth edging in front now up 29-31.
Jon Averkamp tied up the game with a put back to get things underway for TSK in the 2nd half, followed by a Louie Kirkman steal and dish for an easy two for Senor II. However Josh Wilcher replied instantly for the home team as he scooped to the hoop for an and-1. Raiders attempts to build some momentum behind influential playmaker Donte Nicholas were short lived as back to back triples from Kestrels kept things touch tight through the mid point of the quarter. However an 18-4 run to close out the quarter behind Jarvelainen and Nicholas strong play saw the hosts now in control 47-61 heading into the final period.
The final quarter would be a difficult one for TSK and much the same story as the Flyers match up the previous week. Raiders turned up the pressure defensively and Kestrels did not have much left in the tank to reduce the arrears. Plymouth would run out 59-85 winners in an extremely valuable exercise for both squads.
Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II’s 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists whilst Jon Averkamp added 17 points and 10 rebounds and Tayo Oyefusi chipped in 8 points and 10 rebounds. Plymouth’s American guard Donte Nicholas poured in 24 points and 10 rebounds whilst Joonas Jarvelainen had 22 points and 7 rebounds in as many minutes.
Matt Guymon TSK’s play caller added; “We had another great start, playing fast & getting stops defensively which allowed us to push the ball consistently in transition. We continued to show some excellent spells at both ends throughout the first half against tough BBL opposition but it was a similar story to last week in the second half as we were not able to respond to their runs. The tactical elements I have no concerns that we will get figured out. The challenge for us right now is the lack of fight/toughness when adversity hits us, this is something we will be working to resolve quickly.”
Team Solent Kestrels have their final pre season fixture this weekend as they play host to London Greenhouse Pioneers who are in NBL Division 2, at Places Leisure Eastleigh on Saturday 22nd September. Tip off is 7pm and entry is FREE so come on down and check out the new look TSK before the first meaningful action of the season on the 29th.
KESTRELS UNABLE TO GROUND FLYERS IN PRE SEASON ACTION
Image Courtesy | Bristol Flyers
After an exciting start to pre season last weekend, Kestrels turned their attention to a much more difficult proposition, as they travelled west to continue with preparations for the new season against BBL side, Bristol Flyers. Like TSK, Flyers matched up with Team USA Select in their first pre season outing and comfortably came out on top. With Bristol having now established themselves as a top 8 side in the BBL this was always going to be tough test for the Kestrels.
The first quarter started at a lightening pace and both sides were looking to set their stool up early, with Elliot Dadds opening the scoring on a pull up jumper whilst Flyers big man Daniel Edozie showed his soft touch with a nice post move. With the opening exchanges continuing Kestrels floor general Herm Senor II and Flyers wing Justin Gray traded tough finishes as TSK edged in front. The teams would be tied up through the mid point of the first before another pull up from Gray narrowly put Bristol ahead, but yet again Senor II responded with a three ball to restore Kestrels lead at 13-12. Ben Maranan came in off the bench for TSK to score 5 quick points to close the quarter out and put his side up 21-17 after one.
Kestrels extended their advantage to 5 in the opening minute of the second quarter after some great ball movement found James Chute wide open for a corner triple. Flyers big man Marcus Delpeche came off the bench to score 6 straight but Josh Brown would get the steal and go coast to coast for the visitors to restore a 4 point advantage 3 minutes into the second. Former Kestrels guard Jordan Nicholls sliced to the hoop to reduce the gap to just 2 points but that man Brown would cash in again, this time for a corner trey ball to put TSK up 32-27. A short 5-0 run for the hosts would tie the game up at 32 and prompt a coach Guymon timeout with 4 minutes left in the half. Flyers would shift gear to close the half out on a 16-5 run including scores from American point guard Jalan McCloud and Gray leaving Kestrels trailing 37-48 at the half.
Jon Averkamp opened the scoring for TSK in the 2nd half from the free throw line but Flyers would continue to exert their dominance on the glass with a put back and 1 to reply. The sides traded baskets in the early knockings of the second half before a corner three ball from Gray put Flyers out to their biggest lead of the game at 59-42 sparking a Coach Guymon TO. Kestrels would respond out of the timeout through Averkamp and Elliot Dadds as the latter got into the paint for a pair of scores at the rim to reduce the gap to 12. However the TSK run would be short lived after several transition scores from the hosts they went into the third quarter break now up 69-51.
The fourth quarter was a slow burner for both sides with both teams giving playing opportunities to their roster and coaching staff using the quarter to tinker with line ups. Kestrels struggled to find any rhythm offensively and Flyers capitalised keeping the tempo high and running out 85-56 winners.
“It was a great test for us to play against a top BBL team in Bristol. I thought we started with great energy and played how we wanted to in transition. As the game went into the 2nd half we weren’t able to match Bristol’s physicality, especially on the boards. We will review the performance and get back to work this week as we continue with our pre season preparations.” Commented TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon.
Elliot Dadds and Herm Senor II were the high point men for TSK with 10 points a piece, Dadds also chipped in 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal, whilst Senor II had 3 boards, 3 assists and 1 steal. Newcomer James Chute had himself 9 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal also.
Flyers were led by Marcus Delpeche’s 19 points and 6 rebounds, whilst Justin Gray had 14 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds.
Kestrels will continue their pre season preparations with another road trip to BBL opposition this Friday evening, as they make the trip down to the south west to take on Plymouth Raiders.
The first quarter started at a lightening pace and both sides were looking to set their stool up early, with Elliot Dadds opening the scoring on a pull up jumper whilst Flyers big man Daniel Edozie showed his soft touch with a nice post move. With the opening exchanges continuing Kestrels floor general Herm Senor II and Flyers wing Justin Gray traded tough finishes as TSK edged in front. The teams would be tied up through the mid point of the first before another pull up from Gray narrowly put Bristol ahead, but yet again Senor II responded with a three ball to restore Kestrels lead at 13-12. Ben Maranan came in off the bench for TSK to score 5 quick points to close the quarter out and put his side up 21-17 after one.
Kestrels extended their advantage to 5 in the opening minute of the second quarter after some great ball movement found James Chute wide open for a corner triple. Flyers big man Marcus Delpeche came off the bench to score 6 straight but Josh Brown would get the steal and go coast to coast for the visitors to restore a 4 point advantage 3 minutes into the second. Former Kestrels guard Jordan Nicholls sliced to the hoop to reduce the gap to just 2 points but that man Brown would cash in again, this time for a corner trey ball to put TSK up 32-27. A short 5-0 run for the hosts would tie the game up at 32 and prompt a coach Guymon timeout with 4 minutes left in the half. Flyers would shift gear to close the half out on a 16-5 run including scores from American point guard Jalan McCloud and Gray leaving Kestrels trailing 37-48 at the half.
Jon Averkamp opened the scoring for TSK in the 2nd half from the free throw line but Flyers would continue to exert their dominance on the glass with a put back and 1 to reply. The sides traded baskets in the early knockings of the second half before a corner three ball from Gray put Flyers out to their biggest lead of the game at 59-42 sparking a Coach Guymon TO. Kestrels would respond out of the timeout through Averkamp and Elliot Dadds as the latter got into the paint for a pair of scores at the rim to reduce the gap to 12. However the TSK run would be short lived after several transition scores from the hosts they went into the third quarter break now up 69-51.
The fourth quarter was a slow burner for both sides with both teams giving playing opportunities to their roster and coaching staff using the quarter to tinker with line ups. Kestrels struggled to find any rhythm offensively and Flyers capitalised keeping the tempo high and running out 85-56 winners.
“It was a great test for us to play against a top BBL team in Bristol. I thought we started with great energy and played how we wanted to in transition. As the game went into the 2nd half we weren’t able to match Bristol’s physicality, especially on the boards. We will review the performance and get back to work this week as we continue with our pre season preparations.” Commented TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon.
Elliot Dadds and Herm Senor II were the high point men for TSK with 10 points a piece, Dadds also chipped in 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal, whilst Senor II had 3 boards, 3 assists and 1 steal. Newcomer James Chute had himself 9 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal also.
Flyers were led by Marcus Delpeche’s 19 points and 6 rebounds, whilst Justin Gray had 14 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds.
Kestrels will continue their pre season preparations with another road trip to BBL opposition this Friday evening, as they make the trip down to the south west to take on Plymouth Raiders.
EARLY PLAYOFF EXIT FOR TSK AS THEY CRASH OUT VS. HEMEL
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Sunday saw the long awaited NBL D1 quarter final playoff match up between Team Solent Kestrels (2) and Hemel Storm (7) at St. Mary’s Leisure Centre with both teams looking to keep their season alive with a victory to advance. The regular season would make for two evenly matched affairs but it was TSK who came out on top in both fixtures winning at home by just 1 points after Herm Senor II’s late free throws and at Hemel just three weekends ago by double figures. With the playoffs posing a completely different scenario both sides knew it would take a monumental effort to come away with a win and there aren’t two more teams more battled tested in knock out competitions this season than Kestrels and Storm. Hemel secured the National Cup back in January whilst TSK were the National Trophy winners in February, knocking off Manchester and Team Northumbria respectively.
In true playoff fashion the game started at a frantic pace with both sets of supporters in good voice making for a raucous atmosphere. The visitors came ‘storming’ out the blocks behind big man duo Lee Greenan and Tom Adorian who scored 4 each inside the opening minute of play, however a 6-0 run in reply brought Kestrels right back up to speed with Josh Brown cashing in from behind the arc followed by American pair Herm Senor II and Joe Tagarelli. Another run would come for Storm, this time to the tune of 7-0 with guards AJ Roberts and Bode Adeluola scoring for the visitors. Senor II stopped the rot for Kestrels with a 3 ball which sparked the sides into trading baskets until a 7-2 home run left the score at 18-23 to close the first quarter.
Senor II scored on a quick back door lay up for the hosts to open the 2nd quarter but Hemel forward Wayne Yeboah responded to restore a 5 point advantage on the next possession. Kestrels forward Tayo Oyefusi continued his hot shooting from beyond the arc as he cashed in a 2nd triple of the game followed by a steal and finish on the break from Senor II to tie the ball game and send the teams into a Storm timeout. Hemel had the better of the exchanges out of the timeout and found themselves ahead by 5 again after Ajumobi stroked a 3 ball off a Mike Darlow assist. The hosts got within 1 when Nathan Schall found himself wide open under the bucket for two but Hemel closed the half on a 6-2 run including 4 more Ajumobi points to lead 35-40.
If it was Hemel who ‘stormed’ out of the blocks in the 1st quarter then the Kestrels ‘flew’ out of the gate after the half on an 8-0 surge that saw them take a 3 point lead with literally 1 minute and 20 seconds gone in the half, 3’s from Elliot Dadds and Senor II doing the damage. Out of a Storm timeout Ajumobi scored from a quick post up but Kestrels would continue to build their lead behind Louie Kirkman and Senor II now up 48-42. If ever the term a game of runs was relevant it was certainly this game, as Hemel hit back with a 10-0 run to edge back in front at 48-52 after Greenan linked with Roberts on a pick and roll. Kestrels edge back in front after Jake Eynon came off the bench to connect on a three pointer but Hemel big man Tom Adorian restored the advantage before the quarters end ensuring his side led 55-58.
With the scene set for a tense finish, the fans louder than ever this one did not disappoint. Tagarelli scored 6 straight to start the 4th for the home town Kestrels to tie things up at 61, then a huge put back from Dadds over 7 footer Greenan edged the hosts in front prompting a Coach Youngblood timeout for Storm. Another outback from Eynon this time pushed TSK’s lead to 4 but a 5-0 run for Hemel put them back in the driving seat at 65-66 after a Yeboah and-1. Eynon answered with a three ball but this would then be the final time Kestrels led the way after a 16-4 spell to close out the game, behind plenty of free throw shooting, saw Storm complete the 7th seed up set. Kestrels losing out and ultimately exiting the playoffs at the quarter final stage, 72-82. Hemel advance to the semi final where they will face 3rd seed Reading Rockets who knocked out 6th seeded Bradford Dragons.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II’s 27 points and 7 assists, whilst Joe Tagarelli had 14 points and Elliot Dadds chipped in 9. AJ Roberts led Hemel with 19 points with 14 points a piece for Bode Adeluola and David Ajumobi.
Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon commented; “This was a crushing way to finish the season for our guys who have been so consistent throughout the year. Full credit to Hemel who played relentlessly at both ends of the floor, making it difficult for us to match up with them. Even though they got the better of us physically, we had chances down the stretch to win the game but it just wasn’t meant to be.”
You can see the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/861075/bs.html
The game highlights can also be found on our YouTube channel here; https://youtu.be/PfU2Dz6NmkE
In true playoff fashion the game started at a frantic pace with both sets of supporters in good voice making for a raucous atmosphere. The visitors came ‘storming’ out the blocks behind big man duo Lee Greenan and Tom Adorian who scored 4 each inside the opening minute of play, however a 6-0 run in reply brought Kestrels right back up to speed with Josh Brown cashing in from behind the arc followed by American pair Herm Senor II and Joe Tagarelli. Another run would come for Storm, this time to the tune of 7-0 with guards AJ Roberts and Bode Adeluola scoring for the visitors. Senor II stopped the rot for Kestrels with a 3 ball which sparked the sides into trading baskets until a 7-2 home run left the score at 18-23 to close the first quarter.
Senor II scored on a quick back door lay up for the hosts to open the 2nd quarter but Hemel forward Wayne Yeboah responded to restore a 5 point advantage on the next possession. Kestrels forward Tayo Oyefusi continued his hot shooting from beyond the arc as he cashed in a 2nd triple of the game followed by a steal and finish on the break from Senor II to tie the ball game and send the teams into a Storm timeout. Hemel had the better of the exchanges out of the timeout and found themselves ahead by 5 again after Ajumobi stroked a 3 ball off a Mike Darlow assist. The hosts got within 1 when Nathan Schall found himself wide open under the bucket for two but Hemel closed the half on a 6-2 run including 4 more Ajumobi points to lead 35-40.
If it was Hemel who ‘stormed’ out of the blocks in the 1st quarter then the Kestrels ‘flew’ out of the gate after the half on an 8-0 surge that saw them take a 3 point lead with literally 1 minute and 20 seconds gone in the half, 3’s from Elliot Dadds and Senor II doing the damage. Out of a Storm timeout Ajumobi scored from a quick post up but Kestrels would continue to build their lead behind Louie Kirkman and Senor II now up 48-42. If ever the term a game of runs was relevant it was certainly this game, as Hemel hit back with a 10-0 run to edge back in front at 48-52 after Greenan linked with Roberts on a pick and roll. Kestrels edge back in front after Jake Eynon came off the bench to connect on a three pointer but Hemel big man Tom Adorian restored the advantage before the quarters end ensuring his side led 55-58.
With the scene set for a tense finish, the fans louder than ever this one did not disappoint. Tagarelli scored 6 straight to start the 4th for the home town Kestrels to tie things up at 61, then a huge put back from Dadds over 7 footer Greenan edged the hosts in front prompting a Coach Youngblood timeout for Storm. Another outback from Eynon this time pushed TSK’s lead to 4 but a 5-0 run for Hemel put them back in the driving seat at 65-66 after a Yeboah and-1. Eynon answered with a three ball but this would then be the final time Kestrels led the way after a 16-4 spell to close out the game, behind plenty of free throw shooting, saw Storm complete the 7th seed up set. Kestrels losing out and ultimately exiting the playoffs at the quarter final stage, 72-82. Hemel advance to the semi final where they will face 3rd seed Reading Rockets who knocked out 6th seeded Bradford Dragons.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II’s 27 points and 7 assists, whilst Joe Tagarelli had 14 points and Elliot Dadds chipped in 9. AJ Roberts led Hemel with 19 points with 14 points a piece for Bode Adeluola and David Ajumobi.
Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon commented; “This was a crushing way to finish the season for our guys who have been so consistent throughout the year. Full credit to Hemel who played relentlessly at both ends of the floor, making it difficult for us to match up with them. Even though they got the better of us physically, we had chances down the stretch to win the game but it just wasn’t meant to be.”
You can see the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/861075/bs.html
The game highlights can also be found on our YouTube channel here; https://youtu.be/PfU2Dz6NmkE
KESTRELS CLOSE OUT REGULAR SEASON WITH A WIN
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
In the final game of the regular season this Sunday afternoon, Team Solent Kestrels welcomed Kent Crusaders to St. Mary’s Leisure Centre needing a win to keep the pressure on Loughborough Student Riders who tipped slightly later vs. Manchester Magic. Kent came into the game off the back of a tough match up with Worthing Thunder where they lost out by 20, whilst Kestrels took care of Hemel Storm on the road the previous evening. The sides had already matched up twice this year, once in the trophy where Kestrels won narrowly at Barking Abbey School by 6 and once in NBL D1 again Kestrels the victors picking up a 74-61 win. With little to play for having secured their status as a division 1 team but not being able to clinch a playoff spot Crusaders travelled with a depleted squad to Southampton.
Kestrels started much the brighter of the two sides as Joe Tagarelli established his presence early on scoring 4 of his sides first 8 points, and an 11-3 run over the first 3 minutes put TSK in control. Crusaders youngster Micah Savery-Richards earned himself an and1 opportunity on a strong drive and that got his side going as they managed to eventually trim the gap to 4 at 20-16. Tayo Oyefusi weathered the short dry spell for the hosts but some sharp shooting from Kent guard Pierce Maslen meant they would only go into the 1st quarter break down 24-21.
Both teams traded buckets to start the 2nd quarter and it looked as though Kestrels were in for a slog feast when Caleb Fuller trimmed the deficit to 1 after a strong drive and foul. However a 16-2 run to close the half from the home side saw them seize control heading into the half time break now up 45-30, holding Crusaders to just 2 points in the final 5 minutes of the half.
The 3rd quarter saw Kestrels shift the tempo with Herm Senor finding his team mates at will in transition and a number of players getting in on the scoring act with Josh Brown and Louie Kirkman scoring well in transition. Crusaders Scottish international Alex Ferguson knocked down a 3 to keep Kestrels in sight but a 15-0 run extended the gap to 31 at 75-44, behind some excellent shooting from deep from Jake Eynon.
With the game all but over heading into the 4th, the pace slowed immensely with both teams playing a lot in the half court. Kent continued to battle and show why they have been a difficult side to over come this season, Andre Lavinier and Fuller scored the ball well in the closing stages for the visitors. Several Kestrels player got in on the scoring act in the 4th with Nathan Schall and Leon Henry finding the bottom of the net regularly. TSK ran out 94-65 winners but would finish up in 2nd place as Loughborough Student Riders took the win vs. Manchester Magic to secure the D1 regular season title.
TSK were led by Joe Tagarelli’s 20 points, whilst Jake Eynon had 13 points off the bench and Herm Senor II had 11. Caleb Fuller led the charge for Kent with 25 points and Pierce Maslen and Alex Ferguson chipped in 13 and 10 respectively.
Matt Guymon, Kestrels Head Coach was happy with the way his side played to close out the regular season; “This was a great way to finish up the regular season, with 10 players contributing to the win. We must shift our focus to the playoffs now and use these next 2 weeks to prepare for Hemel and sharpen up our execution on both ends of the floor.”
Unfortunately there were no live stats due to a technical issue at the venue.
However you can check out the best images from the game here; https://mirrorboxstudioslive.com/2018/03/25/kestrels-vs-crusaders-25-mar-18/
Also the full game highlights are over on our YouTube channel check them out here; https://youtu.be/lMx-HmCAbiU
Kestrels will now face Hemel Storm who are the 7th seed in the quarter finals of the NBL D1 Playoffs on Sunday 8th April 2018 at St. Mary’s Leisure Centre, 4.30pm tip off. The guys need your support so come on down and make some noise!
Kestrels started much the brighter of the two sides as Joe Tagarelli established his presence early on scoring 4 of his sides first 8 points, and an 11-3 run over the first 3 minutes put TSK in control. Crusaders youngster Micah Savery-Richards earned himself an and1 opportunity on a strong drive and that got his side going as they managed to eventually trim the gap to 4 at 20-16. Tayo Oyefusi weathered the short dry spell for the hosts but some sharp shooting from Kent guard Pierce Maslen meant they would only go into the 1st quarter break down 24-21.
Both teams traded buckets to start the 2nd quarter and it looked as though Kestrels were in for a slog feast when Caleb Fuller trimmed the deficit to 1 after a strong drive and foul. However a 16-2 run to close the half from the home side saw them seize control heading into the half time break now up 45-30, holding Crusaders to just 2 points in the final 5 minutes of the half.
The 3rd quarter saw Kestrels shift the tempo with Herm Senor finding his team mates at will in transition and a number of players getting in on the scoring act with Josh Brown and Louie Kirkman scoring well in transition. Crusaders Scottish international Alex Ferguson knocked down a 3 to keep Kestrels in sight but a 15-0 run extended the gap to 31 at 75-44, behind some excellent shooting from deep from Jake Eynon.
With the game all but over heading into the 4th, the pace slowed immensely with both teams playing a lot in the half court. Kent continued to battle and show why they have been a difficult side to over come this season, Andre Lavinier and Fuller scored the ball well in the closing stages for the visitors. Several Kestrels player got in on the scoring act in the 4th with Nathan Schall and Leon Henry finding the bottom of the net regularly. TSK ran out 94-65 winners but would finish up in 2nd place as Loughborough Student Riders took the win vs. Manchester Magic to secure the D1 regular season title.
TSK were led by Joe Tagarelli’s 20 points, whilst Jake Eynon had 13 points off the bench and Herm Senor II had 11. Caleb Fuller led the charge for Kent with 25 points and Pierce Maslen and Alex Ferguson chipped in 13 and 10 respectively.
Matt Guymon, Kestrels Head Coach was happy with the way his side played to close out the regular season; “This was a great way to finish up the regular season, with 10 players contributing to the win. We must shift our focus to the playoffs now and use these next 2 weeks to prepare for Hemel and sharpen up our execution on both ends of the floor.”
Unfortunately there were no live stats due to a technical issue at the venue.
However you can check out the best images from the game here; https://mirrorboxstudioslive.com/2018/03/25/kestrels-vs-crusaders-25-mar-18/
Also the full game highlights are over on our YouTube channel check them out here; https://youtu.be/lMx-HmCAbiU
Kestrels will now face Hemel Storm who are the 7th seed in the quarter finals of the NBL D1 Playoffs on Sunday 8th April 2018 at St. Mary’s Leisure Centre, 4.30pm tip off. The guys need your support so come on down and make some noise!
BACK TO WINNING WAYS AS KESTRELS WEATHER STORM ON THE ROAD
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Team Solent Kestrels made the short trip to Hertfordshire this Saturday evening as they faced a Hemel Storm side who since winning the National Cup final have seen a skid in late season form. With both sides vying for a playoff spot and TSK still in with a chance at the D1 title a lot would ride on the outcome of this match up. The sides met in the first game back after the Christmas break where Kestrels managed to edge an 87-86 victory after a pair of Herm Senor II free throws to seal the deal. The hosts came into the game looking to get back to winning ways after a sub par performance on the road at Reading derailed their route to the D1 title whilst Hemel lost out on the road at Leicester Warriors.
The hosts started the quicker out of the blocks as American AJ Roberts stroked a 3 pointer in transition followed by 4 straight Lee Greenan points give them a 7-2 advantage inside 2 minutes. Herm Senor II opened his account with 4 of his own to trim the gap to 1 but a 7-0 run including 4 Tom Adorian points extended their lead to 14-6. Storm pushed the lead to as many as 9, before Kestrels found some rhythm and a huge 15-0 run behind American duo Joe Tagarelli and Senor II gave them a 17-23 lead. David Ajumobi stopped the rut from the free throw line and a Walid Mumuni 3 ball left the score at 21-23 at the end of one.
TSK started the 2nd where they left off with a 7-0 run out the gate with Jake Eynon coming off the bench to knock down a 3 ball, forcing a Hemel timeout early in the quarter with Kestrels up 21-30. Out of the TO the sides traded baskets over the next few possessions until 3 back to back trips to the line for TSK and a Senor II three ball ballooned the lead to 19. Eynon extended the advantage with another triple to 22 points with just a minute left in the half but Wayne Yeboah scored 4 points unanswered to leave the score 40-58 at the half.
Tagarelli scored on the first possession of the second half and that started a blow for blow scoring contest where both sides converted on consecutive possessions and with 5 minutes gone in the half there was no difference in the scoreline with Kestrels still leading 53-72. Eynon and Elliot Dadds did an excellent job combining to push the advantage to 25 at 55-80 however Storm showed there was still life in their play as they finished the quarter on a 10-0 run behind Jack Burnell and big man Tom Adorian, trimming the score to 65-80.
An early 5-0 run from Dadds and Tagarelli restored the deficit to 20 to kick start the 4th quarter and despite Greenan and Mumuni scoring in reply for Hemel another Scarlett corner three ball put TSK back up 21. The tempo of the game fell drastically over the mid point of the final stanza but with just 4 minutes left a 10-0 for the hosts showed they were not done and were back within 11. However with time on Team Solent’s side from Louie Kirkman and Tagarelli kept and hopes of a late comeback at bay. Dadds and Tagarelli both hit 3 balls in the final minute as well as Adeluola for Storm but would still see TSK take the win 87-101.
Kestrels were led by Joe Tagarelli’s monster 30 points and 15 rebounds, whilst Elliot Dadds had himself 19 points and Herm Senor II chipped in 18. Hemel were led by Bode Adeluola’s 19 points, with Wayne Yeboah and AJ Roberts having 15 and 12 respectively.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon was happy with how his side bounced back from their defeat at Reading; “I thought we had much better focus tonight and played with the effort and energy required for us to be successful. At this time of the year its ultimately about who is playing their best basketball and we will be working hard over the coming weeks to ensure we are ready for the playoffs.”
You can check out the full stats here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773156/index.html
The highlights are also available here on our YouTube channel; https://youtu.be/EFT3x_TQlds
The hosts started the quicker out of the blocks as American AJ Roberts stroked a 3 pointer in transition followed by 4 straight Lee Greenan points give them a 7-2 advantage inside 2 minutes. Herm Senor II opened his account with 4 of his own to trim the gap to 1 but a 7-0 run including 4 Tom Adorian points extended their lead to 14-6. Storm pushed the lead to as many as 9, before Kestrels found some rhythm and a huge 15-0 run behind American duo Joe Tagarelli and Senor II gave them a 17-23 lead. David Ajumobi stopped the rut from the free throw line and a Walid Mumuni 3 ball left the score at 21-23 at the end of one.
TSK started the 2nd where they left off with a 7-0 run out the gate with Jake Eynon coming off the bench to knock down a 3 ball, forcing a Hemel timeout early in the quarter with Kestrels up 21-30. Out of the TO the sides traded baskets over the next few possessions until 3 back to back trips to the line for TSK and a Senor II three ball ballooned the lead to 19. Eynon extended the advantage with another triple to 22 points with just a minute left in the half but Wayne Yeboah scored 4 points unanswered to leave the score 40-58 at the half.
Tagarelli scored on the first possession of the second half and that started a blow for blow scoring contest where both sides converted on consecutive possessions and with 5 minutes gone in the half there was no difference in the scoreline with Kestrels still leading 53-72. Eynon and Elliot Dadds did an excellent job combining to push the advantage to 25 at 55-80 however Storm showed there was still life in their play as they finished the quarter on a 10-0 run behind Jack Burnell and big man Tom Adorian, trimming the score to 65-80.
An early 5-0 run from Dadds and Tagarelli restored the deficit to 20 to kick start the 4th quarter and despite Greenan and Mumuni scoring in reply for Hemel another Scarlett corner three ball put TSK back up 21. The tempo of the game fell drastically over the mid point of the final stanza but with just 4 minutes left a 10-0 for the hosts showed they were not done and were back within 11. However with time on Team Solent’s side from Louie Kirkman and Tagarelli kept and hopes of a late comeback at bay. Dadds and Tagarelli both hit 3 balls in the final minute as well as Adeluola for Storm but would still see TSK take the win 87-101.
Kestrels were led by Joe Tagarelli’s monster 30 points and 15 rebounds, whilst Elliot Dadds had himself 19 points and Herm Senor II chipped in 18. Hemel were led by Bode Adeluola’s 19 points, with Wayne Yeboah and AJ Roberts having 15 and 12 respectively.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon was happy with how his side bounced back from their defeat at Reading; “I thought we had much better focus tonight and played with the effort and energy required for us to be successful. At this time of the year its ultimately about who is playing their best basketball and we will be working hard over the coming weeks to ensure we are ready for the playoffs.”
You can check out the full stats here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773156/index.html
The highlights are also available here on our YouTube channel; https://youtu.be/EFT3x_TQlds
4TH TIME LUCKY FOR ROCKETS AS THEY END TSK WIN STREAK
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Saturday saw Team Solent Kestrels make the short journey to cross county rivals Reading Rockets for the sides 4th meeting of the season thus far, having already met in all possible competitions. TSK took the victory back in September at the Rivermead in the National Trophy group phase 93-78 after strong second half, before running out 89-67 winners in the National Cup quarter final at St. Mary’s Leisure Centre. The third and most recent match up made for a much more tense affair and again Kestrels were victorious in a slow burner, 70-59 this time in NBL D1 action. However this would be a much improved Rockets side having won 6 straight coming into Saturday evenings game and against stellar opposition at that. TSK came in off a weekend off having knocked off Leicester Warriors last time out behind a strong 4th quarter performance.
It would be the hosts who started the better of the sides with 4 straight points for guard Sydney Donaldson before a Tim Gill tip in gave them a 2-6 advantage early after Louie Kirkman got TSK on the scoreboard. However an 11-2 run would push Rockets out to an early 4-17 advantage with Donaldson and Gill scoring at will and Kestrels providing little resistance. Out of a Coach Guymon timeout the visitors enjoyed some better spells as Elliot Dadds and Tayo Oyefusi connected on back to back jump shots but Rockets Aussie guard Declan Soukup restored a double digit lead to end the quarter 12-23.
The teams would trade baskets to start out the 2nd and Kestrels looked to have a little more life in their legs when Kirkman hit a jumper to reduce the gap to 7 at 20-27 however a Hendricks 3 ball followed by a Donaldson and-1 restored any ground they had lost and put them up 20-33. Tagarelli weathered the quick 6-0 shift, with a jump shot of his own and sparked a series of traded baskets once again before Kestrels captain Kirkman scored 7 straight to close the margin to 9 at 35-44, a lapse however out of a Rockets timeout saw Hendrick knock down another 3 to close the half the hosts now up 35-47.
Reading jumped the lead out the 15 early in the 2nd half after Donaldson scored 3 straight points, but Herm Senor II finally got in on the act to answer back with a lay up. An 8-2 run would follow for the home side as Hendricks and Soukup connected on a barrage of jump shots. The momentum swung in favour of the hosts with a 9-0 run as Senor II really got going to bring Kestrels back within single digits, 48-57. It would be Hendricks again who hit a triple to stop the rut for Rockets but Senor II and Tayo Oyefusi would earn trips to the line to keep it at 9. Kestrels would go in at the end of the third down 51-62.
Team Solent came out on an 8-3 surge to reduce the deficit to 59-65, Danny Carter stopped the run at the line for the hosts but Elliot Dadds scored on the next possession to make it 61-66. However a 6-0 run from Rockets put them back in control with a double digit lead at 61-72, Chris Scarlett and Senor II showed there was some life left in TSK as they got it back to 66-72. The well would ultimately run dry for Kestrels and Hendricks hit a dagger three ball to seal the victory for Reading, 66-78.
TSK were led by Herm Senor II’s 15 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, whilst Louie Kirkman had 13 points and 6 rebounds and Joe Tagarelli had 11 points and 7 rebounds. Reading were led by sharpshooting guard Jerrod Hendricks’ 27 points with Sydney Donaldson chipping in 19 points and 8 rebounds.
“Full credit to Reading who came out the aggressor and took control of the game early on. We had a few positive spells but ultimately we were chasing the game for 40 minutes with our slow start. We have to regroup and quickly as we have an extremely important double header weekend against two tough teams.” Commented Team Solent Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon.
Team Solent Kestrels have now left the back door open with regards to the NBL D1 regular season title as Loughborough Student Riders seized the initiative winning against Northumbria and Worthing Thunder to put them top and in control. Kestrels will now need to win out in their final three games and hope Student Riders slip up along their run in. TSK travel to Hemel Storm next Saturday for a 7pm tip off before returning home to entertain Kent Crusaders at St. Mary’s Leisure Centre, 5.30pm tip off.
You can check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773146/bs.html#ASFSK
Highlights are also available now on our YouTube channel, be sure to subscribe also; https://youtu.be/df4ljy5uCpM
It would be the hosts who started the better of the sides with 4 straight points for guard Sydney Donaldson before a Tim Gill tip in gave them a 2-6 advantage early after Louie Kirkman got TSK on the scoreboard. However an 11-2 run would push Rockets out to an early 4-17 advantage with Donaldson and Gill scoring at will and Kestrels providing little resistance. Out of a Coach Guymon timeout the visitors enjoyed some better spells as Elliot Dadds and Tayo Oyefusi connected on back to back jump shots but Rockets Aussie guard Declan Soukup restored a double digit lead to end the quarter 12-23.
The teams would trade baskets to start out the 2nd and Kestrels looked to have a little more life in their legs when Kirkman hit a jumper to reduce the gap to 7 at 20-27 however a Hendricks 3 ball followed by a Donaldson and-1 restored any ground they had lost and put them up 20-33. Tagarelli weathered the quick 6-0 shift, with a jump shot of his own and sparked a series of traded baskets once again before Kestrels captain Kirkman scored 7 straight to close the margin to 9 at 35-44, a lapse however out of a Rockets timeout saw Hendrick knock down another 3 to close the half the hosts now up 35-47.
Reading jumped the lead out the 15 early in the 2nd half after Donaldson scored 3 straight points, but Herm Senor II finally got in on the act to answer back with a lay up. An 8-2 run would follow for the home side as Hendricks and Soukup connected on a barrage of jump shots. The momentum swung in favour of the hosts with a 9-0 run as Senor II really got going to bring Kestrels back within single digits, 48-57. It would be Hendricks again who hit a triple to stop the rut for Rockets but Senor II and Tayo Oyefusi would earn trips to the line to keep it at 9. Kestrels would go in at the end of the third down 51-62.
Team Solent came out on an 8-3 surge to reduce the deficit to 59-65, Danny Carter stopped the run at the line for the hosts but Elliot Dadds scored on the next possession to make it 61-66. However a 6-0 run from Rockets put them back in control with a double digit lead at 61-72, Chris Scarlett and Senor II showed there was some life left in TSK as they got it back to 66-72. The well would ultimately run dry for Kestrels and Hendricks hit a dagger three ball to seal the victory for Reading, 66-78.
TSK were led by Herm Senor II’s 15 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, whilst Louie Kirkman had 13 points and 6 rebounds and Joe Tagarelli had 11 points and 7 rebounds. Reading were led by sharpshooting guard Jerrod Hendricks’ 27 points with Sydney Donaldson chipping in 19 points and 8 rebounds.
“Full credit to Reading who came out the aggressor and took control of the game early on. We had a few positive spells but ultimately we were chasing the game for 40 minutes with our slow start. We have to regroup and quickly as we have an extremely important double header weekend against two tough teams.” Commented Team Solent Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon.
Team Solent Kestrels have now left the back door open with regards to the NBL D1 regular season title as Loughborough Student Riders seized the initiative winning against Northumbria and Worthing Thunder to put them top and in control. Kestrels will now need to win out in their final three games and hope Student Riders slip up along their run in. TSK travel to Hemel Storm next Saturday for a 7pm tip off before returning home to entertain Kent Crusaders at St. Mary’s Leisure Centre, 5.30pm tip off.
You can check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773146/bs.html#ASFSK
Highlights are also available now on our YouTube channel, be sure to subscribe also; https://youtu.be/df4ljy5uCpM
WARRIORS PROVIDE TOUGH TEST FOR KESTRELS ON THE ROAD
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
With Saturday’s proposed fixture with Lancashire Spinners forfeited and the weather complications looming large ahead of Sundays clash, Team Solent Kestrels ventured to the East Midlands to face a dangerous Leicester Warriors side who themselves are vying for a final playoff spot as the regular season draws to a close. TSK were coming in off the back of a historic National Trophy success as they beat Team Northumbria to the title whilst Leicester Warriors picked up a much needed road win over basement dwellers Lancashire Spinners. The sides met earlier in the season at Fleming Park where TSK would eventually get the better of the Warriors after a scrappy first half winning 71-57.
Warriors American guard Case Bruton got them off the mark earlier with a trip to the line followed by a pull up jump shot in transition before Joe Tagarelli got TSK going with a score in the paint. Kestrels took a short lived 7-5 lead after Herm Senor II found Nathan Schall beneath the back line of the Leicester zone for an easy lay up, however the hosts strung together a 13-2 run with guard duo Bruton and Carl Pearson scoring at will to spark a Kestrels TO at 9-16. Senor II stopped the run with a 3 ball out of the timeout followed by Leon Henry’s much needed boost off the bench scoring 4 quick transition buckets to tie it up at 16. TSK took a narrow 2 point lead at 20-18 into the quarter break after Nathan Schall’s dunk beat the buzzer.
The sides traded baskets for much of the 2nd quarter with neither team leading by more than 3 points over the majority of the period. Leicester’s guard play of Bruton, Pearson and now Rodney Sanders caused TSK some issues making plays from the perimeter, and it was Team Solent’s 3 point shooting that kept them right in it. Bruton would push the Warriors lead out to 4 with 1:31 left in the half but 3 back to back 3 balls including two from Chris Scarlett meant TSK seized back control at the break up 44-39.
A 10-0 run out of the half for the league leaders meant they now led 54-39 with most baskets coming off stops and run outs in transition with 4 points a piece from Tagarelli and Elliot Dadds. The shift in gear prompted a Warriors timeout and that did just the trick by way of weathering the storm as they responded with a 10-0 of their own to put them right back within touching distance just after the 5 minute mark down 54-49. Captain Louie Kirkman put Kestrels back up 7 from the Free Throw line but that would be short lived as Bruton brought the East Midlands all the way back and eventually into the lead now up 61-62 at the end of the 3rd.
Leicester big man Eljhi Jabby put his side up 3 to start the quarter but a 7-0 run from the visitors saw them regain a 4 point advantage heading into a Warriors TO. With Tagarelli back in the game and out of foul trouble he would get going on the inside and spark an 11-2 run to put Kestrels up 79-66 with just 4:50 left in the game. The game came to a bit of a stuttering close, with TSK getting up as many as 17 before Leicester showed some fight to trim it to 12 but Senor II and Joe Tagrelli scored down the stretch keeping the hosts at bay and clinching their 18th victory of the NBL D1 regular season, 88-74.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II’s 26 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists whilst Joe Tagarelli had 16 points and 8 rebounds and Chris Scarlett chipped in 14 points on 4/7 shooting from 3 pt range. Leicester were led by 25 points from American guard Case Bruton with Carl Pearson and Rodney Sanders had 18 and 16 points respectively.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to saw on his sides grind out performance; “We knew coming into Leicester this weekend we would need to be focused and execute on both ends of the floor against a tough team fighting for a playoff spot. I thought it took us a while to find any rhythm but we managed to put a run together in the 4th and ultimately kill the game. It wasn't our best performance by any means but I was happy with the way we finished the game and came away with the win.”
Kestrels take a week off this weekend before heading to Reading Rockets on Saturday 17th March 2018 as they look to edge closer to the NBL D1 league title. Leicester entertain Reading this coming Saturday 10th March 2018 at Gateway College.
You can check out the full stats here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773136/bs.html
Warriors American guard Case Bruton got them off the mark earlier with a trip to the line followed by a pull up jump shot in transition before Joe Tagarelli got TSK going with a score in the paint. Kestrels took a short lived 7-5 lead after Herm Senor II found Nathan Schall beneath the back line of the Leicester zone for an easy lay up, however the hosts strung together a 13-2 run with guard duo Bruton and Carl Pearson scoring at will to spark a Kestrels TO at 9-16. Senor II stopped the run with a 3 ball out of the timeout followed by Leon Henry’s much needed boost off the bench scoring 4 quick transition buckets to tie it up at 16. TSK took a narrow 2 point lead at 20-18 into the quarter break after Nathan Schall’s dunk beat the buzzer.
The sides traded baskets for much of the 2nd quarter with neither team leading by more than 3 points over the majority of the period. Leicester’s guard play of Bruton, Pearson and now Rodney Sanders caused TSK some issues making plays from the perimeter, and it was Team Solent’s 3 point shooting that kept them right in it. Bruton would push the Warriors lead out to 4 with 1:31 left in the half but 3 back to back 3 balls including two from Chris Scarlett meant TSK seized back control at the break up 44-39.
A 10-0 run out of the half for the league leaders meant they now led 54-39 with most baskets coming off stops and run outs in transition with 4 points a piece from Tagarelli and Elliot Dadds. The shift in gear prompted a Warriors timeout and that did just the trick by way of weathering the storm as they responded with a 10-0 of their own to put them right back within touching distance just after the 5 minute mark down 54-49. Captain Louie Kirkman put Kestrels back up 7 from the Free Throw line but that would be short lived as Bruton brought the East Midlands all the way back and eventually into the lead now up 61-62 at the end of the 3rd.
Leicester big man Eljhi Jabby put his side up 3 to start the quarter but a 7-0 run from the visitors saw them regain a 4 point advantage heading into a Warriors TO. With Tagarelli back in the game and out of foul trouble he would get going on the inside and spark an 11-2 run to put Kestrels up 79-66 with just 4:50 left in the game. The game came to a bit of a stuttering close, with TSK getting up as many as 17 before Leicester showed some fight to trim it to 12 but Senor II and Joe Tagrelli scored down the stretch keeping the hosts at bay and clinching their 18th victory of the NBL D1 regular season, 88-74.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II’s 26 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists whilst Joe Tagarelli had 16 points and 8 rebounds and Chris Scarlett chipped in 14 points on 4/7 shooting from 3 pt range. Leicester were led by 25 points from American guard Case Bruton with Carl Pearson and Rodney Sanders had 18 and 16 points respectively.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to saw on his sides grind out performance; “We knew coming into Leicester this weekend we would need to be focused and execute on both ends of the floor against a tough team fighting for a playoff spot. I thought it took us a while to find any rhythm but we managed to put a run together in the 4th and ultimately kill the game. It wasn't our best performance by any means but I was happy with the way we finished the game and came away with the win.”
Kestrels take a week off this weekend before heading to Reading Rockets on Saturday 17th March 2018 as they look to edge closer to the NBL D1 league title. Leicester entertain Reading this coming Saturday 10th March 2018 at Gateway College.
You can check out the full stats here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773136/bs.html
KESTRELS CLAIM NATIONAL TROPHY TITLE IN WORCESTER
Image Courtesy | Basketball England
Image Courtesy | Basketball England
Sunday saw the NBL National Trophy Final take place at the University of Worcester Arena where Team Solent Kestrels matched up with reigning league champions Team Northumbria. Both sides moved through the group phase of the competition earlier this season with unblemished records, Northumbria knocking off local rivals Team Newcastle University and Bradford Dragons whilst TSK got a win at home vs. Worthing Thunder before picking up two road wins at Reading and Kent to top their respective pool. Team Northumbria found themselves with a road trip to Manchester Magic to book their spot in the final and despite a slow start they controlled the game for most parts behind 37 Atif Russell points to secure their Trophy Final berth. Kestrels on the other hand welcomed a tough Loughborough Student Riders team in a much slower burner where they would hold them to just 59 points en route to booking their spot in the final.
The sides had already played twice in NBL D1 so far this season with Team Northumbria prevailing on both occasions. In the first game of the season, Lewis Champion would knock down a jumper with 4 seconds left to give the North East side a narrow 71-73 victory and again at Places Leisure Eastleigh where a sloppy shooting performance would cost Kestrels another loss this time by a double digit margin. With that in mind and last years National Cup loss also to account for TSK would certainly enter this game with the bit between their teeth.
For TSK the game started at a blistering pace as Joe Tagarelli and then Herm Senor II got their side on the board early with back to back scores. The Kestrels perfect start continued when they managed to hold Northumbria scoreless over the next few possessions whilst jumping out to an 11-0 lead with just 2:40 gone, sparking a Coach Steutel timeout. Post timeout Louie Kirkman would sink a pair of free throws before Joe Tagarelli would knock down a baseline jumper in transition to extend the lead to 15-0. Just under the 5 minute mark Northumbria sharp shooter Blayne Freckleton would finally get his team going with a 3 ball to start a short spell that would see the sides trade baskets. A Malcolm Smith and-1 trimmed the deficit to 10 points at 21-11 but a 7-0 run to finish the quarter including scores from bench duo Jake Eynon and Nathan Schall increased Kestrels advantage to 28-11 at the end of 1.
The 2nd quarter begun in a similar fashion to the 1st with TSK connecting on no less than 4 straight 3 point attempts, with 2 from Senor II and one each for Eynon and this time Chris Scarlett. After another early Northumbria TO with the lead now at 40-11 a 12-0 run for the Newcastle side trimmed the deficit to 17 at 40-23 with American duo Atif Russell and Malcolm Smith leading the charge. Kestrels captain Louie Kirkman weathered the drought for his side as he scored on tip in before the sides traded baskets to finish up the half Kestrels leading 48-30.
As expected a change in intensity for Team Northumbria saw them start the half on a 13-2 run to get themselves right back in the ball game, Smith was influential in helping them find easy scores whilst TSK were unable to get going and find their rhythm. With the lead now at just 7 points, Kestrels would get timely scores from guards Dadds and Senor II to force a Northumbria timeout to break up any momentum. Eynon hit a 3 out of the stoppage in play to put Kestrels back in the driving seat up 14 but scores from Russell and Smith in the paint would trim it to 10 with just 3 minutes left in the 3rd. Elliot Dadds continued to step up with timely baskets to keep the lead at double digits but Team Northumbria forward Jack Wilson’s free throw before the buzzer left the game in the balance heading into the 4th with TSK now up just 9 points at 63-54.
Wilson’s lay up to start the 4th trimmed the gap to 7 before a Chris Scarlett pull up jumper restored the 9 point deficit. In large part the lead stayed at 8 or 9 over the next 4 minutes until Herm Senor II and Elliot Dadds scored to push the lead out to 13 at 75-62 prompting a Northumbria timeout with 6:25 left to play. 2 Freckleton 3’s completely steadied the ship for his side and forced Coach Guymon into a timeout of his own with the score now 75-68. Then came the decisive swing in the game, Tayo Oyefusi pick Smith’s pocket for the steal and was then awarded with an unsportsmanlike foul after Smith stopped him in transition. Oyefusi split a pair at the line and on the next possession hit a 3 pointer and drew the foul right in front of the Northumbria bench. After the made FT TSK were now up 12 80-68. Then with arguably the play of the game Oyefusi rotated from the weak side to stuff Smith’s lay up attempt at the rim to send the bench and the crowd into a frenzy. Senor II stepped to the line to sink to free throws and at this point the momentum started to swing in favour of Team Solent. Tagarelli extended the advantage to 16 with 2:44 left in the game and despite some late scores from Russell and Jack Preston, Elliot Dadds held his nerve at the line to secure the National Trophy title 88-74.
Team Solent Kestrels claimed their first piece of silverware since making the jump to NBL D1, they were led by an MVP performance from American guard Herm Senor II who posted 25 points, 11 assists, 5 rebounds and 1 steal. Elliot Dadds backed him up with 16 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists whilst Joe Tagarelli posted a double double of 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Head Coach Matt Guymon was proud of his teams performance in capturing the first piece of silverware of the season; "I’m so proud of our guys performance today. The focus, passion & heart they had from the opening tip shows how much this one meant to them. Even though we had a great start it was only matter of time before Northumbria were going to start chipping away at the lead. In the 3rd quarter we struggled to respond to their adjustments, but credit to our guys as we were able to keep enough distance to secure the win. We had a number of individual standout performances but this was truly a team effort that couldn’t be achieved without the fantastic support of our club, fans & sponsors.”
TSK turn their attentions to a very important road double header weekend where the league title is now in their hands not having to rely on other teams results, they travel to Lancashire Spinners on Saturday evening before playing Leicester Warriors on Sunday. Team Northumbria entertain Bradford Dragons this Saturday in NBL D1.
You can see the best actions shots from Sundays game here; https://mirrorboxstudioslive.com/2018/02/25/national-trophy-kestrels-v-northumbria-25-2-18/
The full stats break down here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/819764/bs.html
Highlights will also be available shortly on our club YouTube channel
The sides had already played twice in NBL D1 so far this season with Team Northumbria prevailing on both occasions. In the first game of the season, Lewis Champion would knock down a jumper with 4 seconds left to give the North East side a narrow 71-73 victory and again at Places Leisure Eastleigh where a sloppy shooting performance would cost Kestrels another loss this time by a double digit margin. With that in mind and last years National Cup loss also to account for TSK would certainly enter this game with the bit between their teeth.
For TSK the game started at a blistering pace as Joe Tagarelli and then Herm Senor II got their side on the board early with back to back scores. The Kestrels perfect start continued when they managed to hold Northumbria scoreless over the next few possessions whilst jumping out to an 11-0 lead with just 2:40 gone, sparking a Coach Steutel timeout. Post timeout Louie Kirkman would sink a pair of free throws before Joe Tagarelli would knock down a baseline jumper in transition to extend the lead to 15-0. Just under the 5 minute mark Northumbria sharp shooter Blayne Freckleton would finally get his team going with a 3 ball to start a short spell that would see the sides trade baskets. A Malcolm Smith and-1 trimmed the deficit to 10 points at 21-11 but a 7-0 run to finish the quarter including scores from bench duo Jake Eynon and Nathan Schall increased Kestrels advantage to 28-11 at the end of 1.
The 2nd quarter begun in a similar fashion to the 1st with TSK connecting on no less than 4 straight 3 point attempts, with 2 from Senor II and one each for Eynon and this time Chris Scarlett. After another early Northumbria TO with the lead now at 40-11 a 12-0 run for the Newcastle side trimmed the deficit to 17 at 40-23 with American duo Atif Russell and Malcolm Smith leading the charge. Kestrels captain Louie Kirkman weathered the drought for his side as he scored on tip in before the sides traded baskets to finish up the half Kestrels leading 48-30.
As expected a change in intensity for Team Northumbria saw them start the half on a 13-2 run to get themselves right back in the ball game, Smith was influential in helping them find easy scores whilst TSK were unable to get going and find their rhythm. With the lead now at just 7 points, Kestrels would get timely scores from guards Dadds and Senor II to force a Northumbria timeout to break up any momentum. Eynon hit a 3 out of the stoppage in play to put Kestrels back in the driving seat up 14 but scores from Russell and Smith in the paint would trim it to 10 with just 3 minutes left in the 3rd. Elliot Dadds continued to step up with timely baskets to keep the lead at double digits but Team Northumbria forward Jack Wilson’s free throw before the buzzer left the game in the balance heading into the 4th with TSK now up just 9 points at 63-54.
Wilson’s lay up to start the 4th trimmed the gap to 7 before a Chris Scarlett pull up jumper restored the 9 point deficit. In large part the lead stayed at 8 or 9 over the next 4 minutes until Herm Senor II and Elliot Dadds scored to push the lead out to 13 at 75-62 prompting a Northumbria timeout with 6:25 left to play. 2 Freckleton 3’s completely steadied the ship for his side and forced Coach Guymon into a timeout of his own with the score now 75-68. Then came the decisive swing in the game, Tayo Oyefusi pick Smith’s pocket for the steal and was then awarded with an unsportsmanlike foul after Smith stopped him in transition. Oyefusi split a pair at the line and on the next possession hit a 3 pointer and drew the foul right in front of the Northumbria bench. After the made FT TSK were now up 12 80-68. Then with arguably the play of the game Oyefusi rotated from the weak side to stuff Smith’s lay up attempt at the rim to send the bench and the crowd into a frenzy. Senor II stepped to the line to sink to free throws and at this point the momentum started to swing in favour of Team Solent. Tagarelli extended the advantage to 16 with 2:44 left in the game and despite some late scores from Russell and Jack Preston, Elliot Dadds held his nerve at the line to secure the National Trophy title 88-74.
Team Solent Kestrels claimed their first piece of silverware since making the jump to NBL D1, they were led by an MVP performance from American guard Herm Senor II who posted 25 points, 11 assists, 5 rebounds and 1 steal. Elliot Dadds backed him up with 16 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists whilst Joe Tagarelli posted a double double of 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Head Coach Matt Guymon was proud of his teams performance in capturing the first piece of silverware of the season; "I’m so proud of our guys performance today. The focus, passion & heart they had from the opening tip shows how much this one meant to them. Even though we had a great start it was only matter of time before Northumbria were going to start chipping away at the lead. In the 3rd quarter we struggled to respond to their adjustments, but credit to our guys as we were able to keep enough distance to secure the win. We had a number of individual standout performances but this was truly a team effort that couldn’t be achieved without the fantastic support of our club, fans & sponsors.”
TSK turn their attentions to a very important road double header weekend where the league title is now in their hands not having to rely on other teams results, they travel to Lancashire Spinners on Saturday evening before playing Leicester Warriors on Sunday. Team Northumbria entertain Bradford Dragons this Saturday in NBL D1.
You can see the best actions shots from Sundays game here; https://mirrorboxstudioslive.com/2018/02/25/national-trophy-kestrels-v-northumbria-25-2-18/
The full stats break down here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/819764/bs.html
Highlights will also be available shortly on our club YouTube channel
VITAL WIN IN THE TITLE RACE FOR TSK AS THEY TOP RIDERS
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
This past Saturday evening saw Team Solent Kestrels welcome fellow NBL D1 title rivals Loughborough Student Riders to St. Mary’s Leisure Centre in a 1 vs. 2 match up as the title run in hots up. With the sides having already met twice so far this season there would be no surprises in store for either team, as Riders won the first match up by 19 and Kestrels knocked the Loughborough University based Riders out in the National Trophy Semi Final earlier this year. TSK came into Saturday having won 6 straight and beat Derby Trailblazers last time out to the tune of 85-60 whilst Loughborough also boasted a 5 game league winning streak, they managed to rally late at local rivals Leicester Warriors last weekend to eventually win by 10.
Kestrels started the better of the two opening on a 7-0 run, with Elliot Dadds scoring from a baseline jump shot, before Joe Tagarelli established his dominance down low early on. Riders got off the mark after a Lucien Christofis three pointer but there would be little respite as Kestrels continued their hot start with Tagarelli and this time Josh Brown scoring inside. Riders Head Coach Mark Jarram would call a timeout to steady the ship early down 14-6. However it would get worse before it got any better for the visitors as TSK increase the lead to 18-6 post TO. Alex Roberts would start an 8-2 run for the Riders that brought them back within 6 at 20-14. The injection of Chris Scarlett for Team Solent saw them push the lead back out to 10 to finish the quarter as he went 3/3 from beyond the arc, leaving Kestrels up 29-19.
Scarlett made it 4/4 to start the 2nd quarter and extended his sides lead to 32-19 early on after a smart kick out from a double team by Joe Tagarelli. The sides traded baskets over the next 2 minutes with both sides finding easy opportunities in the paint. Herm Senor II ballooned the lead to 15 but an 8-2 run through a balanced scoring effort saw Riders trim the gap to just 9 prompting a Coach Guymon for the hosts. Reis Pinnock got to rim well out of the timeout and further trimmed the deficit but a 10-0 would follow thus restoring the advantage and now putting Kestrels up 17 with TSK big man Tagarelli continue to dominate inside and out. More on target 3 point shooting from Scarlett and this time Tagarelli saw the hosts go up by as many as 20 but Loughborough rallied and went in down 18 at the half 59-41.
The 2nd half would start at a much slower pace for the hosts but Loughborough were unable to capitalise in the early going with both sides trading baskets over the first 3 minutes and Kestrels still holding a double digit lead 64-48. Riders forward stroked a 3 ball to bring them within 13, and although Joe Tagarelli scored on the next possession after a nice find from Jake Eynon, Christofis would continue to chip away at the lead with another 3 for the visitors cutting the deficit to 12. A 7-2 run to finish the quarter for Riders, in what was really a low scoring affair, left them within touch distance at 68-59.
The momentum well and truly swung to start the final period as a much needed regroup for TSK certainly worked. An 8-0 run right out the gate behind a balance scoring attack saw Loughborough call for an early timeout now down 76-59. Pinnock knocked down a triple out of the timeout to weather the barrage but 3 more Tagarelli points restored a 17 point advantage. With the lead out at double digits Kestrels could afford to trade baskets whilst Riders tried as they might to reduce the deficit, could not. Despite 9 straight Dan Hemingway points Loughborough were unable to get close enough as Herm Senor II closed the game out from the foul line with Kestrels getting a vital win 95-82.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by a monster 32 points, 7 rebounds, 12 assists and 3 steals outing from big man Joe Tagarelli. Herm Senor II backed him up with 21 points 7 assists and 5 rebounds whilst Chris Scarlett went 5/7 from 3 point distance to chip in 15 points off the bench. Loughborough forward Max Richardson was their high point man with 18 and Reis Pinnock and former Kestrels forward Dan Hemingway had 17 and 14 points respectively.
Matt Guymon, TSK Head Coach had this to say on his sides huge victory; “I’m really proud of how our guys executed at both ends of the floor today against an excellent Loughborough team. I felt like we got a number of standout performances but Joe Tagarelli was as good as we’ve seen all season and I don’t think Loughborough were able to find an answer for him. The win stands us in good stead in the league but now our focus turns to a huge weekend for the club, were we have a chance to compete for silverware in Worcester once again.”
As Coach Guymon mentioned Kestrels now turn their attentions to the National Trophy Final at University of Worcester Arena vs. Team Northumbria this coming Sunday at 4pm. Whilst Loughborough face an in form Reading Rockets side as they look to get back to winning ways.
You can check the full stats/box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773114/bs.html
Mirror Box Studios also provided the best shots from the match up here; https://mirrorboxstudioslive.com/2018/02/17/nbl-kestrels-vs-loughborough-17-feb-18/
And for all the highlights from the game head over to our YouTube channel; youtu.be/2-1EtNN4wKE
Kestrels started the better of the two opening on a 7-0 run, with Elliot Dadds scoring from a baseline jump shot, before Joe Tagarelli established his dominance down low early on. Riders got off the mark after a Lucien Christofis three pointer but there would be little respite as Kestrels continued their hot start with Tagarelli and this time Josh Brown scoring inside. Riders Head Coach Mark Jarram would call a timeout to steady the ship early down 14-6. However it would get worse before it got any better for the visitors as TSK increase the lead to 18-6 post TO. Alex Roberts would start an 8-2 run for the Riders that brought them back within 6 at 20-14. The injection of Chris Scarlett for Team Solent saw them push the lead back out to 10 to finish the quarter as he went 3/3 from beyond the arc, leaving Kestrels up 29-19.
Scarlett made it 4/4 to start the 2nd quarter and extended his sides lead to 32-19 early on after a smart kick out from a double team by Joe Tagarelli. The sides traded baskets over the next 2 minutes with both sides finding easy opportunities in the paint. Herm Senor II ballooned the lead to 15 but an 8-2 run through a balanced scoring effort saw Riders trim the gap to just 9 prompting a Coach Guymon for the hosts. Reis Pinnock got to rim well out of the timeout and further trimmed the deficit but a 10-0 would follow thus restoring the advantage and now putting Kestrels up 17 with TSK big man Tagarelli continue to dominate inside and out. More on target 3 point shooting from Scarlett and this time Tagarelli saw the hosts go up by as many as 20 but Loughborough rallied and went in down 18 at the half 59-41.
The 2nd half would start at a much slower pace for the hosts but Loughborough were unable to capitalise in the early going with both sides trading baskets over the first 3 minutes and Kestrels still holding a double digit lead 64-48. Riders forward stroked a 3 ball to bring them within 13, and although Joe Tagarelli scored on the next possession after a nice find from Jake Eynon, Christofis would continue to chip away at the lead with another 3 for the visitors cutting the deficit to 12. A 7-2 run to finish the quarter for Riders, in what was really a low scoring affair, left them within touch distance at 68-59.
The momentum well and truly swung to start the final period as a much needed regroup for TSK certainly worked. An 8-0 run right out the gate behind a balance scoring attack saw Loughborough call for an early timeout now down 76-59. Pinnock knocked down a triple out of the timeout to weather the barrage but 3 more Tagarelli points restored a 17 point advantage. With the lead out at double digits Kestrels could afford to trade baskets whilst Riders tried as they might to reduce the deficit, could not. Despite 9 straight Dan Hemingway points Loughborough were unable to get close enough as Herm Senor II closed the game out from the foul line with Kestrels getting a vital win 95-82.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by a monster 32 points, 7 rebounds, 12 assists and 3 steals outing from big man Joe Tagarelli. Herm Senor II backed him up with 21 points 7 assists and 5 rebounds whilst Chris Scarlett went 5/7 from 3 point distance to chip in 15 points off the bench. Loughborough forward Max Richardson was their high point man with 18 and Reis Pinnock and former Kestrels forward Dan Hemingway had 17 and 14 points respectively.
Matt Guymon, TSK Head Coach had this to say on his sides huge victory; “I’m really proud of how our guys executed at both ends of the floor today against an excellent Loughborough team. I felt like we got a number of standout performances but Joe Tagarelli was as good as we’ve seen all season and I don’t think Loughborough were able to find an answer for him. The win stands us in good stead in the league but now our focus turns to a huge weekend for the club, were we have a chance to compete for silverware in Worcester once again.”
As Coach Guymon mentioned Kestrels now turn their attentions to the National Trophy Final at University of Worcester Arena vs. Team Northumbria this coming Sunday at 4pm. Whilst Loughborough face an in form Reading Rockets side as they look to get back to winning ways.
You can check the full stats/box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773114/bs.html
Mirror Box Studios also provided the best shots from the match up here; https://mirrorboxstudioslive.com/2018/02/17/nbl-kestrels-vs-loughborough-17-feb-18/
And for all the highlights from the game head over to our YouTube channel; youtu.be/2-1EtNN4wKE
KESTRELS CRUISE PAST TRAILBLAZERS FOR 25 POINT VICTORY
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Saturday saw Team Solent Kestrels return home to Places Leisure Eastleigh after two huge road wins last weekend both by narrow margins including that shot… That unless you’ve been living under a rock you will have seen by now! Saturdays visitors were East Midlands outfit Derby Trailblazers who have struggled to find consistency so far this season and suffered a close 8 point loss to regional rivals, Leicester Warriors, in their last NBL D1 match up. The sides met earlier on this season in Derby where Kestrels managed to escape with a 2 point victory despite being up by as many as 14 at half time.
TSK started well with Joe Tagarelli scoring on the opening possession with a quick post touch and finish followed by an Elliot Dadds score at the basket after some nice play off the ball. Kadeem Thompson got to the foul line for Trailblazers to get them on the score board and forward Simeon Espirit would convert on a tough finish in the paint. Derby sharpshooter Jake Wesselingh briefly edged the visitors ahead 6-8 after 3 minutes with a jumper from beyond the arc but that would be short lived as Team Solent’s Louie Kirkman levelled things with a pull up jump shot of his own. That would start an 8-0 run for Kestrels capped off by a Herm Senor II and-1 after a nice find from the post by Tagarelli. Out of a Derby timeout TSK would continue to pour it on with an 11-3 run to close the quarter including 3 balls from Jake Eynon and Tayo Oyefusi off the home bench leaving them up 27-13.
Chris Scarlett stroked a 3 ball to start the 2nd quarter and put the hosts up 17 however a short 6-0 run for the Trailblazers trimmed the deficit to 30-19 and prompted a Coach Guymon timeout to steady the ship. Senor II and Dadds did just that with a tough lay up and shot clock beating 3 pointer to restore order at 35-19. Leome Francis and Derby Youngster Leigton Elliot-Sewell kept the visitors ticking over with a pair of scores but yet another run for TSK this time to the tune of 8 nothing left them up 20 at 43-23 sparking another Derby TO. Thompson scored for Trailblazers followed by Espirit to momentarily get back within 16 but a scoreless 3 minutes for Derby heading into the half meant that Kestrels were able to move back into a 22 point lead at 49-27.
The 3rd quarter saw the pace of the game slow drastically, Kestrels did increase the lead in the early going to 28 behind Tagarelli and a pair of Josh Brown lay ups in transition after Senor II found him on the break. Both sides then went cold for a large spell of the quarter missing shots and turning the ball over frequently. TSK eventually managed to push the lead out to 30 after some excellent ball movement led to easy baskets for Eynon and Scarlett. However that seemed to spark life into the visitors and an 11-2 burst followed behind 5 Francis points to leave them down 62-41 heading into the 4th.
Both sides traded baskets to start the 4th with the only difference being TSK connected on two triples whilst Derby’s big men scored well in the paint, leaving the score at 68-45 early in the final period. After much of the same the lead would still be a 21 with just under 5 minutes to play until a Senor 3 ball put Kestrels 75-51 to the good. Tagarelli and Theo King got in on the act from beyond the arc seeing 7 different Kestrels players connecting from range and that would see the hosts over the line winning 85-60.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Joe Tagarelli’s 20 points, 16 rebounds and 5 assists, whilst Herm Senor II had 18 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists and Elliot Dadds chipped in 11 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Derby’s big man Leome Francis was their high point man with 13 points and 10 rebounds whilst Jake Wesselingh and Leighton Elliot-Sewell had 9 a piece.
Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon was impressed with his sides performance; “I thought we came out with real focus & energy that set the tone for how we wanted to play the game. Offensively I thought it was as good as we have moved the ball against zone defence all season which opened up some great looks for us. We now need to keep building our momentum as we close in on the final month of the season.”
TSK are back in action this Saturday 17th February 2018 in a huge 1 vs. 2 match up against Loughborough Student Riders whilst Derby take a weekend off before playing host to Team Newcastle University.
You can check out the full stats here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773115/bs.html
The best action shots from Saturdays game can also be found here; https://mirrorboxstudioslive.com/2018/02/11/kestrels-v-derby-trailblazers-10-2-18/
And if you missed the action, you can watch the game highlights on our YouTube channel; https://youtu.be/aLBbPDvzgGE
TSK started well with Joe Tagarelli scoring on the opening possession with a quick post touch and finish followed by an Elliot Dadds score at the basket after some nice play off the ball. Kadeem Thompson got to the foul line for Trailblazers to get them on the score board and forward Simeon Espirit would convert on a tough finish in the paint. Derby sharpshooter Jake Wesselingh briefly edged the visitors ahead 6-8 after 3 minutes with a jumper from beyond the arc but that would be short lived as Team Solent’s Louie Kirkman levelled things with a pull up jump shot of his own. That would start an 8-0 run for Kestrels capped off by a Herm Senor II and-1 after a nice find from the post by Tagarelli. Out of a Derby timeout TSK would continue to pour it on with an 11-3 run to close the quarter including 3 balls from Jake Eynon and Tayo Oyefusi off the home bench leaving them up 27-13.
Chris Scarlett stroked a 3 ball to start the 2nd quarter and put the hosts up 17 however a short 6-0 run for the Trailblazers trimmed the deficit to 30-19 and prompted a Coach Guymon timeout to steady the ship. Senor II and Dadds did just that with a tough lay up and shot clock beating 3 pointer to restore order at 35-19. Leome Francis and Derby Youngster Leigton Elliot-Sewell kept the visitors ticking over with a pair of scores but yet another run for TSK this time to the tune of 8 nothing left them up 20 at 43-23 sparking another Derby TO. Thompson scored for Trailblazers followed by Espirit to momentarily get back within 16 but a scoreless 3 minutes for Derby heading into the half meant that Kestrels were able to move back into a 22 point lead at 49-27.
The 3rd quarter saw the pace of the game slow drastically, Kestrels did increase the lead in the early going to 28 behind Tagarelli and a pair of Josh Brown lay ups in transition after Senor II found him on the break. Both sides then went cold for a large spell of the quarter missing shots and turning the ball over frequently. TSK eventually managed to push the lead out to 30 after some excellent ball movement led to easy baskets for Eynon and Scarlett. However that seemed to spark life into the visitors and an 11-2 burst followed behind 5 Francis points to leave them down 62-41 heading into the 4th.
Both sides traded baskets to start the 4th with the only difference being TSK connected on two triples whilst Derby’s big men scored well in the paint, leaving the score at 68-45 early in the final period. After much of the same the lead would still be a 21 with just under 5 minutes to play until a Senor 3 ball put Kestrels 75-51 to the good. Tagarelli and Theo King got in on the act from beyond the arc seeing 7 different Kestrels players connecting from range and that would see the hosts over the line winning 85-60.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Joe Tagarelli’s 20 points, 16 rebounds and 5 assists, whilst Herm Senor II had 18 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists and Elliot Dadds chipped in 11 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Derby’s big man Leome Francis was their high point man with 13 points and 10 rebounds whilst Jake Wesselingh and Leighton Elliot-Sewell had 9 a piece.
Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon was impressed with his sides performance; “I thought we came out with real focus & energy that set the tone for how we wanted to play the game. Offensively I thought it was as good as we have moved the ball against zone defence all season which opened up some great looks for us. We now need to keep building our momentum as we close in on the final month of the season.”
TSK are back in action this Saturday 17th February 2018 in a huge 1 vs. 2 match up against Loughborough Student Riders whilst Derby take a weekend off before playing host to Team Newcastle University.
You can check out the full stats here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773115/bs.html
The best action shots from Saturdays game can also be found here; https://mirrorboxstudioslive.com/2018/02/11/kestrels-v-derby-trailblazers-10-2-18/
And if you missed the action, you can watch the game highlights on our YouTube channel; https://youtu.be/aLBbPDvzgGE
SENOR II HEROICS SNATCH VICTORY FROM MAGIC
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Sunday saw game 2 of the road trip North for Team Solent Kestrels where they made the journey from Bradford to Manchester to take on the home town Magic. TSK came in having knocked off Bradford Dragons less than 24 hours before in a down to the wire affair in West Yorkshire whilst Manchester would be looking to get back to winning ways and make up for the previous weekends disappointment as Northumbria sent them crashing out of the National Trophy. Whilst the sides league position suggests some disparity between the teams, that was certainly not the case heading into Sundays match up with the sides spitting the two meetings from earlier in the season. Magic knocked out Kestrels in the National Cup Semi final at Places Leisure Eastleigh, but TSK were victorious in the home league meeting at the beginning of the regular season.
Herm Senor II got things underway on the opening possession with a 3 ball and Elliot Dadds would connect on a pull up jump shot after Lee Goldsborough opened Magic’s account with a quick post score. It would then be the home side who took control of the 1st quarter with balanced scoring from their starting group using a 9-0 run to take a 5-13 lead. Senor II stopped the run as he sliced his way to the hoop for an easy finish but the sides would trade baskets for the remainder of the quarter with Kestrels down 11-19 at the end of 1.
Stefan Gill pushed the lead out to 11 early on in the 2nd but Tagarelli and Jake Eynon gave TSK some respite and reduced the arrears to 6 prompting a Coach Middleton timeout for the home side. Post TO Magic youngster Michael Anumba cashed in a triple to restore a 9 point lead and the sides would trade 3 balls over the next couple of possessions. Kestrels would use an 11-5 run to close the half including 2 Chris Scarlett 3 balls to bring themselves within 5 at 36-41 heading into the break.
The 2nd half started as quite a nervy affair with neither side able to capitalise on high percentage looks, until a Louie Kirkman steal and coast to coast lay up got TSK going. Manchester forward Ryan Lewis and TSK guard Elliot Dadds scored on back to back possessions but it would be Magic big man who restored a 6 point gap with a score from the paint. A 7-2 run for the visitors would keep them hanging around as Senor II hit a 3 ball and then got both Josh Brown and Elliott Dadds involved making it just a 1 point game. Gill and Bell managed the run however and they scored to put Magic back up 5 at 47-52 but that would be their final points of the quarter. Kestrels shut out the hosts over the final 3 minutes and a huge 11-0 run, capped off by 2 Eynon triples, would see TSK now up 58-52 heading into the final period.
Team Solent would find themselves up by as many as 8 points early on in the quarter as Chris Scarlett continued to pour it on from behind the arc. The sides traded baskets for much of the front end of the quarter until Scarlett connected on another long range attempt to restore a 7 point gap at 71-64. A 6-2 run with just under 4 minutes to go meant that Magic would trim the deficit to 76-73 setting up an extremely tense finish to the ball game. Then when Manchesters American import Donte Gittens tied it at 77 with just over 2 minutes to play it was too close to call just which may the momentum would now swing. Anumba would hit a 3 pointer out of a timeout but Joe Tagarelli scored on back to back possessions to edge TSK back in front 81-80. Gittens then pushed his side back into the lead with a running floater out of another timeout Scarlett and Eynon missed on great looks at a go ahead jumper Kestrels looked to have squandered their chance at clinching the ball game. With no timeouts left for the visitors, Gittens stepped to the line with 4.6 seconds left on the game clock, where he would split a pair of FT’s. Herm Senor snagged the inbound pass went the length of the court with Anumba riding his hip and pulled up for the dagger 3 as time was expiring… Nothing but the bottom of the net sending the Kestrels bench into a frenzy. However more drama would follow as the table officials signalled their was 0.2 seconds left when the shot connected therefore Magic used their final timeout. With only a tip in available to win the game Manchester attempted a lob from out of bounds but TSK broke up the pass and stole an invaluable road win 84-83.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II’s 25 points, 10 assists and 4 rebounds with Jake Eynon and Chris Scarlett chipping in 17 and 15 points respectively as the trio went 14/27 from downtown. Manchester Magic’s Donte Gittens led them with 21 points and 7 assists whilst Stefan Gill had 16 and youngster Michael Anumba had 14.
Team Solent Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon said this on the dramatic win; “I couldn’t be more proud of these guys right now as we showed great resilience the whole game and kept believing until the final buzzer. On the year we have really struggled to find the mark from 3pt range which has been our Achilles heel all season. Today we shot the ball with confidence and it opened up so many opportunities for us offensively. I thought so many players stepped up at different times during the game to help us get the win but the play of Chris Scarlett & Jake Eynon were real X-factors today and also another unbelievable performance from Herm Senor II who continues to deliver for us in the big moments.”
Kestrels will now look to a home match up vs. a tough Derby Trailblazers team this Saturday @ Places Leisure Eastleigh - 7pm tip off. Magic will look to get back to winning ways when they travel to Reading this Sunday.
Check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773111/bs.html
You can also check out the highlights including the late game heroics from Herm Senor II here on our YouTube channel; https://youtu.be/z8qZ40qMQHY
Herm Senor II got things underway on the opening possession with a 3 ball and Elliot Dadds would connect on a pull up jump shot after Lee Goldsborough opened Magic’s account with a quick post score. It would then be the home side who took control of the 1st quarter with balanced scoring from their starting group using a 9-0 run to take a 5-13 lead. Senor II stopped the run as he sliced his way to the hoop for an easy finish but the sides would trade baskets for the remainder of the quarter with Kestrels down 11-19 at the end of 1.
Stefan Gill pushed the lead out to 11 early on in the 2nd but Tagarelli and Jake Eynon gave TSK some respite and reduced the arrears to 6 prompting a Coach Middleton timeout for the home side. Post TO Magic youngster Michael Anumba cashed in a triple to restore a 9 point lead and the sides would trade 3 balls over the next couple of possessions. Kestrels would use an 11-5 run to close the half including 2 Chris Scarlett 3 balls to bring themselves within 5 at 36-41 heading into the break.
The 2nd half started as quite a nervy affair with neither side able to capitalise on high percentage looks, until a Louie Kirkman steal and coast to coast lay up got TSK going. Manchester forward Ryan Lewis and TSK guard Elliot Dadds scored on back to back possessions but it would be Magic big man who restored a 6 point gap with a score from the paint. A 7-2 run for the visitors would keep them hanging around as Senor II hit a 3 ball and then got both Josh Brown and Elliott Dadds involved making it just a 1 point game. Gill and Bell managed the run however and they scored to put Magic back up 5 at 47-52 but that would be their final points of the quarter. Kestrels shut out the hosts over the final 3 minutes and a huge 11-0 run, capped off by 2 Eynon triples, would see TSK now up 58-52 heading into the final period.
Team Solent would find themselves up by as many as 8 points early on in the quarter as Chris Scarlett continued to pour it on from behind the arc. The sides traded baskets for much of the front end of the quarter until Scarlett connected on another long range attempt to restore a 7 point gap at 71-64. A 6-2 run with just under 4 minutes to go meant that Magic would trim the deficit to 76-73 setting up an extremely tense finish to the ball game. Then when Manchesters American import Donte Gittens tied it at 77 with just over 2 minutes to play it was too close to call just which may the momentum would now swing. Anumba would hit a 3 pointer out of a timeout but Joe Tagarelli scored on back to back possessions to edge TSK back in front 81-80. Gittens then pushed his side back into the lead with a running floater out of another timeout Scarlett and Eynon missed on great looks at a go ahead jumper Kestrels looked to have squandered their chance at clinching the ball game. With no timeouts left for the visitors, Gittens stepped to the line with 4.6 seconds left on the game clock, where he would split a pair of FT’s. Herm Senor snagged the inbound pass went the length of the court with Anumba riding his hip and pulled up for the dagger 3 as time was expiring… Nothing but the bottom of the net sending the Kestrels bench into a frenzy. However more drama would follow as the table officials signalled their was 0.2 seconds left when the shot connected therefore Magic used their final timeout. With only a tip in available to win the game Manchester attempted a lob from out of bounds but TSK broke up the pass and stole an invaluable road win 84-83.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II’s 25 points, 10 assists and 4 rebounds with Jake Eynon and Chris Scarlett chipping in 17 and 15 points respectively as the trio went 14/27 from downtown. Manchester Magic’s Donte Gittens led them with 21 points and 7 assists whilst Stefan Gill had 16 and youngster Michael Anumba had 14.
Team Solent Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon said this on the dramatic win; “I couldn’t be more proud of these guys right now as we showed great resilience the whole game and kept believing until the final buzzer. On the year we have really struggled to find the mark from 3pt range which has been our Achilles heel all season. Today we shot the ball with confidence and it opened up so many opportunities for us offensively. I thought so many players stepped up at different times during the game to help us get the win but the play of Chris Scarlett & Jake Eynon were real X-factors today and also another unbelievable performance from Herm Senor II who continues to deliver for us in the big moments.”
Kestrels will now look to a home match up vs. a tough Derby Trailblazers team this Saturday @ Places Leisure Eastleigh - 7pm tip off. Magic will look to get back to winning ways when they travel to Reading this Sunday.
Check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773111/bs.html
You can also check out the highlights including the late game heroics from Herm Senor II here on our YouTube channel; https://youtu.be/z8qZ40qMQHY
TSK RALLY LATE TO WIN IN WEST YORKSHIRE
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Team Solent Kestrels ventured to West Yorkshire on Saturday evening in search of their first win of a Northern road trip double header. TSK came into the weekend off the back of a historic performance for them, which saw them book a spot in the National Trophy Final for the first time in the clubs short history whilst Bradford were also in high spirits after picking up an important win on the road at Leicester Warriors 88-77. It was Kestrels who got the better of the earlier match up this season at Places Leisure Eastleigh 87-73 but the scoreline did not reflect the difference between the sides and Saturdays game was much of the same where the score was concerned.
Dragons American big man Ricky Fetske got proceedings underway but Joe Tagarelli would respond with scores on back to back possessions after forcing Bradford into turning the ball over. Both teams scored freely over the next 3 minutes until a short 6-2 run for Kestrels behind successful trips to the foul line for Louie Kirkman and Elliot Dadds pushed the lead to 14-9. Dragons youngster Eisley Swaine would stop the rut however and knock down a 3 ball for his side but again a timely scoring run this time from a Tagarelli 3 ball and a Josh Brown 2 sparked a Bradford timeout with the visitors now up 19-12. Team Solent pushed the advantage to double digits through Herm Senor II and Joe Tagarelli with the lead at 24-14 and would go in to the 1st quarter break 24-17 to the good.
Jake Eynon came off the bench for TSK to get them off the mark in the 2nd with a quick score in transition after a Bradford turnover. It would be Dragons American guard Marcus Gooding who came off the bench for them to get going as he cashed in from beyond the arc for the first of four triples in the ball game. The sides continued to trade scores as the quarter wore on until Joe Tagarelli scored either side of a Louie Kirkman lay up to restore an 8 point advantage at 38-30, sparking a Coach Mellor timeout for the hosts. A short 8-2 run post TO including 3 balls from Fetske and Gooding trimmed the lead to 40-38 but that would be as close as Bradford got in the half. Kestrels weathered the run scoring freely in the paint to put them 48-40 to the good heading into the half time interval.
Louie Kirkman scored 6 points on consecutive possessions for Kestrels to start the 2nd half but Gooding and Rafi Saipe would match him getting to rim for easy scores keeping the deficit at 8. After some sloppy play from both sides Rihard Sulcs scored on a lay up after a nice find from Gooding to bring Dragons within 5. However a Senor II 3 ball followed by an Elliot Dadds steal and kick ahead to Senor II on the break put TSK back up 10 at 61-51 prompting a time out for the home team. Kirkman continued his good form with a tenacious steal and finish in transition to put TSK up 12 now. A dubious officiating call then led to some confusion and a quick inbounds for Ricky Fetske to help himself to a two handed flush for Bradford. Dragons did manage to trim the lead to 7 through Sulcs but Chris Scarlett connected on a jumper from 3 point range before Jermaine Laing scored as the 3rd quarter expired to leave the visitors up 70-62.
A 9-0 run across the first 4 minutes of the final quarter saw Bradford take their first lead of the ball game since the opening possession. With TSK going scoreless over the first 5 minutes Josh Brown and Jake Eynon stepped up to restore a slender advantage. Fetske would splash a 3 ball followed by a Sulcs trip to the line setting up a tense final 3 minutes with Dragons up 74-76. Senor II scored on back to back possessions but Fetkse would yet again respond from distance edging his team in front by 1. Sulcs would miss on a wild lay up attempt with 24.1 seconds left and it would be Joe Tagarelli trailing the play to put back a missed Kirkman lay up putting TSK up 82-81. Dragons would turn the ball over on the ensuing possession and a timeout then called by the hosts. Some extremely dubious table officiating then indicated that Kestrels had used all 3 timeouts when in fact they still had one left, meaning Coach Guymon was unable to prepare his team to inbound the ball on the following play. However Elliot Dadds took care of proceedings inbounding comfortably 3 times as Bradford ran up the foul count before Joe Tagarelli went to the line to sink a pair with Kestrels now up 84-81. Dragons got a good look at a 3 to tie the game but it wasn’t to be and TSK escaped West Yorkshire with a 3 point victory.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by big man Joe Tagarelli’s 25 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists whilst Herm Senor had 20 points and 5 assists and captain Louie Kirkman chipped in with 16. Bradford were led by Ricky Fetske’s sharp shooting performance with 22 points and 18 rebounds whilst Marcus Gooding had 20 points and 4 rebounds.
Matt Guymon, TSK’s Head Coach had this to say on his sides victory; “Bradford are always a very tough team with great organisation & team chemistry. I thought we were very good on the offensive end for large parts of the game but defensively we lost focus at times allowing easy looks for the home team. Credit to our guys though who dug deep in a difficult environment to close the game out late.”
You can check out the full stats here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773101/bs.html
You can also see the highlights on our YouTube Channel here; https://youtu.be/fJ0yjhJL2II
Dragons American big man Ricky Fetske got proceedings underway but Joe Tagarelli would respond with scores on back to back possessions after forcing Bradford into turning the ball over. Both teams scored freely over the next 3 minutes until a short 6-2 run for Kestrels behind successful trips to the foul line for Louie Kirkman and Elliot Dadds pushed the lead to 14-9. Dragons youngster Eisley Swaine would stop the rut however and knock down a 3 ball for his side but again a timely scoring run this time from a Tagarelli 3 ball and a Josh Brown 2 sparked a Bradford timeout with the visitors now up 19-12. Team Solent pushed the advantage to double digits through Herm Senor II and Joe Tagarelli with the lead at 24-14 and would go in to the 1st quarter break 24-17 to the good.
Jake Eynon came off the bench for TSK to get them off the mark in the 2nd with a quick score in transition after a Bradford turnover. It would be Dragons American guard Marcus Gooding who came off the bench for them to get going as he cashed in from beyond the arc for the first of four triples in the ball game. The sides continued to trade scores as the quarter wore on until Joe Tagarelli scored either side of a Louie Kirkman lay up to restore an 8 point advantage at 38-30, sparking a Coach Mellor timeout for the hosts. A short 8-2 run post TO including 3 balls from Fetske and Gooding trimmed the lead to 40-38 but that would be as close as Bradford got in the half. Kestrels weathered the run scoring freely in the paint to put them 48-40 to the good heading into the half time interval.
Louie Kirkman scored 6 points on consecutive possessions for Kestrels to start the 2nd half but Gooding and Rafi Saipe would match him getting to rim for easy scores keeping the deficit at 8. After some sloppy play from both sides Rihard Sulcs scored on a lay up after a nice find from Gooding to bring Dragons within 5. However a Senor II 3 ball followed by an Elliot Dadds steal and kick ahead to Senor II on the break put TSK back up 10 at 61-51 prompting a time out for the home team. Kirkman continued his good form with a tenacious steal and finish in transition to put TSK up 12 now. A dubious officiating call then led to some confusion and a quick inbounds for Ricky Fetske to help himself to a two handed flush for Bradford. Dragons did manage to trim the lead to 7 through Sulcs but Chris Scarlett connected on a jumper from 3 point range before Jermaine Laing scored as the 3rd quarter expired to leave the visitors up 70-62.
A 9-0 run across the first 4 minutes of the final quarter saw Bradford take their first lead of the ball game since the opening possession. With TSK going scoreless over the first 5 minutes Josh Brown and Jake Eynon stepped up to restore a slender advantage. Fetske would splash a 3 ball followed by a Sulcs trip to the line setting up a tense final 3 minutes with Dragons up 74-76. Senor II scored on back to back possessions but Fetkse would yet again respond from distance edging his team in front by 1. Sulcs would miss on a wild lay up attempt with 24.1 seconds left and it would be Joe Tagarelli trailing the play to put back a missed Kirkman lay up putting TSK up 82-81. Dragons would turn the ball over on the ensuing possession and a timeout then called by the hosts. Some extremely dubious table officiating then indicated that Kestrels had used all 3 timeouts when in fact they still had one left, meaning Coach Guymon was unable to prepare his team to inbound the ball on the following play. However Elliot Dadds took care of proceedings inbounding comfortably 3 times as Bradford ran up the foul count before Joe Tagarelli went to the line to sink a pair with Kestrels now up 84-81. Dragons got a good look at a 3 to tie the game but it wasn’t to be and TSK escaped West Yorkshire with a 3 point victory.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by big man Joe Tagarelli’s 25 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists whilst Herm Senor had 20 points and 5 assists and captain Louie Kirkman chipped in with 16. Bradford were led by Ricky Fetske’s sharp shooting performance with 22 points and 18 rebounds whilst Marcus Gooding had 20 points and 4 rebounds.
Matt Guymon, TSK’s Head Coach had this to say on his sides victory; “Bradford are always a very tough team with great organisation & team chemistry. I thought we were very good on the offensive end for large parts of the game but defensively we lost focus at times allowing easy looks for the home team. Credit to our guys though who dug deep in a difficult environment to close the game out late.”
You can check out the full stats here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773101/bs.html
You can also see the highlights on our YouTube Channel here; https://youtu.be/fJ0yjhJL2II
KESTRELS PUNCH THEIR TICKET TO THE TROPHY FINAL
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Sunday saw the long awaited National Trophy Semi Final match up between Team Solent Kestrels and Loughborough Student Riders, with both teams booking their spot back in September before the regular season got underway. As far as the league competition is concerned this was a 1 vs. 2 clash but with a one and done twist with a spot in the Trophy Final at stake. The visitors came in having already beaten Kestrels comfortably at home back in November and having navigated their way through a tricky preliminary pool knocking off Hemel Storm and Leicester Warriors to advance. TSK were also victorious in their pool knocking off Worthing Thunder, Reading Rockets and Kent Crusaders to top the group and advance to the knock out stages.
Riders Max Richardson got the scoring started as he finished on a drive and dump off from Alex Roberts whilst it would take the hosts a little longer to get off the mark with almost 3 minutes gone after Herm Senor sliced through the zone to find Louie Kirkman on a back door cut. Kestrels took the lead half way through the quarter at 9-5 through Herm Senor II’s 3 ball followed by an Elliot Dadds score in transition however GB U18 international Sesan Russell replied with a triple of his own to bring Riders back within a point. Senor II and this time Chris Scarlett off the bench went for back to back 3 pointers pushing TSK out to a 15-8 advantage before former Kestrels forward Dan Hemingway scored to stop the short skid for his side. The sides traded scores to finish the quarter finishing with Kestrels up 19-14.
Scarlett got to the Free Throw line to start the quarter for the hosts but Reis Pinnock worked the baseline well to catch and finish from another Alex Roberts dime. Jake Eynon came in off the bench to knock down a 3 that would give his side a brief 6 point lead before another back and forth flurry ensued over the next 4 minutes including 5 Roberts points for the visitors with the score now 31-27 Kestrels. Russell scored 5 of his sides last 10 points in the half but it wouldn’t be enough to bring them back level as Eynon connected on another 3 ball before the half was done, 39-35 TSK.
3 consecutive points for the visitors to start the half brought them within just a point before Joe Tagarelli served up a cutting Senor for a quick 2 to restore the lead to 3. Kestrels were unable to take advantage of some sloppy Riders play with back to back turnovers and missed jump shots only managing to increase the lead to 5 through Joe Tagarelli. Loughborough again showed their resolve and rallied behind Richardson and Hosana Kitenge to reduce the arrears to a point for a 2nd time in 3 minutes. Tagarelli scored 4 more to spark a short 6-0 run for the hosts to leave them up 7 at 49-42. The sides traded blows to finish the quarter and set up a tense final period with TSK taking a narrow 56-51 lead.
The 4th quarter started with both sides failing to convert on good looks for 3 and half a minutes straight perhaps showing just how much was at stake over the following possessions. Kestrels strung together a 9-0 run behind Tagarelli and Senor II whilst holding Loughborough scoreless until 3:40 left when Jonas Dieterich hit a much needed 3 ball. However Riders would find themselves down 11 65-54. The 3 would spark an 8-0 run to trim the gap to just 6 prompting a TSK timeout with 2:19 remaining. Tagarelli would respond out of the timeout with a game icing and-1 which ended up being the final basket of the game booking Kestrels spot in next months National Trophy Final, 68-59.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II with 14 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists, whilst Joe Tagarelli had 13 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists with Jake Eynon chipping in 10 points. Loughborough Student Riders’ guard Sesan Russell led them with 14 points and 4 rebounds whilst Alex Roberts and Max Richardson had 12 and 11 points respectively.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say after his side made the final; “Today was an unbelievable team effort where I felt everyone committed to the defensive end. To be able to hold a team of Loughborough’s quality to 59 points shows how much this game meant to our guys.
Offensively it wasn’t our best performance by any stretch but I thought we were able to convert enough late to get us over the line and we look forward to the final.”
Kestrels will now face Team Northumbria in National Trophy Final on Sunday 25th February 2018 at Worcester Arena in a rematch of last years National Cup Final. Details of tickets, travel arrangements etc. will be released on our website and across social media in the very near future.
You can check out the best shots from yesterdays action here; https://mirrorboxstudioslive.com/2018/01/28/kestrels-v-loughborough-cup-semi-final-28-jan-18/
The full stats can be found here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/819763/bs.html
If you missed the action you can also watch the highlights here on our YouTube channel; https://youtu.be/gcMEJy8DPXg
Riders Max Richardson got the scoring started as he finished on a drive and dump off from Alex Roberts whilst it would take the hosts a little longer to get off the mark with almost 3 minutes gone after Herm Senor sliced through the zone to find Louie Kirkman on a back door cut. Kestrels took the lead half way through the quarter at 9-5 through Herm Senor II’s 3 ball followed by an Elliot Dadds score in transition however GB U18 international Sesan Russell replied with a triple of his own to bring Riders back within a point. Senor II and this time Chris Scarlett off the bench went for back to back 3 pointers pushing TSK out to a 15-8 advantage before former Kestrels forward Dan Hemingway scored to stop the short skid for his side. The sides traded scores to finish the quarter finishing with Kestrels up 19-14.
Scarlett got to the Free Throw line to start the quarter for the hosts but Reis Pinnock worked the baseline well to catch and finish from another Alex Roberts dime. Jake Eynon came in off the bench to knock down a 3 that would give his side a brief 6 point lead before another back and forth flurry ensued over the next 4 minutes including 5 Roberts points for the visitors with the score now 31-27 Kestrels. Russell scored 5 of his sides last 10 points in the half but it wouldn’t be enough to bring them back level as Eynon connected on another 3 ball before the half was done, 39-35 TSK.
3 consecutive points for the visitors to start the half brought them within just a point before Joe Tagarelli served up a cutting Senor for a quick 2 to restore the lead to 3. Kestrels were unable to take advantage of some sloppy Riders play with back to back turnovers and missed jump shots only managing to increase the lead to 5 through Joe Tagarelli. Loughborough again showed their resolve and rallied behind Richardson and Hosana Kitenge to reduce the arrears to a point for a 2nd time in 3 minutes. Tagarelli scored 4 more to spark a short 6-0 run for the hosts to leave them up 7 at 49-42. The sides traded blows to finish the quarter and set up a tense final period with TSK taking a narrow 56-51 lead.
The 4th quarter started with both sides failing to convert on good looks for 3 and half a minutes straight perhaps showing just how much was at stake over the following possessions. Kestrels strung together a 9-0 run behind Tagarelli and Senor II whilst holding Loughborough scoreless until 3:40 left when Jonas Dieterich hit a much needed 3 ball. However Riders would find themselves down 11 65-54. The 3 would spark an 8-0 run to trim the gap to just 6 prompting a TSK timeout with 2:19 remaining. Tagarelli would respond out of the timeout with a game icing and-1 which ended up being the final basket of the game booking Kestrels spot in next months National Trophy Final, 68-59.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II with 14 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists, whilst Joe Tagarelli had 13 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists with Jake Eynon chipping in 10 points. Loughborough Student Riders’ guard Sesan Russell led them with 14 points and 4 rebounds whilst Alex Roberts and Max Richardson had 12 and 11 points respectively.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say after his side made the final; “Today was an unbelievable team effort where I felt everyone committed to the defensive end. To be able to hold a team of Loughborough’s quality to 59 points shows how much this game meant to our guys.
Offensively it wasn’t our best performance by any stretch but I thought we were able to convert enough late to get us over the line and we look forward to the final.”
Kestrels will now face Team Northumbria in National Trophy Final on Sunday 25th February 2018 at Worcester Arena in a rematch of last years National Cup Final. Details of tickets, travel arrangements etc. will be released on our website and across social media in the very near future.
You can check out the best shots from yesterdays action here; https://mirrorboxstudioslive.com/2018/01/28/kestrels-v-loughborough-cup-semi-final-28-jan-18/
The full stats can be found here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/819763/bs.html
If you missed the action you can also watch the highlights here on our YouTube channel; https://youtu.be/gcMEJy8DPXg
TSK MAKE IT 2-0 ON A TOUGH DOUBLE HEADER WEEKEND
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Team Solent Kestrels returned home on Sunday afternoon to St. Mary’s Leisure Centre where they played host to Reading Rockets in the sides third match up of the season so far, (1 in the National Trophy and 1 in the National Cup). Kestrels came in fresh off a huge 90-85 win in Worthing in front of probably the biggest crowd an NBL D1 game has seen for some time. Reading were well rested with no game on the Saturday but narrowly lost out last weekend to Hemel Storm 88-81 on the road. With TSK already having 2 wins under their belt this would make for a tense affair.
Rockets got on the scoreboard early through guard Sydney Donaldson’s pull up jumper off glass but a Louie Kirkman post score in reply would get the hosts going as well. The teams would trade baskets in the early going with Kestrels getting to the line well and Rockets guard Hendricks knocking down the 3 ball, however at the mid point of quarter Rockets would take a slender 5 point lead after Hendricks second triple at 11-16. Herm Senor II replied with an and-1 but Donaldson scored 4 straight to put the visitors up 14-20. However an 8-2 run to close the quarter including a rare Tagarelli 3 ball tied the game up at 22 each.
The 2nd quarter was a sloppy affair with both teams struggling to find the basket nor a rhythm. Danny Carter, back from a short lay off for the Rockets, scored 4 straight followed by American big man Tim Gill to put Reading up 22-28, with Kestrels struggling to score through the 4 minutes of the quarter. Senor II did however stop the drought with a drive and finish but again Kestrels would fail to put any substantial run together. Another Hendricks 3 ball with 3 minutes left in the half put Rockets up 32-26 but they wouldn’t score again for the remainder of the quarter whilst Kestrels strung together a 6-0 run to tie the game heading into the break at 32.
TSK started the 2nd half on a 13-5 run across the first 4 minutes behind 5 Josh Brown points building their first real advantage in the ball game now up 46-37. However a Donaldson drive followed by another Hendricks 3 ball pulled the visitors right back in the mix 46-42. Again the sides would trade baskets to close out the quarter with Reading taking the lead at 49-48 however Elliot Dadds went 3/4 at the line to finish the period and give Team Solent a 52-49 advantage heading into the 4th.
Rockets trimmed the deficit to 1 with a Donaldson score from the post but would struggle to score over the next 3 minutes going scoreless however with TSK failing to take advantage the game was still in the balance at 55-51 with a little over 5 minutes to play. However a 15-6 finish to the ball game for TSK including a big 3 from Jake Eynon and post scores from Joe Tagarelli would see Kestrels take their second win of the weekend 70-59 and stay top of NBL D1.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Joe Tagarelli’s 17 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocked shots whilst Herm Senor had 15 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Elliot Dadds stuffed the stat sheet also with 10 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals and 1 block in 27 minutes. Reading were led by Danny Carter with 13 points and 8 rebounds whilst guard duo Jerrod Hendricks and Sydney Donaldson had 12 a piece.
Head Coach of Team Solent Kestrels, Matt Guymon had this to say; “This was a real grind for us after last night at Worthing. I was pleased with how we dug deep on the defensive end to hold Reading to their lowest points total of the season. In a game where we had 25 turnovers we needed this type of performance defensively to get a result.”
Kestrels now turn their attentions to a massive National Trophy Semi Final tie vs. Loughborough Student Riders next Sunday 28th January 2018, St. Mary’s Leisure Centre, 5pm as they look for a place in the National Trophy Final next month. Reading have a week break in their schedule before they travel to Worthing Thunder on the 3rd February 2018.
You can check out the full stats here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773070/bs.html#ASFSK
And if you missed the action check out the highlights on our YouTube Channel here; https://youtu.be/2ttaNlIlaLU
Rockets got on the scoreboard early through guard Sydney Donaldson’s pull up jumper off glass but a Louie Kirkman post score in reply would get the hosts going as well. The teams would trade baskets in the early going with Kestrels getting to the line well and Rockets guard Hendricks knocking down the 3 ball, however at the mid point of quarter Rockets would take a slender 5 point lead after Hendricks second triple at 11-16. Herm Senor II replied with an and-1 but Donaldson scored 4 straight to put the visitors up 14-20. However an 8-2 run to close the quarter including a rare Tagarelli 3 ball tied the game up at 22 each.
The 2nd quarter was a sloppy affair with both teams struggling to find the basket nor a rhythm. Danny Carter, back from a short lay off for the Rockets, scored 4 straight followed by American big man Tim Gill to put Reading up 22-28, with Kestrels struggling to score through the 4 minutes of the quarter. Senor II did however stop the drought with a drive and finish but again Kestrels would fail to put any substantial run together. Another Hendricks 3 ball with 3 minutes left in the half put Rockets up 32-26 but they wouldn’t score again for the remainder of the quarter whilst Kestrels strung together a 6-0 run to tie the game heading into the break at 32.
TSK started the 2nd half on a 13-5 run across the first 4 minutes behind 5 Josh Brown points building their first real advantage in the ball game now up 46-37. However a Donaldson drive followed by another Hendricks 3 ball pulled the visitors right back in the mix 46-42. Again the sides would trade baskets to close out the quarter with Reading taking the lead at 49-48 however Elliot Dadds went 3/4 at the line to finish the period and give Team Solent a 52-49 advantage heading into the 4th.
Rockets trimmed the deficit to 1 with a Donaldson score from the post but would struggle to score over the next 3 minutes going scoreless however with TSK failing to take advantage the game was still in the balance at 55-51 with a little over 5 minutes to play. However a 15-6 finish to the ball game for TSK including a big 3 from Jake Eynon and post scores from Joe Tagarelli would see Kestrels take their second win of the weekend 70-59 and stay top of NBL D1.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Joe Tagarelli’s 17 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocked shots whilst Herm Senor had 15 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Elliot Dadds stuffed the stat sheet also with 10 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals and 1 block in 27 minutes. Reading were led by Danny Carter with 13 points and 8 rebounds whilst guard duo Jerrod Hendricks and Sydney Donaldson had 12 a piece.
Head Coach of Team Solent Kestrels, Matt Guymon had this to say; “This was a real grind for us after last night at Worthing. I was pleased with how we dug deep on the defensive end to hold Reading to their lowest points total of the season. In a game where we had 25 turnovers we needed this type of performance defensively to get a result.”
Kestrels now turn their attentions to a massive National Trophy Semi Final tie vs. Loughborough Student Riders next Sunday 28th January 2018, St. Mary’s Leisure Centre, 5pm as they look for a place in the National Trophy Final next month. Reading have a week break in their schedule before they travel to Worthing Thunder on the 3rd February 2018.
You can check out the full stats here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773070/bs.html#ASFSK
And if you missed the action check out the highlights on our YouTube Channel here; https://youtu.be/2ttaNlIlaLU
KESTRELS SNATCH WIN IN FRONT OF PACKED THUNDER CROWD
Image Courtesy | Sophie Smith Photography
Saturday evening saw Team Solent Kestrels make the short trip across the south coast to face Worthing Thunder for the third team this season having already matched up in the National Trophy and home tie in NBL D1. TSK came out on top on both occasions but with both sides making changes since the start of the season (most notably two ex TSK players now on Worthing Thunder roster; Jorge Ebanks & Marquis Mathis) and vying for a narrow margin at the summit of the league this would make for an intense affair. TSK came into the game off a subpar performance last time out vs. Team Northumbria whilst Worthing took a shock victory on the road to Leicester Warriors. Tip off was delayed slightly but for a good cause as the queues outside the venue were so big with the game widely attended and meant this spectacle would be played out in front of a packed house.
The game started at frenetic pace with Thunder captain Brendan Okoronkwo going 1/2 at the foul line whilst Elliot Dadds got Kestrels off the mark early. An exchange of buckets then followed with Marquis Mathis converting on an and-1 opportunity followed by Herm Senor II getting to the basket for the visiting Kestrels. Thunder’s American guard Zaire Taylor then connected on a deep 3 before Jorge Ebanks scored in transition to push the hosts 6-11 to the good. Joe Tagarelli then scored 8 straight but TSK would still be find themselves down after Mathis scored to make it 15-21. However a 9-2 run including a Jake Eynon 3 ball saw Team Solent edge in front at the end of 1, 24-23.
Kestrels had the better of the opening possessions in the 2nd quarter starting on an 8-2 run behind 4 Louie Kirkman points forcing Thunder into an early TO. The sides went back and fourth out of the timeout with Worthings guards taking on the scoring load whilst Eynon helped himself to two more triples with the visitors now leading 38-32. Tom Ward came in off the bench to knock down a jumper followed by an Ebanks score to force a Coach Guymon TO 39-36 TSK. An 11-2 run from Worthing pushed them out to a 41-47 advantage heading into the half time break.
Herm Senor II came out firing with back to back triples to start the 3rd but Aiman Rezk also connected on a three ball followed by a Mathis step back. Thunder managed to build a 7 point advantage again through Rezk before Louie Kirkman scored 4 straight to bring the deficit back to 51-54. The momentum then began to swing for Kestrels when Joe Tagarelli tied it up with a post score, then a huge 19-0 run blew the lead out to 70-55 with Tagarelli catching fire scoring 14 of those points. Thunder rallied to weather the onslaught before the quarter was up, but would be enough to reduce the double digit gap with Kestrels now up 72-59.
Kirkman and Senor II scored early in the 4th to push the lead out to 17 but an 8-0 to respond led by Ebanks brought Thunder to within 9. The sides traded baskets with the lead staying out at 9/11 points before Taylor and Mathis scored on back to back possessions with the score now at 81-74. Heading into the final 2 minutes Kestrels looked comfortable up 11 after Herm Senor II sliced his way to the rim, but it was by no means over yet. A furious 7-0 run from Worthing had them with 4 with just 1:21 left on the game clock. Tagarelli went 1/2 from the foul line out of a TO before Ebanks scored in the lane leaving the score at 88-85 with 43 seconds left. Mathis missed a jumper to tie the game up before TSK turned the ball over and game Thunder another opportunity to tie through Mathis. However he missed a 3 ball and Joe Tagarelli converted an and-1 in transition with 5 seconds left to ice the game at 90-85.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Joe Tagarelli’s 29 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists, whilst Herm Senor II flirted with a triple double having 20 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists and captain Louie Kirkman went for 18 points and 7 rebounds. Jorge Ebanks led Worthing with 18 points, whilst Zaire Taylor had a season low 16 points and Aiman Rezk had 15.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon was impressed with his sides toughness and had this to say; “I am so proud of our guys and how they responded after last week. To go into the toughest environment in the league and come out with a W is a real credit to these guys.
I felt like this was a real team effort but have to give a mention to Joe Tagarelli & Louie Kirkman who delivered their best performances of the season.”
You can watch the highlights here; https://youtu.be/tUbf_buSfQA
You can also check out the full stat breakdown; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773088/bs.html
The game started at frenetic pace with Thunder captain Brendan Okoronkwo going 1/2 at the foul line whilst Elliot Dadds got Kestrels off the mark early. An exchange of buckets then followed with Marquis Mathis converting on an and-1 opportunity followed by Herm Senor II getting to the basket for the visiting Kestrels. Thunder’s American guard Zaire Taylor then connected on a deep 3 before Jorge Ebanks scored in transition to push the hosts 6-11 to the good. Joe Tagarelli then scored 8 straight but TSK would still be find themselves down after Mathis scored to make it 15-21. However a 9-2 run including a Jake Eynon 3 ball saw Team Solent edge in front at the end of 1, 24-23.
Kestrels had the better of the opening possessions in the 2nd quarter starting on an 8-2 run behind 4 Louie Kirkman points forcing Thunder into an early TO. The sides went back and fourth out of the timeout with Worthings guards taking on the scoring load whilst Eynon helped himself to two more triples with the visitors now leading 38-32. Tom Ward came in off the bench to knock down a jumper followed by an Ebanks score to force a Coach Guymon TO 39-36 TSK. An 11-2 run from Worthing pushed them out to a 41-47 advantage heading into the half time break.
Herm Senor II came out firing with back to back triples to start the 3rd but Aiman Rezk also connected on a three ball followed by a Mathis step back. Thunder managed to build a 7 point advantage again through Rezk before Louie Kirkman scored 4 straight to bring the deficit back to 51-54. The momentum then began to swing for Kestrels when Joe Tagarelli tied it up with a post score, then a huge 19-0 run blew the lead out to 70-55 with Tagarelli catching fire scoring 14 of those points. Thunder rallied to weather the onslaught before the quarter was up, but would be enough to reduce the double digit gap with Kestrels now up 72-59.
Kirkman and Senor II scored early in the 4th to push the lead out to 17 but an 8-0 to respond led by Ebanks brought Thunder to within 9. The sides traded baskets with the lead staying out at 9/11 points before Taylor and Mathis scored on back to back possessions with the score now at 81-74. Heading into the final 2 minutes Kestrels looked comfortable up 11 after Herm Senor II sliced his way to the rim, but it was by no means over yet. A furious 7-0 run from Worthing had them with 4 with just 1:21 left on the game clock. Tagarelli went 1/2 from the foul line out of a TO before Ebanks scored in the lane leaving the score at 88-85 with 43 seconds left. Mathis missed a jumper to tie the game up before TSK turned the ball over and game Thunder another opportunity to tie through Mathis. However he missed a 3 ball and Joe Tagarelli converted an and-1 in transition with 5 seconds left to ice the game at 90-85.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Joe Tagarelli’s 29 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists, whilst Herm Senor II flirted with a triple double having 20 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists and captain Louie Kirkman went for 18 points and 7 rebounds. Jorge Ebanks led Worthing with 18 points, whilst Zaire Taylor had a season low 16 points and Aiman Rezk had 15.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon was impressed with his sides toughness and had this to say; “I am so proud of our guys and how they responded after last week. To go into the toughest environment in the league and come out with a W is a real credit to these guys.
I felt like this was a real team effort but have to give a mention to Joe Tagarelli & Louie Kirkman who delivered their best performances of the season.”
You can watch the highlights here; https://youtu.be/tUbf_buSfQA
You can also check out the full stat breakdown; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773088/bs.html
DIFFICULT MATCH UP WITH NORTHUMBRIA SEES KESTRELS SLIP UP
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Saturday night saw the visit of the reigning league and cup champions to Places Leisure Eastleigh as Team Solent Kestrels faced Team Northumbria in their 2nd match up of the season. In the first game of the regular season Team Northumbria edged a narrow 73-71 victory at Sports Central after a neck and neck affair throughout. TSK came into Saturdays match up off the back of their own narrow victory last Sunday against Hertfordshire outfit Hemel Storm whilst this would be Team Northumbria’s first game since the break having beaten Kent Crusaders before their lay off.
Northumbria would get going through guard Blayne Freckleton who scored their first 5 points whilst Joe Tagarelli and Herm Senor II would combine to score TSK’s first 8 points, but it would be the North East side who took the lead through the mid point of the 1st through some solid 3 point shooting at 12-8. Kestrels reduced the deficit to just a point at 13-12 but another 2 triples from Freckleton restored the visitors advantage even though Leon Henry would come off the bench to beat the buzzer on a lay up for Team Solent, 16-19 at the end of the 1st.
An 8-0 run for Team Northumbria to start the 2nd saw them take their first double digit advantage of the ball game at 27-16 after new American import Atif Russell knocked a pull up jumper. Nathan Schall would stop the run however as Louie Kirkman found him from the high post for an easy baseline score. Herm Senor II would score on the next Kestrels possession to reduce the arrears to 7 but Russell responded immediately with a 3 ball to restore the lead to double digits. Northumbria big man Malcolm Smith would also get in on the scoring act scoring 6 of his sides last 11 points in the half to push them out to a 29-45 lead.
It would be a slow start to the 2nd half for both sides as they traded baskets to open up through Louie Kirkman (TSK) and Siman Stewart (TNB) however a 13-5 run over the following 4 minutes, including 3 back to back to back triples for Northumbria meant they had increased the deficit to 25 at 60-35. Leon Henry would continue to score well off the bench for the hosts to keep them ticking over but Kestrels ended up down 22 to start the 4th, 44-66.
An 8-3 run for TSK to start the 4th gave them a glimmer of hope after Chris Scarlett and Louie Kirkman scores, putting them down 17. The visitors showed their poise and weathered the short run to keep Kestrels at bay and eventually ran out 21 point victors 86-65.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II’s 15 points, 9 assists, 2 steals and 2 rebounds whilst Leon Henry backed him up with 11 off the bench and Joe Tagarelli and Louie Kirkman had 10 each. Team Northumbria’s new American import led the way in his debut with 19 points and 6 rebounds with Malcolm Smith and Blayne Freckleton having 18 and 14 points respectively.
Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon commented; “We have to give credit to Northumbria they did a good job taking us out of rhythm offensively and were able to take the lead early and keep us at a distance the whole game. We will get back to it this week to prepare for an extremely important double header this coming weekend.”
TSK make the short trip to Worthing Thunder next Saturday where they’ll look to bounce back to winning ways at 7.30pm - Worthing Leisure Centre, before they return home to take on Reading Rockets at St. Mary’s Leisure Centre 3pm tip off. Team Northumbria have a weekend off before turning their attentions to Manchester Magic in the National Trophy Semi Finals.
You can check out the best shots of the game here from Mirror Box Studios;
https://mirrorboxstudioslive.com/2018/01/14/kestrels-vs-northumbria-13-jan-2018/
The full box score is available; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773095/bs.html
Also if you missed the action on Saturday the best bits are here on our YouTube channel for you;
Northumbria would get going through guard Blayne Freckleton who scored their first 5 points whilst Joe Tagarelli and Herm Senor II would combine to score TSK’s first 8 points, but it would be the North East side who took the lead through the mid point of the 1st through some solid 3 point shooting at 12-8. Kestrels reduced the deficit to just a point at 13-12 but another 2 triples from Freckleton restored the visitors advantage even though Leon Henry would come off the bench to beat the buzzer on a lay up for Team Solent, 16-19 at the end of the 1st.
An 8-0 run for Team Northumbria to start the 2nd saw them take their first double digit advantage of the ball game at 27-16 after new American import Atif Russell knocked a pull up jumper. Nathan Schall would stop the run however as Louie Kirkman found him from the high post for an easy baseline score. Herm Senor II would score on the next Kestrels possession to reduce the arrears to 7 but Russell responded immediately with a 3 ball to restore the lead to double digits. Northumbria big man Malcolm Smith would also get in on the scoring act scoring 6 of his sides last 11 points in the half to push them out to a 29-45 lead.
It would be a slow start to the 2nd half for both sides as they traded baskets to open up through Louie Kirkman (TSK) and Siman Stewart (TNB) however a 13-5 run over the following 4 minutes, including 3 back to back to back triples for Northumbria meant they had increased the deficit to 25 at 60-35. Leon Henry would continue to score well off the bench for the hosts to keep them ticking over but Kestrels ended up down 22 to start the 4th, 44-66.
An 8-3 run for TSK to start the 4th gave them a glimmer of hope after Chris Scarlett and Louie Kirkman scores, putting them down 17. The visitors showed their poise and weathered the short run to keep Kestrels at bay and eventually ran out 21 point victors 86-65.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II’s 15 points, 9 assists, 2 steals and 2 rebounds whilst Leon Henry backed him up with 11 off the bench and Joe Tagarelli and Louie Kirkman had 10 each. Team Northumbria’s new American import led the way in his debut with 19 points and 6 rebounds with Malcolm Smith and Blayne Freckleton having 18 and 14 points respectively.
Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon commented; “We have to give credit to Northumbria they did a good job taking us out of rhythm offensively and were able to take the lead early and keep us at a distance the whole game. We will get back to it this week to prepare for an extremely important double header this coming weekend.”
TSK make the short trip to Worthing Thunder next Saturday where they’ll look to bounce back to winning ways at 7.30pm - Worthing Leisure Centre, before they return home to take on Reading Rockets at St. Mary’s Leisure Centre 3pm tip off. Team Northumbria have a weekend off before turning their attentions to Manchester Magic in the National Trophy Semi Finals.
You can check out the best shots of the game here from Mirror Box Studios;
https://mirrorboxstudioslive.com/2018/01/14/kestrels-vs-northumbria-13-jan-2018/
The full box score is available; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773095/bs.html
Also if you missed the action on Saturday the best bits are here on our YouTube channel for you;
KESTRELS WEATHER STORM DOWN THE STRETCH TO STAY TOP
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Sunday saw the first game of the new year post Christmas break for TSK as they played host to fellow top four outfit Hemel Storm. The sides were yet to meet in NBL D1 action so far this season and would have had an eye on each other heading into Sundays clash as rivals at the summit. TSK came into the game fresh off the break and a comfortable victory in the north east vs. Team Newcastle whilst Hemel booked their spot in the National Cup final on Saturday night with an impressive display to beat Loughborough Student Riders.
Hemel opened the scoring with an AJ Roberts 3 ball but would struggle to get going in the early exchanges with TSK enjoying an 8-0 run over the next 3 minutes, both Herm Senor II and Joe Tagarelli scoring 4 each leading to a Storm timeout. David Ajumobi scored for the visitors out of the timeout to reduce the gap to 3 but Tagarelli and Senor II combined well again to push the hosts lead to 14-5 midway through the quarter. Bode Adeluola got to the line and then followed it up with a strong drive and finish but Louie Kirkman and Elliot Dadds would answer for Kestrels restoring an 11 point advantage at 20-9. However Storm rallied and strung together a 12-4 run to close the quarter leaving TSK with just a 24-21 lead.
The sides traded baskets in the opening phases of the 2nd quarter with Kestrels new comer Jake Eynon knocking down a 3 ball before Hemel sharp shooter Jack Burnell replied with a 3 of his own. AJ Roberts then broke the back and forth scoring with 5 points unanswered to give his side a point lead prompting a Coach Guymon timeout. Out of the timeout Chris Scarlett entered the fold with a corner 3 pointer only to be answered by a Roberts 3 on the next possession. Kestrels then enjoyed the better of the action with a 10-0 run to put them up 42-33 including 3’s from Scarlett and Senor II to force a Hemel break in play. More sharpshooting out of the TO from Scarlett and this time Elliot Dadds gave TSK a 48-35 lead, before a 6-2 run to close the half for Storm reduced the deficit to 9 at 50-41.
A quick 7-0 run to start the 2nd half including 4 Adeluola points for the Hertfordshire outfit saw them right back in the ball game at 50-48. Tagarelli got Kestrels going and Senor II followed with 4 points to restore the advantage at 8 for the home side. Elliot Dadds and Tayo Oyefusi would string together 10 unanswered points between them putting Kestrels right back in charge at 66-51 with 4 minutes left in the quarter. Out of the timeout Storm had a renewed focus and managed to chip away at the TSK lead with Chuck Duru and Jack Burnell scoring well. Coach Guymon would respond with a timeout with the lead down to 9 points. The final 3 minutes of the quarter saw the sides trade baskets again with Kestrels up 70-64 heading into the 4th.
The hosts sharpshooting continued to open the 4th with Elliot Dadds and Leon Henry going back to back from beyond the arc to put Kestrels 76-64 to the good. Then a flurry of unsportsmanlike and technical fouls ensued with a dubious ejection for Kestrels captain Louie Kirkman after a combination of an unsportsmanlike and a technical foul. Storm big man Adorian and Adeluola stepped forward to make 3 out of 4 FTs to reduce the gap to 77-70. Herm Senor II came back into the game following some foul trouble to stroke a 3 ball and set up a Tagarelli and-1 on the next possession to restore an 11 point advantage. Over the next 3 minutes Hemel then went on a game changing run to tie the game eventually at 83 each through some solid mid range jump shooting from Tom Adorian. Senor II made 2 FTs to put Kestrels up 85-83 with just over 2 minutes to go, before AJ Roberts went 1 of 2 at the line and Adorian pushed Storm into the lead at 86-85. Tagarelli and Scarlett would fail to convert on the next possession however AJ Roberts turned the ball over with 16 seconds left giving Herm Senor the opportunity to win the ball game. He would earn himself a trip to the line after an AJ Roberts blocking foul where he would ice the game and see TSK win 87-86.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II with 22 points and 6 assists, whilst Elliot Dadds had 15 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists and Joe Tagarelli had 15 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists. Hemel Storm were led by guard Bode Adeluola’s 22 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists whilst Tom Adorian backed him up with 18 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, Jack Burnell and AJ Roberts had 14 each.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say; “Firstly I want to say thank you to everyone who came out to support and created such a fantastic home atmosphere. I was proud of our resilience in the 4th when Hemel closed the gap. It took some big plays on both ends of the floor to grind this one out. Moving forward we must be better defensively, especially with how we defend dribble drive.”
Kestrels are back in action next Saturday as they play host to last years league and cup champions Team Northumbria at Places Leisure Eastleigh - 8pm tip off. Whilst Hemel Storm return home to face Reading Rockets next Saturday.
You can watch the game back on our club Facebook page here; https://www.facebook.com/TeamSolentKestrels/videos/1976248889069371/
Also you can check out full match stats here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773083/bs.html
Hemel opened the scoring with an AJ Roberts 3 ball but would struggle to get going in the early exchanges with TSK enjoying an 8-0 run over the next 3 minutes, both Herm Senor II and Joe Tagarelli scoring 4 each leading to a Storm timeout. David Ajumobi scored for the visitors out of the timeout to reduce the gap to 3 but Tagarelli and Senor II combined well again to push the hosts lead to 14-5 midway through the quarter. Bode Adeluola got to the line and then followed it up with a strong drive and finish but Louie Kirkman and Elliot Dadds would answer for Kestrels restoring an 11 point advantage at 20-9. However Storm rallied and strung together a 12-4 run to close the quarter leaving TSK with just a 24-21 lead.
The sides traded baskets in the opening phases of the 2nd quarter with Kestrels new comer Jake Eynon knocking down a 3 ball before Hemel sharp shooter Jack Burnell replied with a 3 of his own. AJ Roberts then broke the back and forth scoring with 5 points unanswered to give his side a point lead prompting a Coach Guymon timeout. Out of the timeout Chris Scarlett entered the fold with a corner 3 pointer only to be answered by a Roberts 3 on the next possession. Kestrels then enjoyed the better of the action with a 10-0 run to put them up 42-33 including 3’s from Scarlett and Senor II to force a Hemel break in play. More sharpshooting out of the TO from Scarlett and this time Elliot Dadds gave TSK a 48-35 lead, before a 6-2 run to close the half for Storm reduced the deficit to 9 at 50-41.
A quick 7-0 run to start the 2nd half including 4 Adeluola points for the Hertfordshire outfit saw them right back in the ball game at 50-48. Tagarelli got Kestrels going and Senor II followed with 4 points to restore the advantage at 8 for the home side. Elliot Dadds and Tayo Oyefusi would string together 10 unanswered points between them putting Kestrels right back in charge at 66-51 with 4 minutes left in the quarter. Out of the timeout Storm had a renewed focus and managed to chip away at the TSK lead with Chuck Duru and Jack Burnell scoring well. Coach Guymon would respond with a timeout with the lead down to 9 points. The final 3 minutes of the quarter saw the sides trade baskets again with Kestrels up 70-64 heading into the 4th.
The hosts sharpshooting continued to open the 4th with Elliot Dadds and Leon Henry going back to back from beyond the arc to put Kestrels 76-64 to the good. Then a flurry of unsportsmanlike and technical fouls ensued with a dubious ejection for Kestrels captain Louie Kirkman after a combination of an unsportsmanlike and a technical foul. Storm big man Adorian and Adeluola stepped forward to make 3 out of 4 FTs to reduce the gap to 77-70. Herm Senor II came back into the game following some foul trouble to stroke a 3 ball and set up a Tagarelli and-1 on the next possession to restore an 11 point advantage. Over the next 3 minutes Hemel then went on a game changing run to tie the game eventually at 83 each through some solid mid range jump shooting from Tom Adorian. Senor II made 2 FTs to put Kestrels up 85-83 with just over 2 minutes to go, before AJ Roberts went 1 of 2 at the line and Adorian pushed Storm into the lead at 86-85. Tagarelli and Scarlett would fail to convert on the next possession however AJ Roberts turned the ball over with 16 seconds left giving Herm Senor the opportunity to win the ball game. He would earn himself a trip to the line after an AJ Roberts blocking foul where he would ice the game and see TSK win 87-86.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II with 22 points and 6 assists, whilst Elliot Dadds had 15 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists and Joe Tagarelli had 15 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists. Hemel Storm were led by guard Bode Adeluola’s 22 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists whilst Tom Adorian backed him up with 18 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, Jack Burnell and AJ Roberts had 14 each.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say; “Firstly I want to say thank you to everyone who came out to support and created such a fantastic home atmosphere. I was proud of our resilience in the 4th when Hemel closed the gap. It took some big plays on both ends of the floor to grind this one out. Moving forward we must be better defensively, especially with how we defend dribble drive.”
Kestrels are back in action next Saturday as they play host to last years league and cup champions Team Northumbria at Places Leisure Eastleigh - 8pm tip off. Whilst Hemel Storm return home to face Reading Rockets next Saturday.
You can watch the game back on our club Facebook page here; https://www.facebook.com/TeamSolentKestrels/videos/1976248889069371/
Also you can check out full match stats here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773083/bs.html
SUCCESSFUL TRIP TO THE NORTH EAST LEAVES TSK TOP OF THE TREE
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Team Solent Kestrels made the longest trip of the season to the north east on Saturday to face newly promoted Team Newcastle University (4-9) in the final game before the Christmas break. Kestrels came into the match up off the back of a devastating semi final loss to Manchester Magic whilst Team Newcastle suffered a 19 point defeat at Leicester Warriors. The teams have already met earlier on this season at St. Marys Leisure with TSK taking a narrow 7 point victory.
Team Newcastle would get the better of the opening play with Ben Seipt stroking a 3 ball followed by Fran Urli’s pair at the free throw line putting them up 8-2 after 5 minutes. Nathan Schall would come in off the bench for the visitors to spark some life into their offence and tied the game up at 8 before Leon Henry capped off a 12-2 Kestrels run to prompt a coach Hewitt time out for the hosts. TSK would go in after the 1st ahead 18-12 after scores from Herm Senor II and Schall out of the timeout.
4 quick points from Joe Tagarelli pushed Kestrels out to a 9 point lead before Jack Beresford scored on a catch and shoot from the corner. However a 7-2 run including an Elliot Dadds and 1 saw TSK take a double digit lead for the first time mid way through the 2nd. Ben Seipt scored on a drive for Newcastle to reduce the deficit to 10 but this would be as close as Newcastle would ultimately get for the remainder of the ball game. A 10-3 run to finish the half for Kestrels meant they would take a commanding lead into the half time break now up 40-23.
Herm Senor II scored 4 of his 8 points in the quarter to start the 2nd half and get the offensive tempo high for the south coast side putting Kestrels up 44-23. The sides would trade baskets over the next 2 minutes with Wrencher getting to the foul line for the hosts whilst Nathan Schall added to his points tally to keep his side up by 20+ points. Another 10-3 run to finish the quarter including 4 points a piece from Schall and Senor pushed Kestrels out to their biggest lead of the game at 29 up 65-36.
The final quarter made for a slow affair as the teams really slowed the pace of the game down and in fact Kestrels controlled the game for large spells. Newcastle showed some life and a Coach Guymon timeout recomposed his side, Tayo Oyefusi and Theo King knocked down 3 balls to keep the lead out at over 20 and TSK would run out 79-54 winners.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Nathan Schall’s 14 points followed by American duo Herm Senor II and Joe Tagarelli with 13 and 11 points respectively. Ben Seipt led Newcastle with 13 points.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon was positive in his reflection of his sides performance; “I was proud of the way we were able to bounce back from our cup semi final exit last week. I felt we got contributions from everyone on the defensive end which allowed us to get out in transition and score the ball.
The Christmas break has come at a great time as a number of players are struggling with niggling injuries, so we look forward to getting guys healthy again before we face Hemel in our first game back.”
Kestrels now sit at the top of NBL Division 1 at 9-2 heading into the new year where they will entertain Hemel Storm at St. Mary’s Leisure Centre on Sunday 7th January 2018 at 2.30pm. Team Newcastle head into the new year 4-10 and will face a tough trip to Reading Rockets in their first game after the break.
Unfortunately there are no live stats nor is there any footage of the game, it is not usual protocol for this level of basketball but unforeseen in these circumstances.
Team Newcastle would get the better of the opening play with Ben Seipt stroking a 3 ball followed by Fran Urli’s pair at the free throw line putting them up 8-2 after 5 minutes. Nathan Schall would come in off the bench for the visitors to spark some life into their offence and tied the game up at 8 before Leon Henry capped off a 12-2 Kestrels run to prompt a coach Hewitt time out for the hosts. TSK would go in after the 1st ahead 18-12 after scores from Herm Senor II and Schall out of the timeout.
4 quick points from Joe Tagarelli pushed Kestrels out to a 9 point lead before Jack Beresford scored on a catch and shoot from the corner. However a 7-2 run including an Elliot Dadds and 1 saw TSK take a double digit lead for the first time mid way through the 2nd. Ben Seipt scored on a drive for Newcastle to reduce the deficit to 10 but this would be as close as Newcastle would ultimately get for the remainder of the ball game. A 10-3 run to finish the half for Kestrels meant they would take a commanding lead into the half time break now up 40-23.
Herm Senor II scored 4 of his 8 points in the quarter to start the 2nd half and get the offensive tempo high for the south coast side putting Kestrels up 44-23. The sides would trade baskets over the next 2 minutes with Wrencher getting to the foul line for the hosts whilst Nathan Schall added to his points tally to keep his side up by 20+ points. Another 10-3 run to finish the quarter including 4 points a piece from Schall and Senor pushed Kestrels out to their biggest lead of the game at 29 up 65-36.
The final quarter made for a slow affair as the teams really slowed the pace of the game down and in fact Kestrels controlled the game for large spells. Newcastle showed some life and a Coach Guymon timeout recomposed his side, Tayo Oyefusi and Theo King knocked down 3 balls to keep the lead out at over 20 and TSK would run out 79-54 winners.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Nathan Schall’s 14 points followed by American duo Herm Senor II and Joe Tagarelli with 13 and 11 points respectively. Ben Seipt led Newcastle with 13 points.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon was positive in his reflection of his sides performance; “I was proud of the way we were able to bounce back from our cup semi final exit last week. I felt we got contributions from everyone on the defensive end which allowed us to get out in transition and score the ball.
The Christmas break has come at a great time as a number of players are struggling with niggling injuries, so we look forward to getting guys healthy again before we face Hemel in our first game back.”
Kestrels now sit at the top of NBL Division 1 at 9-2 heading into the new year where they will entertain Hemel Storm at St. Mary’s Leisure Centre on Sunday 7th January 2018 at 2.30pm. Team Newcastle head into the new year 4-10 and will face a tough trip to Reading Rockets in their first game after the break.
Unfortunately there are no live stats nor is there any footage of the game, it is not usual protocol for this level of basketball but unforeseen in these circumstances.
NO CUP MAGIC FOR TSK AS THEY CRASH OUT IN SEMI FINALS
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Saturday saw Team Solent Kestrels welcome Manchester Magic to Places Leisure Eastleigh for the biggest game of the season thus far, a National Cup Semi Final with a spot in January’s final at stake. With the sides having met earlier this season at Fleming Park in NBL D1 action and TSK taking a narrow victory, this was always going to be a tense affair with the sides evenly matched. Magic made their way to the semi finals at the expense of D1 newcomers Team Newcastle University taking a 67-57 victory at the Amaechi Centre whilst Kestrels beat Reading Rockets comfortably at St. Mary’s Leisure Centre 89-67.
After some more teething issues at the new venue the game got under way with a tentative start, Louie Kirkman scored early to get the Kestrels on the board whilst Stefan Gill started as he meant to go on with back to back 3 balls. Magic had the first real run of the game to the tune of 9-0 including 4 points for Michael Anumba putting them up 15-6 midway through the 1st. However an 8-2 run for Kestrels brought them within touching distance at 17-14 with Leon Henry coming off the bench to score 7 points in the quarter. TSK would go into the quarter break down just 4 points after Elliot Dadds beat the buzzer to make it 26-22.
Herm Senor II scored on the opening possession of the 2nd with an and 1 but Donte Gittens would reply instantly on the next Magic possession. The next two minutes would however be a stalemate with neither team able to convert until Gill stroked another 3 ball to put his side up 31-25. A 7-0 run followed for the hosts however with Herm Senor II scoring 5 points personal which put the Kestrels up 32-31 for their first lead after a slow start. The sides traded scores for much of the remainder of the quarter with Magic displaying some sharp shooting from beyond the arc whilst Kestrels earned several trips to the FT line to keep them ticking over. Magic led at the break 47-43.
Manchester big man Lee Goldsborough would score 6 in a row to start the 2nd half and that sparked a 13-4 scoring run for his side. The back end of the quarter did see some life sparked back into TSK’s play with 6 points in a row to weather the Magic onslaught and only go in down 9 at 62-53 with 1 quarter to play.
Louie Kirkman scored early on in the final period to trim the gap to just 7, but Ryan Lewis restored the advantage with a 2 of his own. A flurry of turnovers and traded buckets ensued over the next 4 minutes to set up a nervy finish to a tense game. Joe Tagarelli trimmed the gap to just 8 with two FTs with 4 minutes to play but out of a Magic timeout Yannick Onifade restored the double digit deficit. However with a series of trips to the line for Manchester Magic they were able to keep to TSK at bay despite a last ditch run, that saw the game finish 80-74 to Magic. Manchester will now wait to see who they will face in January in the final as the Hemel Storm vs. Loughborough Student Riders game was postponed to adverse weather conditions.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Elliot Dadds & Herm Senor with 16 points each whilst Joe Tagarelli chipped in 15 and 16 boards. Manchester Magic were led by Stefan Gill with 25 points and American Donte Gittens backed him up with 18 points as they advanced to the cup final game.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say after his sides cup exit; “There were too many lapses today when guarding specific screening situations in the first half. I thought we locked in better in the 2nd half but lost our flow offensively. Even though silverware is one of our goals we are still in a great position in the trophy & league and we will get back to work this week in preparation for our final fixture before the Christmas break this weekend."
Kestrels hit the road to face Team Newcastle University this Saturday as they look to remain in the two spots in the league whilst Manchester Magic return home to host Derby Trailblazers.
You can watch the game back in full from our live stream on our Facebook page;
https://www.facebook.com/TeamSolentKestrels/videos/1942296679131259/
The full box score and stats breakdown is available here;
http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/796677/bs.html
Whilst the best action shots from our man Nick at Mirror Box Studios are all here;
https://mirrorboxstudioslive.com/2017/12/10/cup-semi-final-kestrels-v-magic-12-9-17/
After some more teething issues at the new venue the game got under way with a tentative start, Louie Kirkman scored early to get the Kestrels on the board whilst Stefan Gill started as he meant to go on with back to back 3 balls. Magic had the first real run of the game to the tune of 9-0 including 4 points for Michael Anumba putting them up 15-6 midway through the 1st. However an 8-2 run for Kestrels brought them within touching distance at 17-14 with Leon Henry coming off the bench to score 7 points in the quarter. TSK would go into the quarter break down just 4 points after Elliot Dadds beat the buzzer to make it 26-22.
Herm Senor II scored on the opening possession of the 2nd with an and 1 but Donte Gittens would reply instantly on the next Magic possession. The next two minutes would however be a stalemate with neither team able to convert until Gill stroked another 3 ball to put his side up 31-25. A 7-0 run followed for the hosts however with Herm Senor II scoring 5 points personal which put the Kestrels up 32-31 for their first lead after a slow start. The sides traded scores for much of the remainder of the quarter with Magic displaying some sharp shooting from beyond the arc whilst Kestrels earned several trips to the FT line to keep them ticking over. Magic led at the break 47-43.
Manchester big man Lee Goldsborough would score 6 in a row to start the 2nd half and that sparked a 13-4 scoring run for his side. The back end of the quarter did see some life sparked back into TSK’s play with 6 points in a row to weather the Magic onslaught and only go in down 9 at 62-53 with 1 quarter to play.
Louie Kirkman scored early on in the final period to trim the gap to just 7, but Ryan Lewis restored the advantage with a 2 of his own. A flurry of turnovers and traded buckets ensued over the next 4 minutes to set up a nervy finish to a tense game. Joe Tagarelli trimmed the gap to just 8 with two FTs with 4 minutes to play but out of a Magic timeout Yannick Onifade restored the double digit deficit. However with a series of trips to the line for Manchester Magic they were able to keep to TSK at bay despite a last ditch run, that saw the game finish 80-74 to Magic. Manchester will now wait to see who they will face in January in the final as the Hemel Storm vs. Loughborough Student Riders game was postponed to adverse weather conditions.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Elliot Dadds & Herm Senor with 16 points each whilst Joe Tagarelli chipped in 15 and 16 boards. Manchester Magic were led by Stefan Gill with 25 points and American Donte Gittens backed him up with 18 points as they advanced to the cup final game.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say after his sides cup exit; “There were too many lapses today when guarding specific screening situations in the first half. I thought we locked in better in the 2nd half but lost our flow offensively. Even though silverware is one of our goals we are still in a great position in the trophy & league and we will get back to work this week in preparation for our final fixture before the Christmas break this weekend."
Kestrels hit the road to face Team Newcastle University this Saturday as they look to remain in the two spots in the league whilst Manchester Magic return home to host Derby Trailblazers.
You can watch the game back in full from our live stream on our Facebook page;
https://www.facebook.com/TeamSolentKestrels/videos/1942296679131259/
The full box score and stats breakdown is available here;
http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/796677/bs.html
Whilst the best action shots from our man Nick at Mirror Box Studios are all here;
https://mirrorboxstudioslive.com/2017/12/10/cup-semi-final-kestrels-v-magic-12-9-17/
KESTRELS SLAY DRAGONS BEHIND STRONG FIRST HALF SHOWING
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Team Solent Kestrels played host to Yorkshire side Bradford Dragons on Sunday lunch time in the newly opened Places Leisure Centre (formerly Fleming Park). With the show court unavailable it would serve as a warm up for the first full game night experience in the new home of TSK next weekend. Kestrels came into Sunday off the back of two important home wins last weekend to keep pace at the top of NBL D1, whilst Bradford were coming off a narrow defeat in Worthing on Saturday evening 93-87. The home side were boosted by the inclusions of Leon Henry and Tayo Oyefusi who both missed out on last weekends action with niggling knee and ankle injuries respectively.
TSK started the fresher of the two sides potentially owing to the fact Dragons played late on Saturday and the home side jumped out to an early 12-3 lead with just 3 minutes gone. Joe Tagarelli scoring 8 of his sides 12 with Herm Senor II finding his team mates at will. A Rafi Saipe jumper followed by Oliver Hylands’ jump hook showed some signs of life for the visitors but Louie Kirkman scored 4 of his own followed by an Elliot Dadds jump shot to force a Bradford TO with TSK up 18-7. However out of the timeout a 6-0 Dragons run reduced the advantage to just 5 and prompt a Coach timeout. Much like the Bradford timeout it had the desired effect as Nathan Schall scored 4 quick ones followed by a Leon Henry jump short, Kestrels led 24-13 at the end of 1.
The 2nd quarter started with the sides trading buckets with Leon Henry connecting on back to back 3 pointers whilst Oliver Hylands and Jermaine Laing ticked the score board over for the Dragons. Another 4 points for Leon Henry mid way through the 2nd led to another Bradford timeout with the hosts now 36-19 to the good. Out of timeout the teams both earned trips to FT line before Kestrels finished the half on a 12-6 run to put them up 49-27 at the break.
Elliot Dadds pushed the Kestrels lead out early on to 24 points before 4 Hylands’ points got Bradford going in the 3rd. In large part the quarter would see both sides exchanging short runs and effectively trading baskets with neither side locking in on the defensive end. With 2 minutes left in the quarter the Yorkshire side would close out the period on a 9-2 run to trim the gap to just 11 points at 70-59 having put 32 points on the board for the quarter, setting up a tense 4th for the home side.
Joe Tagarelli would convert on an and-1 to start the quarter to temporarily restore some order to the Kestrels lead but a 4 minute dry spell for the home side would allow Bradford right back into the game behind some solid jump shooting from their guards. A Jermaine Laing pull up jumper reduced the deficit to just 8 points at the mid point of the period. Marcus Gooding jumper further cut the lead to just 6 points before Tagarelli scored 4 of his own down low to give TSK a 10 point cushion going into the final 2 and half minutes. Out of a Bradford timeout Herm Senor II knocked down a three ball Rihard Sulcs replied on a strong drive but that would be as close as the Dragons would get with Kestrels holding out for an 87-73 win in their first outing at Places Leisure Eastleigh.
Head Coach Matt Guymon commented on his sides win; “I thought we played some great basketball in the first half, keeping the tempo high and scoring well in transition. In the 2nd half Bradford came to life and we didn't respond and control the game as we should have. Credit to our guys who dug deep late in the 4th and made plays to secure the game.”
Team Solent Kestrels were led by big man Joe Tagarelli’s 25 points and 12 rebound double double, whilst Herm Senor II did it all with 15 points, 16 assists, 7 rebounds and 1 steal, Leon Henry also had himself 15 points. Bradford’s high point man was Rihard Sulcs with 17 points and 8 boards, whilst guards Rafi Saipe and Jermaine Laing had 13 each.
TSK now turn their attention to a huge semi final match up next Saturday evening at Places Lesiure Eastleigh vs. Manchester Magic, 7pm tip off. Whilst Bradford return home to entertain Reading Rockets in league play.
You can check out the full stats here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773063/bs.html#ASFSK
The best images from the game are also available here; https://mirrorboxstudioslive.com/2017/12/03/kestrels-v-bradford-dragons-3-12-17/
And you can check out the video highlights of the game on our YouTube channel; https://youtu.be/LZlXV4z2P18
TSK started the fresher of the two sides potentially owing to the fact Dragons played late on Saturday and the home side jumped out to an early 12-3 lead with just 3 minutes gone. Joe Tagarelli scoring 8 of his sides 12 with Herm Senor II finding his team mates at will. A Rafi Saipe jumper followed by Oliver Hylands’ jump hook showed some signs of life for the visitors but Louie Kirkman scored 4 of his own followed by an Elliot Dadds jump shot to force a Bradford TO with TSK up 18-7. However out of the timeout a 6-0 Dragons run reduced the advantage to just 5 and prompt a Coach timeout. Much like the Bradford timeout it had the desired effect as Nathan Schall scored 4 quick ones followed by a Leon Henry jump short, Kestrels led 24-13 at the end of 1.
The 2nd quarter started with the sides trading buckets with Leon Henry connecting on back to back 3 pointers whilst Oliver Hylands and Jermaine Laing ticked the score board over for the Dragons. Another 4 points for Leon Henry mid way through the 2nd led to another Bradford timeout with the hosts now 36-19 to the good. Out of timeout the teams both earned trips to FT line before Kestrels finished the half on a 12-6 run to put them up 49-27 at the break.
Elliot Dadds pushed the Kestrels lead out early on to 24 points before 4 Hylands’ points got Bradford going in the 3rd. In large part the quarter would see both sides exchanging short runs and effectively trading baskets with neither side locking in on the defensive end. With 2 minutes left in the quarter the Yorkshire side would close out the period on a 9-2 run to trim the gap to just 11 points at 70-59 having put 32 points on the board for the quarter, setting up a tense 4th for the home side.
Joe Tagarelli would convert on an and-1 to start the quarter to temporarily restore some order to the Kestrels lead but a 4 minute dry spell for the home side would allow Bradford right back into the game behind some solid jump shooting from their guards. A Jermaine Laing pull up jumper reduced the deficit to just 8 points at the mid point of the period. Marcus Gooding jumper further cut the lead to just 6 points before Tagarelli scored 4 of his own down low to give TSK a 10 point cushion going into the final 2 and half minutes. Out of a Bradford timeout Herm Senor II knocked down a three ball Rihard Sulcs replied on a strong drive but that would be as close as the Dragons would get with Kestrels holding out for an 87-73 win in their first outing at Places Leisure Eastleigh.
Head Coach Matt Guymon commented on his sides win; “I thought we played some great basketball in the first half, keeping the tempo high and scoring well in transition. In the 2nd half Bradford came to life and we didn't respond and control the game as we should have. Credit to our guys who dug deep late in the 4th and made plays to secure the game.”
Team Solent Kestrels were led by big man Joe Tagarelli’s 25 points and 12 rebound double double, whilst Herm Senor II did it all with 15 points, 16 assists, 7 rebounds and 1 steal, Leon Henry also had himself 15 points. Bradford’s high point man was Rihard Sulcs with 17 points and 8 boards, whilst guards Rafi Saipe and Jermaine Laing had 13 each.
TSK now turn their attention to a huge semi final match up next Saturday evening at Places Lesiure Eastleigh vs. Manchester Magic, 7pm tip off. Whilst Bradford return home to entertain Reading Rockets in league play.
You can check out the full stats here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773063/bs.html#ASFSK
The best images from the game are also available here; https://mirrorboxstudioslive.com/2017/12/03/kestrels-v-bradford-dragons-3-12-17/
And you can check out the video highlights of the game on our YouTube channel; https://youtu.be/LZlXV4z2P18
TSK TOO MUCH FOR WINLESS SPINNERS
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
In what was the 2nd game of a home double header weekend for Team Solent Kestrels, they welcomed Lancashire Spinners to Fleming Park early Sunday afternoon for what would be the final game in the old gym with the new centre set to open this week. TSK came in off the back of a slow burner vs. Leicester Warriors on Saturday night, where they were able to take control of the game down the stretch to edge out the east midlands outfit 71-57. Whilst Spinners suffered yet another defeat on the road along the south coast at Worthing Thunder, 90-69.
Louie Kirkman got the scoring going with a baseline up and under lay up whilst Spinners got going on the next possession as Oliver Ladlow barrelled his way to the rim for 2. The sides then traded baskets until a Kestrels 9-0 run stretched the lead out to 16-6 early on, with Herm Senor II scoring all 9 points. The Kestrels bench were able to get in on the act early with Nathan Schall, Theo King and Bikram Rana all getting on the scoresheet to leave TSK up 26-13 after 1.
The 2nd quarter was all TSK outscoring their counterparts 27-4, in what really blew the game wide open. Herm Senor II continued his hot start with finishes in transition as well as easy scores for Joe Tagarelli in the paint. Kestrels onslaught would continue through out the quarter as Josh Brown and Chris Scarlett got in on the act to see their side go into half time with a 53-17 lead.
Spinners showed early signs of life with new signing Harold Trobo scored 5 quick points but Joe Tagarelli and Herm Senor II combined well to ensure that no come back would be on the cards. Senor II and Dadds connected on back to back 3 pointers and left the lead at 77-36 with one quarter to play.
The final quarter saw a chance for Coach Guymon to hand some quality playing time to his second unit with Bikram Rana running the show well and Kalvin Anns getting in on the scoring act. Nathan Schall posted his best tally of the season with 14 points also. Spinners were able to keep their points total ticking over with several trips to the FT line but ultimately TSK had too much for the side from the North West finishing 99-50 winners.
Head Coach Matt Guymon was impressed with the contributions from his squad; “We played some excellent spells of basketball today, especially in transition which was good to see. All 11 players came into the game and I was pleased with the energy our younger players brought to the game off the bench.”
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II who had himself 30 points, 4 assists, followed by Joe Tagarelli’s 16 points and 8 rebounds whilst Nathan Schall had 14 points and 6 rebounds. Lancashire Spinners debutant Harold Trobo had 12 points in his first outing for his new club whilst Loick Pouale had 11.
TSK will now turn their attention to next Sunday when they play host to Bradford Dragons (3-4) at 1pm, Fleming Park Leisure Centre. Whilst Spinners (0-9) return home to face local rivals Manchester Magic (5-4).
You can check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773054/bs.html
You can also catch the video highlights here on our YouTube channel; https://youtu.be/mKFlKGcn1Kg
Louie Kirkman got the scoring going with a baseline up and under lay up whilst Spinners got going on the next possession as Oliver Ladlow barrelled his way to the rim for 2. The sides then traded baskets until a Kestrels 9-0 run stretched the lead out to 16-6 early on, with Herm Senor II scoring all 9 points. The Kestrels bench were able to get in on the act early with Nathan Schall, Theo King and Bikram Rana all getting on the scoresheet to leave TSK up 26-13 after 1.
The 2nd quarter was all TSK outscoring their counterparts 27-4, in what really blew the game wide open. Herm Senor II continued his hot start with finishes in transition as well as easy scores for Joe Tagarelli in the paint. Kestrels onslaught would continue through out the quarter as Josh Brown and Chris Scarlett got in on the act to see their side go into half time with a 53-17 lead.
Spinners showed early signs of life with new signing Harold Trobo scored 5 quick points but Joe Tagarelli and Herm Senor II combined well to ensure that no come back would be on the cards. Senor II and Dadds connected on back to back 3 pointers and left the lead at 77-36 with one quarter to play.
The final quarter saw a chance for Coach Guymon to hand some quality playing time to his second unit with Bikram Rana running the show well and Kalvin Anns getting in on the scoring act. Nathan Schall posted his best tally of the season with 14 points also. Spinners were able to keep their points total ticking over with several trips to the FT line but ultimately TSK had too much for the side from the North West finishing 99-50 winners.
Head Coach Matt Guymon was impressed with the contributions from his squad; “We played some excellent spells of basketball today, especially in transition which was good to see. All 11 players came into the game and I was pleased with the energy our younger players brought to the game off the bench.”
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II who had himself 30 points, 4 assists, followed by Joe Tagarelli’s 16 points and 8 rebounds whilst Nathan Schall had 14 points and 6 rebounds. Lancashire Spinners debutant Harold Trobo had 12 points in his first outing for his new club whilst Loick Pouale had 11.
TSK will now turn their attention to next Sunday when they play host to Bradford Dragons (3-4) at 1pm, Fleming Park Leisure Centre. Whilst Spinners (0-9) return home to face local rivals Manchester Magic (5-4).
You can check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773054/bs.html
You can also catch the video highlights here on our YouTube channel; https://youtu.be/mKFlKGcn1Kg
KESTRELS TAKE CARE OF WARRIORS IN SLOW BURNER
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Saturday night saw Team Solent Kestrels back at Fleming Park Leisure Centre after a 3 game road stand in NBL D1 and the visitors would be midlands outfit Leicester Warriors. Kestrels came into the game off the back of one of their best performances of the season, where they knocked Reading Rockets out of the National Cup to set up a semi final show down with Manchester Magic. Whilst the Warriors have found form of late with the addition of stand out American guard Rodney Sanders, after a slow start to their league campaign.
It would be Leicester who flew out of the gate starting much the brighter of the two sides, holding the hosts scoreless over the opening 3 minutes whilst scoring 8 points including 4 from Elliot Sentence. A Louie Kirkman free throw got TSK on the board but 5 more points from Rodney Sanders pushed the lead up to 13-1 midway through the 1st. The introduction of Nathan Schall off the home bench sparked much needed life into his teams play as he served up a monster dunk followed by a fierce rejection leading to an easy 2 for Herm Senor II. Out of a Warriors timeout the teams would hit a pair of triples each but the score would remain in favour of Leicester with them up 19-15 after one.
Joe Tagerlli got going early on in the 2nd with 4 quick points to bring his side level at 19, however Al-Amin Willan would put his side back in front on the following possession. The teams then began to trade baskets over the next 4 minutes with both sides knocking the 3 ball down, Chris Bruton would then edge the Warriors ahead 32-28 as he connected from beyond the arc. TSK then enjoyed a 7-0 run to close the half out and edge themselves in front at the break after Elliot Dadds cashed in from distance to make it 35-32.
Leicester would get things going in the 2nd half after several rotations by TSK, Elliot Sentence would tip toe his way to the rim for an easy score. However this would spark TSK into the life they needed as Herm Senor made back to back triples to ignite a 13-0 run for the hosts putting them up 48-36 prompting a Warriors timeout midway through the 3rd. Joe Tagarelli continued to edge Kestrels further in front from the line before Sentence managed to weather the dry spell for the Warriors with a 3 ball. 4 unanswered points for Leicester allowed them to trim the lead to 7 before a Nathan Schall dunk restored the advantage for TSK, however the lead would only stand at 8 points going into the 4th, 54-46.
Rodney Sanders cut the lead to 5 right out the blocks to start final quarter with a pull 3. The sides would then trade successful trips to the line before Tagarelli and Sanders went basket for basket. A 9-0 run came on the back of that scoring run to restore a double digit advantage for TSK up 14 at 67-53 including 5 Herm Senor points. Over the remaining t4 minutes the teams again went back and forth trading buckets to see TSK take a 71-57 win in the first of a home double header weekend.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon commented; “It was another slow start for us which is something we have to figure out quickly as we can't keep getting 10 points down before we decide to start playing.
I was however really impressed with our composure & defensive effort in the 2nd half which allowed us to control the game down the stretch.”
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Joe Tagarelli’s huge double double with 21 points and 15 rebounds, whilst Herm Senor II chipped in 15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and Louie Kirkman with 9 points 7 rebounds. Leicester were led by Elliot Sentence and Rodney Sanders who had 15 points, 5 rebounds a piece and Case Bruton who had 13 points and 4 rebounds.
You can find the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773049/bs.html
You can also catch the video highlights on our YouTube channel; https://youtu.be/wpWC_cJ3Lm0
It would be Leicester who flew out of the gate starting much the brighter of the two sides, holding the hosts scoreless over the opening 3 minutes whilst scoring 8 points including 4 from Elliot Sentence. A Louie Kirkman free throw got TSK on the board but 5 more points from Rodney Sanders pushed the lead up to 13-1 midway through the 1st. The introduction of Nathan Schall off the home bench sparked much needed life into his teams play as he served up a monster dunk followed by a fierce rejection leading to an easy 2 for Herm Senor II. Out of a Warriors timeout the teams would hit a pair of triples each but the score would remain in favour of Leicester with them up 19-15 after one.
Joe Tagerlli got going early on in the 2nd with 4 quick points to bring his side level at 19, however Al-Amin Willan would put his side back in front on the following possession. The teams then began to trade baskets over the next 4 minutes with both sides knocking the 3 ball down, Chris Bruton would then edge the Warriors ahead 32-28 as he connected from beyond the arc. TSK then enjoyed a 7-0 run to close the half out and edge themselves in front at the break after Elliot Dadds cashed in from distance to make it 35-32.
Leicester would get things going in the 2nd half after several rotations by TSK, Elliot Sentence would tip toe his way to the rim for an easy score. However this would spark TSK into the life they needed as Herm Senor made back to back triples to ignite a 13-0 run for the hosts putting them up 48-36 prompting a Warriors timeout midway through the 3rd. Joe Tagarelli continued to edge Kestrels further in front from the line before Sentence managed to weather the dry spell for the Warriors with a 3 ball. 4 unanswered points for Leicester allowed them to trim the lead to 7 before a Nathan Schall dunk restored the advantage for TSK, however the lead would only stand at 8 points going into the 4th, 54-46.
Rodney Sanders cut the lead to 5 right out the blocks to start final quarter with a pull 3. The sides would then trade successful trips to the line before Tagarelli and Sanders went basket for basket. A 9-0 run came on the back of that scoring run to restore a double digit advantage for TSK up 14 at 67-53 including 5 Herm Senor points. Over the remaining t4 minutes the teams again went back and forth trading buckets to see TSK take a 71-57 win in the first of a home double header weekend.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon commented; “It was another slow start for us which is something we have to figure out quickly as we can't keep getting 10 points down before we decide to start playing.
I was however really impressed with our composure & defensive effort in the 2nd half which allowed us to control the game down the stretch.”
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Joe Tagarelli’s huge double double with 21 points and 15 rebounds, whilst Herm Senor II chipped in 15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and Louie Kirkman with 9 points 7 rebounds. Leicester were led by Elliot Sentence and Rodney Sanders who had 15 points, 5 rebounds a piece and Case Bruton who had 13 points and 4 rebounds.
You can find the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773049/bs.html
You can also catch the video highlights on our YouTube channel; https://youtu.be/wpWC_cJ3Lm0
TSK BOOK NATIONAL CUP SEMI FINAL SPOT AFTER GROUNDING ROCKETS
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Sunday saw the 2nd game of the double header weekend for Team Solent Kestrels as Reading Rockets made the short trip south with a place in the National Cup semi final at stake. The teams have already matched up earlier this season which saw TSK victorious in the National Trophy competition. Kestrels came into Sunday off the back of a strong 1st half performance the day before that ultimately saw them hold off Kent Crusaders for a 74-61 victory in the capital, where as Rockets faced a tough Derby side on the road but were able to take care of the Trailblazers 92-76.
In true knock out fashion the game started with a tense opening 4 minutes as neither side were really able to take control of the early exchanges and it evident that both sides had played less than 24 hours before. Rockets would take an early lead through the middle of the quarter with Joel Keeble scoring off the bounce to make it 7-4 to his side. However a 9-0 run from the home side in response would prompt a Reading timeout with Herm Senor II scoring at will in transition. A Keeble 3 out of the timeout would keep the visitors ticking over but TSK would go in up 16-10 after 1.
The 2nd quarter would start with back to back Leon Henry 3 balls to push the Solent lead to 12 but Rockets guard Jerrod Hendricks replied with a 3 of his own. The teams would trade baskets over the next 4 minutes until Chris Scarlett and Herm Senor II knocked down 3 balls and Louie Kirkman got the hoop and the harm to put TSK up 36-19. Reading forward Ali Sbai did however manage to weather the run and connect on back to back 3 balls sparking a Coach Guymon TO with his side now only up 11. Out of the timeout the Kestrels outscored Reading 11-6 to finish the quarter behind 6 Kirkman points to put them 47-31 to the good at the break.
Joe Tagarelli got TSK going in the 2nd half with a pretty spin baseline for 2 of his 18 points however Jonny Foulds would reply at the line for Reading followed by a Hendricks pull up jump shot. A 9-0 run midway through the quarter for the Rockets including Sydney Donaldson’s first 4 points of the game, reduced the gap to 12 after TSK had been up by 21 which in turn triggered a home timeout. Reading managed to trim the lead to 10 before Elliot Dadds and Chris Scarlett connected from beyond the arc to restore order for Kestrels seeing them up 63-48 going into the 4th.
Despite early signs of life from the Berkshire outfit with Hendricks and Sbai stroking 3 balls, 10 points would be as close as Reading would get. Tayo Oyefusi knocked down a timely 3 and Joe Tagarelli contributed another 9 points to put the visitors out of sight. TSK finished the game on an 8-2 run winning the ball game 89-67, which saw them book their spot in the NBL National Cup semi final for the 2nd consecutive season and the 2nd semi final already this season.
Team Solent Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon was full of praise for his side after their quarter final triumph; “I couldn't be more proud of our performance today. It was clear to see how much this game meant to the guys in a knock out scenario. I felt we got excellent contributions off the bench which allowed us to play at a high intensity throughout.”
Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II and Joe Tagarelli with 18 points each whilst Elliot Dadds added 15 points also. Rockets guard Jerrod Hendricks led all scorers with 21 points whilst Ali Sbai had 16 points.
TSK will now face Manchester Magic in the semi finals, whilst Hemel Storm will play host to Loughborough Student Riders in the other semi. These games will take place on the weekend of the 9th/10th December 2017, keep an eye on TSK social media for all updates and the confirmation of the semi final fixture.
Kestrels now turn their attentions to a home league double header this weekend vs. Leicester Warriors (Saturday - 7pm - Fleming Park) followed by Lancashire Spinners (Sunday - 2.30pm - Fleming Park). Where as Reading will return home to entertain Loughborough Student Riders on Saturday and then hit the road to face Kent Crusaders on Sunday.
In true knock out fashion the game started with a tense opening 4 minutes as neither side were really able to take control of the early exchanges and it evident that both sides had played less than 24 hours before. Rockets would take an early lead through the middle of the quarter with Joel Keeble scoring off the bounce to make it 7-4 to his side. However a 9-0 run from the home side in response would prompt a Reading timeout with Herm Senor II scoring at will in transition. A Keeble 3 out of the timeout would keep the visitors ticking over but TSK would go in up 16-10 after 1.
The 2nd quarter would start with back to back Leon Henry 3 balls to push the Solent lead to 12 but Rockets guard Jerrod Hendricks replied with a 3 of his own. The teams would trade baskets over the next 4 minutes until Chris Scarlett and Herm Senor II knocked down 3 balls and Louie Kirkman got the hoop and the harm to put TSK up 36-19. Reading forward Ali Sbai did however manage to weather the run and connect on back to back 3 balls sparking a Coach Guymon TO with his side now only up 11. Out of the timeout the Kestrels outscored Reading 11-6 to finish the quarter behind 6 Kirkman points to put them 47-31 to the good at the break.
Joe Tagarelli got TSK going in the 2nd half with a pretty spin baseline for 2 of his 18 points however Jonny Foulds would reply at the line for Reading followed by a Hendricks pull up jump shot. A 9-0 run midway through the quarter for the Rockets including Sydney Donaldson’s first 4 points of the game, reduced the gap to 12 after TSK had been up by 21 which in turn triggered a home timeout. Reading managed to trim the lead to 10 before Elliot Dadds and Chris Scarlett connected from beyond the arc to restore order for Kestrels seeing them up 63-48 going into the 4th.
Despite early signs of life from the Berkshire outfit with Hendricks and Sbai stroking 3 balls, 10 points would be as close as Reading would get. Tayo Oyefusi knocked down a timely 3 and Joe Tagarelli contributed another 9 points to put the visitors out of sight. TSK finished the game on an 8-2 run winning the ball game 89-67, which saw them book their spot in the NBL National Cup semi final for the 2nd consecutive season and the 2nd semi final already this season.
Team Solent Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon was full of praise for his side after their quarter final triumph; “I couldn't be more proud of our performance today. It was clear to see how much this game meant to the guys in a knock out scenario. I felt we got excellent contributions off the bench which allowed us to play at a high intensity throughout.”
Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II and Joe Tagarelli with 18 points each whilst Elliot Dadds added 15 points also. Rockets guard Jerrod Hendricks led all scorers with 21 points whilst Ali Sbai had 16 points.
TSK will now face Manchester Magic in the semi finals, whilst Hemel Storm will play host to Loughborough Student Riders in the other semi. These games will take place on the weekend of the 9th/10th December 2017, keep an eye on TSK social media for all updates and the confirmation of the semi final fixture.
Kestrels now turn their attentions to a home league double header this weekend vs. Leicester Warriors (Saturday - 7pm - Fleming Park) followed by Lancashire Spinners (Sunday - 2.30pm - Fleming Park). Where as Reading will return home to entertain Loughborough Student Riders on Saturday and then hit the road to face Kent Crusaders on Sunday.
KESTRELS BOUNCE BACK WITH WIN AT CRUSADERS
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Saturday saw Team Solent Kestrels make their second trip of the season to Barking Abbey to take on Kent Crusaders. TSK escaped with a narrow 6 point victory last time out in the National Trophy competition. Kent came into this one on the back of their heaviest defeat of the season on the road at Leicester Warriors whilst the visitors also suffered their biggest defeat on the road at Loughborough Student Riders.
A tough left handed drive from Caleb Fuller would get the hosts underway on the opening possession of the game, but Joe Tagarelli would answer right back a quick post score of his own for TSK. Kestrels would start the brighter after the opening exchange going up 10-4 early with Tagarelli continuing to assert himself down low scoring 6 quick points. However Kent sparked into life after a pair of 3 pointers from forward Dean Wanliss and Fuller. Fuller’s second triple trimmed the gap to just a point at 18-17 but a 7-0 run to close the quarter including 4 Nathan Schall points put TSK up 25-17 after 1.
Louie Kirkman got Kestrels going early in the 2nd with a pretty spin move and this would spark a 12-4 run. The run would ultimately push the advantage out to 16 at 37-21 and was capped off by a Theo King three ball off the bench. Crusaders were able to weather the storm lightly of a post score from Wanliss to leave them down just 12 but another run this time 7-0, including 4 more Tagarelli points left Kent trailing by 19. Out of a home timeout the sides would trade baskets for the remainder of the 2nd and TSK would take a 22 point cushion into the half time break u 52-30.
Kent started the 2nd half in much better fashion with Sean Nealon-Lino knocking down a 3 followed by a quick trip to the line for Wanliss to convert on 2 FTs. Despite a Tayo Oyefusi FT the visitors were unable to score any where near as freely as in the 1st half and the game slowed right down from here on in. Whilst TSK had slowed up and some sloppy play left them unable to make shots, the hosts were not able to capitalise with the lead still out at 15 to end the quarter.
Elliot Dadds opened the final quarter with a much needed 3 ball for TSK but Dwayne Orija would respond with a 3 of his own on the following possession. An 8-2 run over the next 3 minutes for Kestrels managed to push their lead back out to 21 behind some pin point FT shooting from Herm Senor II. Out of a TO however Kent showed their was still life in them yet, with a quick 8-0 run of their own capped off by another Orija 3 ball to reduce the arrears to 13. The sides would however trade baskets for the rest of the quarter and the game finished 74-61 in favour of Kestrels.
Team Solent Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say on his sides victory; “I liked how we responded defensively after last weeks game. We came out with energy & focus which fuelled our offensive performance in the first half. Credit to Kent for slowing us down in the 4th, but fortunately we had enough to pull through.”
TSK were led by Joe Tagarelli 23 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists whilst Elliot Dadds filled it up with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Kent Crusaders forward Caleb Fuller was their high point man with 16 points and 8 boards and 3 others had 11 a piece.
Check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773044/bs.html
Full highlights can be watched here on our Youtube Channel; https://youtu.be/-2sC6-xX_98
A tough left handed drive from Caleb Fuller would get the hosts underway on the opening possession of the game, but Joe Tagarelli would answer right back a quick post score of his own for TSK. Kestrels would start the brighter after the opening exchange going up 10-4 early with Tagarelli continuing to assert himself down low scoring 6 quick points. However Kent sparked into life after a pair of 3 pointers from forward Dean Wanliss and Fuller. Fuller’s second triple trimmed the gap to just a point at 18-17 but a 7-0 run to close the quarter including 4 Nathan Schall points put TSK up 25-17 after 1.
Louie Kirkman got Kestrels going early in the 2nd with a pretty spin move and this would spark a 12-4 run. The run would ultimately push the advantage out to 16 at 37-21 and was capped off by a Theo King three ball off the bench. Crusaders were able to weather the storm lightly of a post score from Wanliss to leave them down just 12 but another run this time 7-0, including 4 more Tagarelli points left Kent trailing by 19. Out of a home timeout the sides would trade baskets for the remainder of the 2nd and TSK would take a 22 point cushion into the half time break u 52-30.
Kent started the 2nd half in much better fashion with Sean Nealon-Lino knocking down a 3 followed by a quick trip to the line for Wanliss to convert on 2 FTs. Despite a Tayo Oyefusi FT the visitors were unable to score any where near as freely as in the 1st half and the game slowed right down from here on in. Whilst TSK had slowed up and some sloppy play left them unable to make shots, the hosts were not able to capitalise with the lead still out at 15 to end the quarter.
Elliot Dadds opened the final quarter with a much needed 3 ball for TSK but Dwayne Orija would respond with a 3 of his own on the following possession. An 8-2 run over the next 3 minutes for Kestrels managed to push their lead back out to 21 behind some pin point FT shooting from Herm Senor II. Out of a TO however Kent showed their was still life in them yet, with a quick 8-0 run of their own capped off by another Orija 3 ball to reduce the arrears to 13. The sides would however trade baskets for the rest of the quarter and the game finished 74-61 in favour of Kestrels.
Team Solent Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say on his sides victory; “I liked how we responded defensively after last weeks game. We came out with energy & focus which fuelled our offensive performance in the first half. Credit to Kent for slowing us down in the 4th, but fortunately we had enough to pull through.”
TSK were led by Joe Tagarelli 23 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists whilst Elliot Dadds filled it up with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Kent Crusaders forward Caleb Fuller was their high point man with 16 points and 8 boards and 3 others had 11 a piece.
Check out the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773044/bs.html
Full highlights can be watched here on our Youtube Channel; https://youtu.be/-2sC6-xX_98
SHARP SHOOTING L'BORO TAKE DOWN TSK IN TABLE TOPPING CLASH
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
For the 2nd time in as many Saturdays Team Solent Kestrels made the trip to the East Midlands, this time to face fellow league leaders Loughborough Student Riders. Kestrels came into the match up having edged a narrow 2 point win last time out vs. Derby Trailblazers, whilst Student Riders hammered fellow East Mids outfit Leicester Warriors by 38. With the two sides set to meet in the National Trophy semi final in the new year this would be a real test for both outfits.
Both sides would be off the target to get the game underway missing on several 3 point attempts early, however a Joe Tagarelli put back got things going for the visitors. Riders big man Hosana Kitenge would get them off the mark in the following possession but it would be Kestrels up early with Tagarelli scoring the first 9 points for his side to put them 9-6 in a low scoring first 5 minutes. The introduction of Alex Roberts for the hosts would spark them into life with a 3 ball to tie it up and then another as time expired in the quarter, to push his side out to an 18-11 lead at the end of one.
Former Team Solent Kestrels and Itchen College stand out Dan Hemingway got Loughborough going in the 2nd with a quick post score. However much the same as the 1st quarter, for the next two minutes, neither team were able to make shots until Louie Kirkman scored on a dump off from Herm Senor II to make it 20-13. Tom Yome would then hit his first 3 ball of the season for the home side and would stretch their lead out to 12 points mid way through the quarter. However a quick 7-0 run from Kestrels, including 5 points from Senor II sparked a Coach Jarram timeout with the lead slashed to just 5. TSK would trim the gap to just 4 points after a Tayo Oyefusi triple but with Riders 3 balls either side of a Leon Henry lay up the hosts went into the half time break up 41-33.
A Lucien Christofis 3 pointer opened the second half scoring for Riders but Elliot Dadds would reply with a step back 3 of his own for TSK. Christofis would hit another 3 ball two possessions later to continue Loughborough’s red hot shooting from beyond the arc. Oyefusi would trim the deficit to just 6 points when he made 2 of 3 FTs but that would spark a run that blew the game wide open ahead of the 4th quarter. Loughborough strung together a 15-4 run including 8 points personal for GB junior Sesan Russell, to go into the 4th up 64-48.
Kestrels would start the final quarter in a much more positive fashion with a short 7-0 run, again with 5 points from point guard Herm Senor II to spark an early Loughborough timeout with the lead down to just 9 points. Out of the timeout the sides would trade baskets until another Christofis 3 ball pushed the lead back out to 12 points and despite 4 Tagarelli points that would be as close as TSK would get. Sesan Russell would continue to score well down the stretch and put Kestrels out of sight with Loughborough Student Riders running out 86-67 winners.
“I was disappointed with how we competed on the defensive end, lacking that grit & energy I know we are capable of. Loughborough were able to take us out of rhythm offensively and did a good job slowing us down and making us play a half court game.” Commented TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Joe Tagarelli’s 21 pts, 10 rebs and 8 asts. Whilst Herm Senor II chipped in with 18 pts and 3 asts. Lucien Christofis was the high point man for Loughborough with 19 points, Sesan Russell added 18 points and Alex Roberts had 15.
Both teams are back in action this coming weekend with Team Solent Kestrels travelling to Kent Crusaders on Saturday in league action then returning home to play host to Reading Rockets in the National Cup Quarter Final (3pm - St. Mary’s Leisure Centre) on Sunday. Riders will play host to Bradford Dragons on Sunday as they look for a National Cup Semi Final place.
Full Box Score of the game can be found here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773029/bs.html#ASFSK
Whilst you can check out game highlights on our YouTube channel here; youtu.be/Q-hcMKj0QmU
Both sides would be off the target to get the game underway missing on several 3 point attempts early, however a Joe Tagarelli put back got things going for the visitors. Riders big man Hosana Kitenge would get them off the mark in the following possession but it would be Kestrels up early with Tagarelli scoring the first 9 points for his side to put them 9-6 in a low scoring first 5 minutes. The introduction of Alex Roberts for the hosts would spark them into life with a 3 ball to tie it up and then another as time expired in the quarter, to push his side out to an 18-11 lead at the end of one.
Former Team Solent Kestrels and Itchen College stand out Dan Hemingway got Loughborough going in the 2nd with a quick post score. However much the same as the 1st quarter, for the next two minutes, neither team were able to make shots until Louie Kirkman scored on a dump off from Herm Senor II to make it 20-13. Tom Yome would then hit his first 3 ball of the season for the home side and would stretch their lead out to 12 points mid way through the quarter. However a quick 7-0 run from Kestrels, including 5 points from Senor II sparked a Coach Jarram timeout with the lead slashed to just 5. TSK would trim the gap to just 4 points after a Tayo Oyefusi triple but with Riders 3 balls either side of a Leon Henry lay up the hosts went into the half time break up 41-33.
A Lucien Christofis 3 pointer opened the second half scoring for Riders but Elliot Dadds would reply with a step back 3 of his own for TSK. Christofis would hit another 3 ball two possessions later to continue Loughborough’s red hot shooting from beyond the arc. Oyefusi would trim the deficit to just 6 points when he made 2 of 3 FTs but that would spark a run that blew the game wide open ahead of the 4th quarter. Loughborough strung together a 15-4 run including 8 points personal for GB junior Sesan Russell, to go into the 4th up 64-48.
Kestrels would start the final quarter in a much more positive fashion with a short 7-0 run, again with 5 points from point guard Herm Senor II to spark an early Loughborough timeout with the lead down to just 9 points. Out of the timeout the sides would trade baskets until another Christofis 3 ball pushed the lead back out to 12 points and despite 4 Tagarelli points that would be as close as TSK would get. Sesan Russell would continue to score well down the stretch and put Kestrels out of sight with Loughborough Student Riders running out 86-67 winners.
“I was disappointed with how we competed on the defensive end, lacking that grit & energy I know we are capable of. Loughborough were able to take us out of rhythm offensively and did a good job slowing us down and making us play a half court game.” Commented TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Joe Tagarelli’s 21 pts, 10 rebs and 8 asts. Whilst Herm Senor II chipped in with 18 pts and 3 asts. Lucien Christofis was the high point man for Loughborough with 19 points, Sesan Russell added 18 points and Alex Roberts had 15.
Both teams are back in action this coming weekend with Team Solent Kestrels travelling to Kent Crusaders on Saturday in league action then returning home to play host to Reading Rockets in the National Cup Quarter Final (3pm - St. Mary’s Leisure Centre) on Sunday. Riders will play host to Bradford Dragons on Sunday as they look for a National Cup Semi Final place.
Full Box Score of the game can be found here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773029/bs.html#ASFSK
Whilst you can check out game highlights on our YouTube channel here; youtu.be/Q-hcMKj0QmU
NARROW ROAD VICTORY MOVES KESTRELS TO 4-1
Image Courtesy | Solent Creatives; Lucy Evans
Team Solent Kestrels made the trip to East Midlands out fit Derby Trailblazers this past Saturday in what would be game 1 of 3 back to back road games over the coming weekends. Derby came into the match up 2-2 in league action having picked up a win on the road at regional rivals Leicester Warriors, whilst Kestrels (3-1) not in NBL D1 action, did advance to the quarter final of the National Cup for the second consecutive season at the expense of D2 side Westminster Warriors.
Louie Kirkman got the visitors off the mark early on with a tough lay up in transition, followed by Elliot Dadds who also got out and finished well in transition to put Kestrels up 4-0. After a slow start from the hosts and down 8-0, Simeon Espirit used his footwork to navigate a lane to the hoop and got his side going. After a pair of Tagarelli FTs, Derby junior Leighton Elliot-Sewell knocked down a three ball to leave the lead at 10-5 midway through the first. After a series of empty possessions for both sides TSK point guard Herm Senor would open his account with a three ball after some excellent perimeter ball movement to push the advantage back to 8 at 15-7. A 7-2 run from the Trailblazers was capped off by Jake Wesselingh connecting on a corner 3 to reduce the arrears to 3 at 17-14. The sides would trade baskets for the remaining 3 minutes of the quarter and Kestrels would take a 21-18 lead into the 2nd.
Derby forward Leome Francis opened the scoring in the 2nd with a put back to trim the gap to just a point, but Theo King came off the bench to stroke a 3 ball on the next play to push TSK back up 4, 24-20. Matt Ward-Hibbert would then score either side of a Louie Kirkman jumper to reduced the gap to 2. However 5 points in a row from TSK prompted a Coach Shaw timeout for the home team midway through the period with Solent up 31-24. An Elliot Sewell 3 pointer reduced the gap to 6 in favour of TSK, however the scoring would dry up over the final 2 and half minutes of the 2nd for Trailblazers. Kestrels closed the half on a 7-0 run including 4 points off the bench from Chris Scarlett with his side up 46-32.
An Elliot Dadds steal and score just minutes into the 3rd pushed the lead to 16 but Oli Stanley replied instantly to leave the score at 51-37. Midway through the 3rd, Ward-Hibbert stroked a 3 in transition to reduce the deficit to just 9 points at 53-44 but not to be outdone fellow sharpshooter Chris Scarlett replied on the next possession to restore a 12 point Kestrels advantage. With just two minutes left in the quarter a Kadeem Thompson 3 ball trimmed the gap to just 5 points at 58-53 after Elliot-Sewell knocked down a jumper of his own for the hosts. Nathan Schall would come off the bench to score an easy 2 to put Kestrels up 7 but Ward-Hibbert knocked down a 3 to beat the quarter buzzer to leave the score at 62-58 TSK.
Kestrels small forward Louie Kirkman hit a pull up jumper to get things going in the 4th, followed by a Nathan Schall rejection and Senor 3 ball in transition sparking a Derby TO early on with TSK back up 9. An Oli Stanley flush out of the timeout would spark life back into the home side as Thompson also added a 3 ball to leave the score at 67-63. Derby would tie the game up with just over 4 minutes left after Ward-Hibbert connected on yet another 3 ball, which would prompt a Coach Guymon TO for the visitors. The next 2 minutes would make for a tense affair with neither team scoring on empty possessions, until Derby took their first lead of the game at 73-71 through an Oli Stanley lay up. Enter Elliot Dadds… With just 1 minute 23 seconds on the clock Dadds would restore the TSK advantage 74-73 with a huge 3 ball. After an empty Derby play, Tayo Oyefusi would split a pair of FTs with Kestrels up 75-73 with 50 seconds to play. Both teams would turn the ball over on their next possessions, leaving Derby the ball with 2.5 seconds out of a timeout, Ward-Hibbert would get a heavily contested turnover jumper off over Elliot Dadds but fortunately for TSK rimmed out as time expired Kestrels win 75-73.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II with 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Joe Tagarelli had himself another double double with 12 points and 13 rebounds whilst Elliot Dads had 11 points, 3 assists and 3 steals. Matthew Ward-Hibbert posted 18 points for Trailblazers whilst Leighton Elliot-Sewell and Kadeem Thompson had 16 and 14 points respectively.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say on his sides tough road victory; “At times tonight we looked great at both ends of the floor, but similar to the Newcastle game a shift defensively from the opposition really slowed us down. Credit to the players as they were able to make big plays down the stretch that saw us over the line against a well coached team.”
Kestrels face another tough road test against in form Loughborough Student Riders (4-1) this Saturday, whilst Derby will take next weekend off before hosting Reading Rockets (3-1) on the 18th November 2017.
You can watch the game highlights on our YouTube channel here; https://youtu.be/P4Z9rYRT5zM
Louie Kirkman got the visitors off the mark early on with a tough lay up in transition, followed by Elliot Dadds who also got out and finished well in transition to put Kestrels up 4-0. After a slow start from the hosts and down 8-0, Simeon Espirit used his footwork to navigate a lane to the hoop and got his side going. After a pair of Tagarelli FTs, Derby junior Leighton Elliot-Sewell knocked down a three ball to leave the lead at 10-5 midway through the first. After a series of empty possessions for both sides TSK point guard Herm Senor would open his account with a three ball after some excellent perimeter ball movement to push the advantage back to 8 at 15-7. A 7-2 run from the Trailblazers was capped off by Jake Wesselingh connecting on a corner 3 to reduce the arrears to 3 at 17-14. The sides would trade baskets for the remaining 3 minutes of the quarter and Kestrels would take a 21-18 lead into the 2nd.
Derby forward Leome Francis opened the scoring in the 2nd with a put back to trim the gap to just a point, but Theo King came off the bench to stroke a 3 ball on the next play to push TSK back up 4, 24-20. Matt Ward-Hibbert would then score either side of a Louie Kirkman jumper to reduced the gap to 2. However 5 points in a row from TSK prompted a Coach Shaw timeout for the home team midway through the period with Solent up 31-24. An Elliot Sewell 3 pointer reduced the gap to 6 in favour of TSK, however the scoring would dry up over the final 2 and half minutes of the 2nd for Trailblazers. Kestrels closed the half on a 7-0 run including 4 points off the bench from Chris Scarlett with his side up 46-32.
An Elliot Dadds steal and score just minutes into the 3rd pushed the lead to 16 but Oli Stanley replied instantly to leave the score at 51-37. Midway through the 3rd, Ward-Hibbert stroked a 3 in transition to reduce the deficit to just 9 points at 53-44 but not to be outdone fellow sharpshooter Chris Scarlett replied on the next possession to restore a 12 point Kestrels advantage. With just two minutes left in the quarter a Kadeem Thompson 3 ball trimmed the gap to just 5 points at 58-53 after Elliot-Sewell knocked down a jumper of his own for the hosts. Nathan Schall would come off the bench to score an easy 2 to put Kestrels up 7 but Ward-Hibbert knocked down a 3 to beat the quarter buzzer to leave the score at 62-58 TSK.
Kestrels small forward Louie Kirkman hit a pull up jumper to get things going in the 4th, followed by a Nathan Schall rejection and Senor 3 ball in transition sparking a Derby TO early on with TSK back up 9. An Oli Stanley flush out of the timeout would spark life back into the home side as Thompson also added a 3 ball to leave the score at 67-63. Derby would tie the game up with just over 4 minutes left after Ward-Hibbert connected on yet another 3 ball, which would prompt a Coach Guymon TO for the visitors. The next 2 minutes would make for a tense affair with neither team scoring on empty possessions, until Derby took their first lead of the game at 73-71 through an Oli Stanley lay up. Enter Elliot Dadds… With just 1 minute 23 seconds on the clock Dadds would restore the TSK advantage 74-73 with a huge 3 ball. After an empty Derby play, Tayo Oyefusi would split a pair of FTs with Kestrels up 75-73 with 50 seconds to play. Both teams would turn the ball over on their next possessions, leaving Derby the ball with 2.5 seconds out of a timeout, Ward-Hibbert would get a heavily contested turnover jumper off over Elliot Dadds but fortunately for TSK rimmed out as time expired Kestrels win 75-73.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Herm Senor II with 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Joe Tagarelli had himself another double double with 12 points and 13 rebounds whilst Elliot Dads had 11 points, 3 assists and 3 steals. Matthew Ward-Hibbert posted 18 points for Trailblazers whilst Leighton Elliot-Sewell and Kadeem Thompson had 16 and 14 points respectively.
TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say on his sides tough road victory; “At times tonight we looked great at both ends of the floor, but similar to the Newcastle game a shift defensively from the opposition really slowed us down. Credit to the players as they were able to make big plays down the stretch that saw us over the line against a well coached team.”
Kestrels face another tough road test against in form Loughborough Student Riders (4-1) this Saturday, whilst Derby will take next weekend off before hosting Reading Rockets (3-1) on the 18th November 2017.
You can watch the game highlights on our YouTube channel here; https://youtu.be/P4Z9rYRT5zM
TSK BOOK QUARTER FINAL TICKET WITH WIN OVER WARRIORS
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Team Solent Kestrels played host to NBL Division 2 outfit Westminster Warriors this past Sunday in the 4th round of the National Cup with the sides looking to book their spot in the quarter finals. Westminster having entered the competition in the 2nd round dismissed D4 side London United as well as D2 rivals London Greenhouse Pioneers in the previous round, whilst TSK knocked out a young and talented D4 Barking Abbey Crusaders.
Kestrels would jump out to an early lead with Louie Kirkman scoring well in the opening few minutes with 6 quick points, whilst forward Justin Hitchman would have 5 of his own in reply for the visitors seeing them down 12-5. Warriors trimmed the deficit to just 5 points midway through the quarter but the first of four triples from Tayo Oyefusi and Elliot Dadds getting to the rim at will meant Kestrels would take a 23-16 advantage into the 2nd.
The start of the quarter would be a slow one with both teams struggling to take control of the game and trading missed shots. Chris Scarlett came off the bench to knock an open jumper down early on whilst Ahmed Al-Shamri got to the rim for his side prompting a TSK timeout at 27-21. Out of the timeout the hosts would hold the Warriors to just 4 points for the remaining 6 minutes of the quarter, with Oyefusi adding two more three balls and Elliot Dadds continuing to pour on the pressure. Josh Brown scored for the home side to beat the buzzer on a Tayo Oyefusi drive and dump off to push the Kestrels lead to 49-25 at the half.
Justin Hitchman score back to back baskets for the Warriors to get them going early in the 2nd half followed by 5 points from Al-Shamri however another Oyefusi triple restored the home team cushion back to 21 at 56-35. For much of the rest of the quarter the sides traded baskets with Hitchman continue to score well for the Londoners whilst timely jumpers from Scarlett and Elliot Dadds meant that TSK’s control on the game would strengthen up 75-47 heading to the 4th.
The game came to a stuttering finish down the stretch with Westminster hanging around and outscoring the hosts 20-11 for the quarter, including 4 three balls, 2 for Juan Manning and one each for Hitchman/Adomaitis. Louie Kirkman and Leon Henry would keep the Kestrels ticking over and a break away two hand flush would put the exclamation mark on an 86-67 4th round victory for TSK.
Head Coach Matt Guymon was happy with his sides performance and a quarter final berth, he had this to say; “It's always a battle against Westminster as they compete & play a physical game for 40 minutes. The guys showed great composure allowing us to grind this one out. We now look forward to getting back into league play in three back to back road games before facing our rivals Reading Rockets in the 1/4 finals.”
The hosts were led by Elliot Dadds with 24 points backed up by Louie Kirkman’s 20 points and Tayo Oyefusi’s 14. Justin Hitchman posted 27 for the Warriors and Mantas Adomaitis added 11.
TSK (3-1) hit the road next Saturday where they’ll face East Midlands outfit Derby Trailblazers (2-2) in NBL D1 action. Westminster Warriors are back in action next weekend also as they play host to Thames Valley Cavaliers in NBL D2.
Check out the best shots from yesterdays game here by Mirror Box Studios here; https://mirrorboxstudioslive.com/2017/10/29/kestrels-vs-warriors-mens-national-cup-29-10-17/
Kestrels would jump out to an early lead with Louie Kirkman scoring well in the opening few minutes with 6 quick points, whilst forward Justin Hitchman would have 5 of his own in reply for the visitors seeing them down 12-5. Warriors trimmed the deficit to just 5 points midway through the quarter but the first of four triples from Tayo Oyefusi and Elliot Dadds getting to the rim at will meant Kestrels would take a 23-16 advantage into the 2nd.
The start of the quarter would be a slow one with both teams struggling to take control of the game and trading missed shots. Chris Scarlett came off the bench to knock an open jumper down early on whilst Ahmed Al-Shamri got to the rim for his side prompting a TSK timeout at 27-21. Out of the timeout the hosts would hold the Warriors to just 4 points for the remaining 6 minutes of the quarter, with Oyefusi adding two more three balls and Elliot Dadds continuing to pour on the pressure. Josh Brown scored for the home side to beat the buzzer on a Tayo Oyefusi drive and dump off to push the Kestrels lead to 49-25 at the half.
Justin Hitchman score back to back baskets for the Warriors to get them going early in the 2nd half followed by 5 points from Al-Shamri however another Oyefusi triple restored the home team cushion back to 21 at 56-35. For much of the rest of the quarter the sides traded baskets with Hitchman continue to score well for the Londoners whilst timely jumpers from Scarlett and Elliot Dadds meant that TSK’s control on the game would strengthen up 75-47 heading to the 4th.
The game came to a stuttering finish down the stretch with Westminster hanging around and outscoring the hosts 20-11 for the quarter, including 4 three balls, 2 for Juan Manning and one each for Hitchman/Adomaitis. Louie Kirkman and Leon Henry would keep the Kestrels ticking over and a break away two hand flush would put the exclamation mark on an 86-67 4th round victory for TSK.
Head Coach Matt Guymon was happy with his sides performance and a quarter final berth, he had this to say; “It's always a battle against Westminster as they compete & play a physical game for 40 minutes. The guys showed great composure allowing us to grind this one out. We now look forward to getting back into league play in three back to back road games before facing our rivals Reading Rockets in the 1/4 finals.”
The hosts were led by Elliot Dadds with 24 points backed up by Louie Kirkman’s 20 points and Tayo Oyefusi’s 14. Justin Hitchman posted 27 for the Warriors and Mantas Adomaitis added 11.
TSK (3-1) hit the road next Saturday where they’ll face East Midlands outfit Derby Trailblazers (2-2) in NBL D1 action. Westminster Warriors are back in action next weekend also as they play host to Thames Valley Cavaliers in NBL D2.
Check out the best shots from yesterdays game here by Mirror Box Studios here; https://mirrorboxstudioslive.com/2017/10/29/kestrels-vs-warriors-mens-national-cup-29-10-17/
KESTRELS MAKE IT 2 FROM 2 ON A HOME DOUBLE HEADER
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Sunday saw Team Solent Kestrels welcome Division 1 newcomers Team Newcastle University to St. Mary’s Leisure Centre in the 2nd game of a home double header weekend. Both teams came into this one having played Saturday night, Kestrels having defeated Manchester Magic by 9 whilst Team Newcastle were on the wrong end of a 9 point deficit, going down at Hemel Storm.
The opening exchanges saw the teams trading baskets with the lead changing hands regularly throughout the first 5 minutes, Fran Urli and Joey Bennett scoring well for the North East side and Joe Tagarelli helping himself to 6 quick points for TSK. Former Team Newcastle University forward Tayo Oyefusi knocked down a triple to edge Kestrels ahead 15-14 and that would spark a mini run for the hosts as Elliot Dadds and Josh Brown came off the bench to hit 3’s of their own, leaving the Kestrels 25-20 to the good at the end of one.
A some what scrappy start to the 2nd quarter allowed Team Newcastle to make it a one possession game through Fran Urli scoring down low, however that would be their only score in the first 4 minutes in what would end up being a difficult scoring quarter for the traveling side. Scores at the FT line from Leon Henry and Elliot Dadds helped the push the lead to 9 before Greek guard Thanasis Ioakeimidis weathered the run leaving the score at 31-24 midway through the period. With Herm Senor II and Tayo Oyefusi back on the floor Kestrels used a 15-7 run to close the half and leave them up 46-31.
The early parts of the 3rd quarter were a clear indicator that Team Newcastle had plenty left in the tank and Ioakeimidis scored 5 points in the early going to trim the gap to 11, but scores by Louie Kirkman from the line and Tayo Oyefusi on a put back restored TSK’s advantage. Fran Urli continued his contribution to the cause with another 5 points in a row followed by 5 Kingsley Pinda points and when Mark Elderkin converted on an and-1 with 28 seconds left in the quarter the lead was slashed to just 8 points. Joe Tagarelli managed to beat the buzzer on a put back to leave the Kestrels ahead 66-56 heading into the 4th.
With both sides having played 70 minutes of basketball in less than 24 hours the 4th quarter was a sluggish affair with the sides combining for just 29 points total. A 7-0 run from Team Newcastle saw Coach Guymon call timeout with his sides lead down to just 3 points. Out of the timeout Fran Urli would stroke a 3 ball to tie the game at 66 a piece. However his side would go scoreless over the next 3 minutes and Josh Brown added 4 points for the home side to restore a Kestrels lead 70-66, including a steal and a huge 3. Urli trimmed the lead to 2, but that would be as close as his side would get as Team Newcastle failed to convert in the final 2 minutes with Louie Kirkman and Herm Senor II keeping the scoreboard ticking over for TSK to clinch their 2nd win in as many days 79-72.
"We really had to grind this one out as it took everything we had to win against Manchester the night before. After being ahead by as many as 18, Newcastle did a fantastic job of changing the momentum of the game and kept themselves in it right until the final buzzer, credit to our guys who dug deep and made adjustments late to seal the victory.” Commented TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Joe Tagarelli’s double double with 18 points and 13 rebounds, Elliot Dadds added 12 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists whilst Louie Kirkman also had 12 points and 5 rebounds. Kingsley Pinda led the visitors with 19 points and was backed up by Fran Urli and Joey Bennett who had 18 and 16 points respectively. Kestrels move to 3-1 whilst Team Newcastle drop to 1-3 after a winless trip south.
Kestrels play host to Westminster Warriors in the 4th Round of the National Cup this Sunday 29th October at St Mary’s (5pm tip off) and its another double header weekend for Team Newcastle as they host north east rivals Team Northumbria on Saturday, then welcome Division 2 outfit Nottingham Hoods in the 4th round of the cup on Sunday.
You can catch the best shots from the game by Mirror Box Studios here; https://mirrorboxstudioslive.com/2017/10/22/kestrels-vs-newcastle-uni-nbl-div-1-22-10-17/
The full stats are also here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773020/bs.html#ASFSK
Whilst if you want to watch the full game back or just the highlights on our YouTube channel hit either link below
Highlights; youtu.be/h6_Axz_5yNg
Full Game; https://youtu.be/-X6Wild72so
The opening exchanges saw the teams trading baskets with the lead changing hands regularly throughout the first 5 minutes, Fran Urli and Joey Bennett scoring well for the North East side and Joe Tagarelli helping himself to 6 quick points for TSK. Former Team Newcastle University forward Tayo Oyefusi knocked down a triple to edge Kestrels ahead 15-14 and that would spark a mini run for the hosts as Elliot Dadds and Josh Brown came off the bench to hit 3’s of their own, leaving the Kestrels 25-20 to the good at the end of one.
A some what scrappy start to the 2nd quarter allowed Team Newcastle to make it a one possession game through Fran Urli scoring down low, however that would be their only score in the first 4 minutes in what would end up being a difficult scoring quarter for the traveling side. Scores at the FT line from Leon Henry and Elliot Dadds helped the push the lead to 9 before Greek guard Thanasis Ioakeimidis weathered the run leaving the score at 31-24 midway through the period. With Herm Senor II and Tayo Oyefusi back on the floor Kestrels used a 15-7 run to close the half and leave them up 46-31.
The early parts of the 3rd quarter were a clear indicator that Team Newcastle had plenty left in the tank and Ioakeimidis scored 5 points in the early going to trim the gap to 11, but scores by Louie Kirkman from the line and Tayo Oyefusi on a put back restored TSK’s advantage. Fran Urli continued his contribution to the cause with another 5 points in a row followed by 5 Kingsley Pinda points and when Mark Elderkin converted on an and-1 with 28 seconds left in the quarter the lead was slashed to just 8 points. Joe Tagarelli managed to beat the buzzer on a put back to leave the Kestrels ahead 66-56 heading into the 4th.
With both sides having played 70 minutes of basketball in less than 24 hours the 4th quarter was a sluggish affair with the sides combining for just 29 points total. A 7-0 run from Team Newcastle saw Coach Guymon call timeout with his sides lead down to just 3 points. Out of the timeout Fran Urli would stroke a 3 ball to tie the game at 66 a piece. However his side would go scoreless over the next 3 minutes and Josh Brown added 4 points for the home side to restore a Kestrels lead 70-66, including a steal and a huge 3. Urli trimmed the lead to 2, but that would be as close as his side would get as Team Newcastle failed to convert in the final 2 minutes with Louie Kirkman and Herm Senor II keeping the scoreboard ticking over for TSK to clinch their 2nd win in as many days 79-72.
"We really had to grind this one out as it took everything we had to win against Manchester the night before. After being ahead by as many as 18, Newcastle did a fantastic job of changing the momentum of the game and kept themselves in it right until the final buzzer, credit to our guys who dug deep and made adjustments late to seal the victory.” Commented TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon.
Team Solent Kestrels were led by Joe Tagarelli’s double double with 18 points and 13 rebounds, Elliot Dadds added 12 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists whilst Louie Kirkman also had 12 points and 5 rebounds. Kingsley Pinda led the visitors with 19 points and was backed up by Fran Urli and Joey Bennett who had 18 and 16 points respectively. Kestrels move to 3-1 whilst Team Newcastle drop to 1-3 after a winless trip south.
Kestrels play host to Westminster Warriors in the 4th Round of the National Cup this Sunday 29th October at St Mary’s (5pm tip off) and its another double header weekend for Team Newcastle as they host north east rivals Team Northumbria on Saturday, then welcome Division 2 outfit Nottingham Hoods in the 4th round of the cup on Sunday.
You can catch the best shots from the game by Mirror Box Studios here; https://mirrorboxstudioslive.com/2017/10/22/kestrels-vs-newcastle-uni-nbl-div-1-22-10-17/
The full stats are also here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773020/bs.html#ASFSK
Whilst if you want to watch the full game back or just the highlights on our YouTube channel hit either link below
Highlights; youtu.be/h6_Axz_5yNg
Full Game; https://youtu.be/-X6Wild72so
MAGIC DISPELLED AS KESTRELS PICK UP ANOTHER WIN
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Team Solent Kestrels welcomed last seasons playoff and trophy champions to Fleming Park on Saturday night, a team that had beaten them on all three occasions last season. Most notably in the home opener where Stefan Gill’s heroics snatched a last gasp victory for the Northern side. Both sides came into this one off the back of a successful league and cup double header.
Kestrels would open the scoring with Louie Kirkman getting the hoop and the harm off a nice Joe Tagarelli dish. However Magic would strike back through 4 quick Michael Anumba points followed by a Donte Gittens 3 pointer. The visitors would continue to pour it on in the first quarter behind Gill and Gittens scoring the bulk of their points and going up by as many as 15 at 20-5. After a coach Guymon TO the home side managed to weather the storm and only go into the first quarter break down 8, 23-15.
Magic forward Hamad Ali helped himself to 4 quick points to start the 2nd and restored his sides lead at 27-17. Herm Senor II managed to trim the gap to 6 with a couple scores of his own for the hosts whilst a pair of Chris Scarlett FTs and Joe Tagarelli field goals would see the Magic lead cut down to 29-27 by the mid point of the quarter. This gave Manchester a spark and a Gittens and-1 plus back to back scores from Gill gave them a 7 point cushion with 3 minutes left in the half. Kestrels guards Elliot Dadds and Leon Henry would convert late on but it would be Magic who led at the interval 41-38.
Both sides would trade baskets in the opening possessions of the 2nd half with Manchester holding onto a slender lead. However a Leon Henry tip in on a Kirkman miss 4 minutes into the quarter prompted a Coach Middleton TO as TSK edged in front 50-48. Post timeout Kestrels would extend their lead going up by 8 points on the back of a Herm Senor II score in transition. The lead would again be slashed, in the closing seconds of the quarter Hamad Ali reduced the deficit to 3 with a baseline jumper and set up a tense final period.
The 4th saw a sloppy and somewhat nervous start from both teams with turnovers and missed shots in the opening exchanges, it was Dadds’ FTs that got things underway followed by 5 straight Leon Henry points that put the home team up 69-62. Magic big man Lee Goldsborough’s jump hook brought his side to within touching distance at 69-66 but that would be as close as they would eventually get. A 10-2 run from TSK midway through the 4th blew open a 10 point gap and despite 3 late 3 pointers from Magic steady FT shooting and timely scores saw the lead reach as many as 13 at 86-73 before Kestrels wrapped it up 91-82 to take the victory.
Team Solent Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon was delighted with his sides comeback; “After our worst start of the season it was great to see the team respond in the way they did. Ultimately it came down to us focusing on the defensive end to get stops which allowed us to keep the game at a high tempo. Free throws were huge for us tonight, after shooting around 65% so far this season, being able to convert 84% tonight had a big impact on the game. Manchester are always an incredibly tough match up and it took all we had to come away with the win.”
Kestrels were led by Elliot Dadds on his return to the side with 24 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists, whilst Joe Tagarelli had 19 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Magic were led by American Donte Gittens who posted 20 points and 5 rebounds, Stefan Gill chipped in 19 points and 2 rebounds also.
Both teams are back in action this coming weekend in the 4th round of the National Cup on Sunday with TSK playing host to Division 2 side Westminster Warriors and Manchester Magic also welcoming a Division 2 outfit, local rivals Liverpool.
Check out the game in photos here; https://mirrorboxstudioslive.com/2017/10/21/kestrels-vs-manchester-magic-nbl-21-oct-17/
Full stats from the Saturdays game can be found here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773018/bs.html
You can also catch highlights of the game on our YouTube Channel here; https://youtu.be/eEvGVZwoaPo
Kestrels would open the scoring with Louie Kirkman getting the hoop and the harm off a nice Joe Tagarelli dish. However Magic would strike back through 4 quick Michael Anumba points followed by a Donte Gittens 3 pointer. The visitors would continue to pour it on in the first quarter behind Gill and Gittens scoring the bulk of their points and going up by as many as 15 at 20-5. After a coach Guymon TO the home side managed to weather the storm and only go into the first quarter break down 8, 23-15.
Magic forward Hamad Ali helped himself to 4 quick points to start the 2nd and restored his sides lead at 27-17. Herm Senor II managed to trim the gap to 6 with a couple scores of his own for the hosts whilst a pair of Chris Scarlett FTs and Joe Tagarelli field goals would see the Magic lead cut down to 29-27 by the mid point of the quarter. This gave Manchester a spark and a Gittens and-1 plus back to back scores from Gill gave them a 7 point cushion with 3 minutes left in the half. Kestrels guards Elliot Dadds and Leon Henry would convert late on but it would be Magic who led at the interval 41-38.
Both sides would trade baskets in the opening possessions of the 2nd half with Manchester holding onto a slender lead. However a Leon Henry tip in on a Kirkman miss 4 minutes into the quarter prompted a Coach Middleton TO as TSK edged in front 50-48. Post timeout Kestrels would extend their lead going up by 8 points on the back of a Herm Senor II score in transition. The lead would again be slashed, in the closing seconds of the quarter Hamad Ali reduced the deficit to 3 with a baseline jumper and set up a tense final period.
The 4th saw a sloppy and somewhat nervous start from both teams with turnovers and missed shots in the opening exchanges, it was Dadds’ FTs that got things underway followed by 5 straight Leon Henry points that put the home team up 69-62. Magic big man Lee Goldsborough’s jump hook brought his side to within touching distance at 69-66 but that would be as close as they would eventually get. A 10-2 run from TSK midway through the 4th blew open a 10 point gap and despite 3 late 3 pointers from Magic steady FT shooting and timely scores saw the lead reach as many as 13 at 86-73 before Kestrels wrapped it up 91-82 to take the victory.
Team Solent Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon was delighted with his sides comeback; “After our worst start of the season it was great to see the team respond in the way they did. Ultimately it came down to us focusing on the defensive end to get stops which allowed us to keep the game at a high tempo. Free throws were huge for us tonight, after shooting around 65% so far this season, being able to convert 84% tonight had a big impact on the game. Manchester are always an incredibly tough match up and it took all we had to come away with the win.”
Kestrels were led by Elliot Dadds on his return to the side with 24 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists, whilst Joe Tagarelli had 19 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Magic were led by American Donte Gittens who posted 20 points and 5 rebounds, Stefan Gill chipped in 19 points and 2 rebounds also.
Both teams are back in action this coming weekend in the 4th round of the National Cup on Sunday with TSK playing host to Division 2 side Westminster Warriors and Manchester Magic also welcoming a Division 2 outfit, local rivals Liverpool.
Check out the game in photos here; https://mirrorboxstudioslive.com/2017/10/21/kestrels-vs-manchester-magic-nbl-21-oct-17/
Full stats from the Saturdays game can be found here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/773018/bs.html
You can also catch highlights of the game on our YouTube Channel here; https://youtu.be/eEvGVZwoaPo
KESTRELS ADVANCE WITH CUP WIN OVER BARKING ABBEY
Image Courtesy | Mirror Box Studios
Sunday saw the first double header action of the season for Team Solent Kestrels as they played host to a Barking Abbey side that boasted some of the countries best young up and coming talent, in the third round of the National Cup. Having already knocked off Surrey Rams and division 2 outfit Sussex Bears, Barking Abbey came into the match up playing with lots of confidence.
It was the visiting side that had the better of the opening play with Ade Adebayo and Spyros Kapsalos scoring well early on, however Leon Henry and Joe Tagarelli would combine for 13 points in the first 5 minutes to give Kestrels a 13-9 advantage. It was a tight affair for the remainder of the period with TSK taking a 25-17 into the quarter break.
The 2nd quarter started with a 15-6 run from the home side to push the lead out to 17 at 40-23 after scores from Theo King and Josh Brown off the bench. Barking would trim the deficit to 15 but another 12-0 run from TSK including 7 Tagarelli points extended the lead out to 54-27.
With Kestrels starters back in to begin the 2nd half the lead continued to grow with the younger Barking Abbey side struggling to find the basket only managing to put 10 points on the board through out the quarter. Again Kestrels bench would score well through out the second half with Bikram Rana impressing and Theo King knocking the three ball down well. TSK would run out 102-45 winners and progress to the 4th round of the cup competition.
Head Coach Matt Guymon was pleased with his sides focus and had this to say; “Credit to Barking Abbey who were able to cause us a number of problems early on in the game, with their ball movement & 1v1 play and they didn’t stop competing throughout. I'm pleased with how our guys responded defensively in the 2nd quarter which allowed us to control the game from this point onwards. I thought the energy from the bench was excellent and the scoring spread shows this.”
Kestrels were led by Joe Tagarelli’s 18 points, whilst Theo King chipped in 14 points of his own connecting on 4 three point attempts. Barking were led by guard duo Ade Adebayo and Spyros Kapsalos with 13 points a piece.
Team Solent Kestrels now switch their attentions back to league play with an extremely tough home double header next weekend vs. Manchester Magic (8pm - Saturday) and Team Newcastle University (2.30pm - Sunday) at Fleming Park. Where as Barking head to Kent to take on Folkestone Saints next Saturday in NBL D4 league action.
It was the visiting side that had the better of the opening play with Ade Adebayo and Spyros Kapsalos scoring well early on, however Leon Henry and Joe Tagarelli would combine for 13 points in the first 5 minutes to give Kestrels a 13-9 advantage. It was a tight affair for the remainder of the period with TSK taking a 25-17 into the quarter break.
The 2nd quarter started with a 15-6 run from the home side to push the lead out to 17 at 40-23 after scores from Theo King and Josh Brown off the bench. Barking would trim the deficit to 15 but another 12-0 run from TSK including 7 Tagarelli points extended the lead out to 54-27.
With Kestrels starters back in to begin the 2nd half the lead continued to grow with the younger Barking Abbey side struggling to find the basket only managing to put 10 points on the board through out the quarter. Again Kestrels bench would score well through out the second half with Bikram Rana impressing and Theo King knocking the three ball down well. TSK would run out 102-45 winners and progress to the 4th round of the cup competition.
Head Coach Matt Guymon was pleased with his sides focus and had this to say; “Credit to Barking Abbey who were able to cause us a number of problems early on in the game, with their ball movement & 1v1 play and they didn’t stop competing throughout. I'm pleased with how our guys responded defensively in the 2nd quarter which allowed us to control the game from this point onwards. I thought the energy from the bench was excellent and the scoring spread shows this.”
Kestrels were led by Joe Tagarelli’s 18 points, whilst Theo King chipped in 14 points of his own connecting on 4 three point attempts. Barking were led by guard duo Ade Adebayo and Spyros Kapsalos with 13 points a piece.
Team Solent Kestrels now switch their attentions back to league play with an extremely tough home double header next weekend vs. Manchester Magic (8pm - Saturday) and Team Newcastle University (2.30pm - Sunday) at Fleming Park. Where as Barking head to Kent to take on Folkestone Saints next Saturday in NBL D4 league action.
BACK TO WINNING WAYS VS. SOUTH COAST NEIGHBOURS
Image Courtesy; Solent Creatives Media - Kirsty McKeon
Team Solent Kestrels returned home to Fleming Park after suffering their first defeat in all competitions on the road at last years league champions, Team Northumbria. The visiting side for the 2nd time already this season were south coast neighbours Worthing Thunder, who have picked up two wins and some personnel reinforcements for their roster since the last time out, which would make for a much closer affair.
Despite some good ball movement from both sides early on, neither team were able to get off the mark scoring wise in the opening possessions, however a Tayo Oyefusi put back would get the hosts off the mark. Zaire Taylor would knock a 3 point attempt down on the ensuing play, then after several empty possessions a steal and score from Brendan Okoronkwo would edge the visitors in front 5-4. The remainder of the 1st quarter would see the teams trade baskets with the lead changing hands throughout. Worthing newcomer Kadeem Crabbe helped himself to 4 quick points off the bench whilst Herm Senor II constantly got his team mates involved for easy scores, the scoreline was 17 a piece at the end of 1.
A tough Okoronkwo lay up would start the scoring in the 2nd to give his side a 2 point lead, but Chris Scarlett scored 7 points of his own to push TSK’s lead to 5 at 26-21. At the midway point of the quarter however Worthing’s captain Okoronkwo tied the scores at 30 with an another tough score in transition sparking a Coach Guymon TO. Cue the Zaire Taylor show with an 11 point outburst of his own that would give his side the lead at 41-37 in a spell where he would hit some incredibly tough shots, he would have 15 points in the period alone. The home side did weather the barrage with a pair Scarlett 3’s but a James Grinham 3 ball would put Thunder ahead going into half time, 45-44.
The second half started with another Taylor score but the lead would change hands again in the opening few minutes. However a 10-0 run sparked by 4 points from Herm Senor II pushed the Kestrels out in front 59-51. A Zaire Taylor hoop and harm trimmed that deficit to 5 but Leon Henry replied with a steal and lay up to restore a 7 point advantage with 3 minutes left in the quarter. Thunder point guard James Grinham hit a timely 3 at the back end of the 3rd to tie things up at 61 before Josh Brown’s FTs saw TSK take a 63-61 lead into the 4th.
A 13-2 run to start the 4th quarter saw the home side jump out to a 76-65 lead with 3 pointers from Scarlett and Senor II as well as 4 points from big man Tagarelli. Chiwuzie would stop the run momentarily with a lay up before he would be ejected for a second time in as many games vs. TSK. The visitors also lost their captain on a dubious unsportsmanlike foul call, having already picked up a technical foul earlier in the ball game. Despite Thunder trimming the gap to 7 points, that would be as close as they would get with Kestrels keeping them at bay with scores from Tagarelli and Oyefusi down the stretch. 84-75 would be how it finished.
"I was extremely pleased with the adjustments we made defensively in the 2nd half which allowed us to play a much higher tempo game. The clock malfunction was frustrating for everyone but I felt like it had more of an impact on our style of play allowing Worthings key guys to rest and also killed the rhythm of our transition game. However we found a way to make a run shortly after and never trailed in the game again." Commented TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon.
Chris Scarlett led TSK with 17 points connecting on 4 3 point attempts, whilst Joe Tagarelli had 16 points and 13 rebounds. Herm Senor II also filled the stat line with 15 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal. Worthing were led by Zaire Taylor with 32 points on 29 field goal attempts.
Both teams now sit with a 1-1 record in NBL D1.
Check out the game highlights here; https://youtu.be/4ulOo_OHDm0
Also the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/766589/
Despite some good ball movement from both sides early on, neither team were able to get off the mark scoring wise in the opening possessions, however a Tayo Oyefusi put back would get the hosts off the mark. Zaire Taylor would knock a 3 point attempt down on the ensuing play, then after several empty possessions a steal and score from Brendan Okoronkwo would edge the visitors in front 5-4. The remainder of the 1st quarter would see the teams trade baskets with the lead changing hands throughout. Worthing newcomer Kadeem Crabbe helped himself to 4 quick points off the bench whilst Herm Senor II constantly got his team mates involved for easy scores, the scoreline was 17 a piece at the end of 1.
A tough Okoronkwo lay up would start the scoring in the 2nd to give his side a 2 point lead, but Chris Scarlett scored 7 points of his own to push TSK’s lead to 5 at 26-21. At the midway point of the quarter however Worthing’s captain Okoronkwo tied the scores at 30 with an another tough score in transition sparking a Coach Guymon TO. Cue the Zaire Taylor show with an 11 point outburst of his own that would give his side the lead at 41-37 in a spell where he would hit some incredibly tough shots, he would have 15 points in the period alone. The home side did weather the barrage with a pair Scarlett 3’s but a James Grinham 3 ball would put Thunder ahead going into half time, 45-44.
The second half started with another Taylor score but the lead would change hands again in the opening few minutes. However a 10-0 run sparked by 4 points from Herm Senor II pushed the Kestrels out in front 59-51. A Zaire Taylor hoop and harm trimmed that deficit to 5 but Leon Henry replied with a steal and lay up to restore a 7 point advantage with 3 minutes left in the quarter. Thunder point guard James Grinham hit a timely 3 at the back end of the 3rd to tie things up at 61 before Josh Brown’s FTs saw TSK take a 63-61 lead into the 4th.
A 13-2 run to start the 4th quarter saw the home side jump out to a 76-65 lead with 3 pointers from Scarlett and Senor II as well as 4 points from big man Tagarelli. Chiwuzie would stop the run momentarily with a lay up before he would be ejected for a second time in as many games vs. TSK. The visitors also lost their captain on a dubious unsportsmanlike foul call, having already picked up a technical foul earlier in the ball game. Despite Thunder trimming the gap to 7 points, that would be as close as they would get with Kestrels keeping them at bay with scores from Tagarelli and Oyefusi down the stretch. 84-75 would be how it finished.
"I was extremely pleased with the adjustments we made defensively in the 2nd half which allowed us to play a much higher tempo game. The clock malfunction was frustrating for everyone but I felt like it had more of an impact on our style of play allowing Worthings key guys to rest and also killed the rhythm of our transition game. However we found a way to make a run shortly after and never trailed in the game again." Commented TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon.
Chris Scarlett led TSK with 17 points connecting on 4 3 point attempts, whilst Joe Tagarelli had 16 points and 13 rebounds. Herm Senor II also filled the stat line with 15 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal. Worthing were led by Zaire Taylor with 32 points on 29 field goal attempts.
Both teams now sit with a 1-1 record in NBL D1.
Check out the game highlights here; https://youtu.be/4ulOo_OHDm0
Also the full box score here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/BBE/766589/
TOUGH TRIP NORTH ENDS IN NARROW DEFEAT FOR KESTRELS
Image Courtesy - Mirror Box Studios
Team Solent Kestrels made the long trip north on Sunday to face last seasons league and cup champions, Team Northumbria. Both teams went undefeated in early season National Trophy play to book their spots in the semi finals, but cannot meet each other until the final. Sundays match up would provide both sides with an opportunity for a real early season test.
After a tense opening couple of minutes from both sides, with neither team either to convert on their opening possessions, a pair of Malcolm Smith FTs would get the hosts off the mark. Two early Elliot Dadds fouls would leave him on the bench for most of the 1st quarter but back to back scores from Louie Kirkman would see the Kestrels ahead 6-4 early on. TNB however kept the scoreboard ticking over with a number of trips to the line with the officials making their presence felt throughout the first quarter and they would go up 11-6 after a Jack Preston lay up capped a 7-0 run. A low scoring first quarter finished 15-13 in favour of the home team.
Leon Henry’s second triple of the ball game got the 2nd quarter underway but Lewis Champion would edge his Northumbria side back in front with a pull up jumper of his own. Kestrels managed to push the lead to 5 at 24-19 through sharp shooter Chris Scarlett, but another TNB 7-0 run including a Malcolm Smith and1 put his side back in front 26-24 mid way through the second. TSK point guard Herm Senor II would make a lay up as time expired in the half to give Kestrels the lead 33-31 going into the break.
The second half started with both teams trading baskets in the opening exchanges with Tagarelli and Smith scoring well from the post for their teams respectively. Just under the five minute mark Solent would come up empty on several possessions whilst TNB would hit three 3’s in a row, 2 from Champion and 1 from Preston triggering a Coach Guymon TO with the lead out to 8 at 50-42. That lead would grow to 14 after the timeout however a Joe Tagarelli lay up would spark a short TSK run in response. Senor II knocked down a three pointer, that would trim the deficit heading into the 4th to 7 (56-49).
With Tayo Oyefusi no longer in foul trouble he would open the 4th with a three ball that would continue the momentum from the late Kestrels run in the 3rd. By the 7 minute mark TSK had reduced the gap to just 1 point on a fast break lay up from new comer Nathan Schall prompting a Coach Steutel TO. Kestrels would then edge in front 61-60 out of the timeout on a Schall jumper as the shot clock expired but a Malcolm Smith jump shot in reply would restore the hosts advantage. Northumbria guard Freckleton put them up 71-69 with a trip to the line in the final minute and it would be Kestrels guard Senor II with his own FTs to tie it back up at 71 each with 21.2 remaining. Out of the TNB timeout Lewis Champion managed to hit a tough pull up jump shot to put his side up 73-71 with 4.9 seconds left in the game. Elliot Dads would get a look at a game winning 3 point attempt but would come up short, meaning TSK suffer defeat for the first time this season and are 0-1 in regular season play.
Team Solent Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say after his sides first defeat; “It was an incredibly tough way to lose on the road, but credit to Northumbria as they were able to make some really big plays down the stretch and are always a difficult match up. I’m proud of the way we got ourselves back into the game early in the 4th after switching off for a short time in the 3rd. However I think our ability to execute under pressure must improve moving forward.”
Team Solent Kestrels were led again by Joe Tagarelli’s 18 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks, whilst Herm Senor II chipped in with 14 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Team Northumbria had Malcolm Smith and Lewis Champion combine for 44 of their 73 points with 24 and 20 respectively.
Kestrels are back in action next weekend in a home double header with league and cup action, where they take on Worthing Thunder (7pm tip off) at Fleming Park Leisure Centre on Saturday night followed by Barking Abbey Crusaders (5pm tip off) at St. Mary’s Leisure Centre on Sunday in the National Cup. Team Northumbria make the trip to D2 outfit Nottingham Hoods on Sunday in the National Cup.
Check out the games best bits here on our YouTube channel; https://youtu.be/O3EDBYufhQo
After a tense opening couple of minutes from both sides, with neither team either to convert on their opening possessions, a pair of Malcolm Smith FTs would get the hosts off the mark. Two early Elliot Dadds fouls would leave him on the bench for most of the 1st quarter but back to back scores from Louie Kirkman would see the Kestrels ahead 6-4 early on. TNB however kept the scoreboard ticking over with a number of trips to the line with the officials making their presence felt throughout the first quarter and they would go up 11-6 after a Jack Preston lay up capped a 7-0 run. A low scoring first quarter finished 15-13 in favour of the home team.
Leon Henry’s second triple of the ball game got the 2nd quarter underway but Lewis Champion would edge his Northumbria side back in front with a pull up jumper of his own. Kestrels managed to push the lead to 5 at 24-19 through sharp shooter Chris Scarlett, but another TNB 7-0 run including a Malcolm Smith and1 put his side back in front 26-24 mid way through the second. TSK point guard Herm Senor II would make a lay up as time expired in the half to give Kestrels the lead 33-31 going into the break.
The second half started with both teams trading baskets in the opening exchanges with Tagarelli and Smith scoring well from the post for their teams respectively. Just under the five minute mark Solent would come up empty on several possessions whilst TNB would hit three 3’s in a row, 2 from Champion and 1 from Preston triggering a Coach Guymon TO with the lead out to 8 at 50-42. That lead would grow to 14 after the timeout however a Joe Tagarelli lay up would spark a short TSK run in response. Senor II knocked down a three pointer, that would trim the deficit heading into the 4th to 7 (56-49).
With Tayo Oyefusi no longer in foul trouble he would open the 4th with a three ball that would continue the momentum from the late Kestrels run in the 3rd. By the 7 minute mark TSK had reduced the gap to just 1 point on a fast break lay up from new comer Nathan Schall prompting a Coach Steutel TO. Kestrels would then edge in front 61-60 out of the timeout on a Schall jumper as the shot clock expired but a Malcolm Smith jump shot in reply would restore the hosts advantage. Northumbria guard Freckleton put them up 71-69 with a trip to the line in the final minute and it would be Kestrels guard Senor II with his own FTs to tie it back up at 71 each with 21.2 remaining. Out of the TNB timeout Lewis Champion managed to hit a tough pull up jump shot to put his side up 73-71 with 4.9 seconds left in the game. Elliot Dads would get a look at a game winning 3 point attempt but would come up short, meaning TSK suffer defeat for the first time this season and are 0-1 in regular season play.
Team Solent Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say after his sides first defeat; “It was an incredibly tough way to lose on the road, but credit to Northumbria as they were able to make some really big plays down the stretch and are always a difficult match up. I’m proud of the way we got ourselves back into the game early in the 4th after switching off for a short time in the 3rd. However I think our ability to execute under pressure must improve moving forward.”
Team Solent Kestrels were led again by Joe Tagarelli’s 18 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks, whilst Herm Senor II chipped in with 14 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Team Northumbria had Malcolm Smith and Lewis Champion combine for 44 of their 73 points with 24 and 20 respectively.
Kestrels are back in action next weekend in a home double header with league and cup action, where they take on Worthing Thunder (7pm tip off) at Fleming Park Leisure Centre on Saturday night followed by Barking Abbey Crusaders (5pm tip off) at St. Mary’s Leisure Centre on Sunday in the National Cup. Team Northumbria make the trip to D2 outfit Nottingham Hoods on Sunday in the National Cup.
Check out the games best bits here on our YouTube channel; https://youtu.be/O3EDBYufhQo
KESTRELS MOVE TO THE SEMI FINAL WITH WIN OVER KENT
Joe Tagarelli led all scorers with 24 points | Image Courtesy; Mirror Box Studios
Team Solent Kestrels made the short journey to the capital to face Kent Crusaders at Barking Abbey School on Saturday afternoon with the simple equation of win and advance to the semi final, however not such a simple task matching up with a very talented young Crusaders squad boasting junior National team talent across the board.
Dwayne Orija would get proceedings underway with a quick three pointer in the opening possession for Kent, with Kestrels guard Elliot Dadds replying on a trip to the line. The hosts would capitalise on sloppy TSK play and use an 8-0 run sparked by a Caleb Fuller dunk to push the lead to 12-4, prompting an early TO for Coach Guymon. On the otherside of the TO a much needed lift in the intensity of TSK’s play would see them reduce the deficit almost immediately with Dadds and Tagarelli scoring well. Crusaders guard Tim Shodipo would help himself to back to back tough scores and the quarter would see the teams tied at 21.
Solent point guard, Herm Senor II, opened the second quarter with a floater in the lane followed by a Chris Scarlett steal and Louie Kirkman lay up which triggered a Coach Gardner TO for the home side. The rest of the quarter would make for a back and fourth affair with Sean Nealon-Lino and Herm Senor II tallying consecutive scores for the their respective teams. Kestrels big man Joe Tagarelli would close the half out with a steal and score to leave TSK with a 44-40 lead at the break.
It would be Tagarelli who’d pick up where he left off scoring on back to back possession to start the half. Baskets from Senor II and Oyefusi pushed the Kestrels lead to 12 early in the third. However Dwayne Orija picked up back to back buckets of his own to keep the lead down to single digits. A pair of Oyefusi free throws at the buzzer would leave the Solent lead at 3 (58-55) after a low scoring third quarter for both ball clubs.
Things would be all square after the first Kent possession of the fourth as Shodipo converted on a three ball, but another Kestrels run prompted a Kent timeout at the 6 minute mark. Shortly after the timeout Tagarelli scores on the inside would restore the advatnage to double digits for TSK, but Crusaders were not done yet and big man Theo Hughes would score on back to back plays, whilst a Nealon-Lino tip in kept things close down the stretch. A Caleb Fuller and-1 would close the gap further but Kestrels would see out the win from the line in the closing stages to finish 78-72 winners.
The win sees Team Solent Kestrels go 3-0 in National Trophy play setting up a semi final in the new year vs. Loughborough Student Riders who were the pool 4 winners after defeating Leicester Warriors and Hemel Storm.
Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say on his sides performance; “Kent definitely made lift difficult for us at times with their length and high tempo style, but I was disappointed with how we failed to capitalise on our scoring runs. We allowed Kent to stick with us for the full 40 minutes and credit to them for pushing us the whole game. We will need to be more clinical moving into this weekends fixture at both ends of the floor. That said, we are into the National Trophy Semi Finals and at this stage of the season it is a huge positive for us as a club.”
Joe Tagarelli lead all scorers with 24 points and 9 rebounds, Herm Senor II had 21 points and 7 rebounds whilst Kirkman chipped in 11 points. Kent Crusaders were led by Sean Nealon-Lino with 16 points and 11 rebounds whilst Orija and Hughes had 12 a piece.
Kestrels make the longest trip of the year up to Newcastle on Sunday to face Team Northumbria whilst Kent travel to last years playoffs champions Manchester Magic as they get their league campaign underway.
You can check out highlights from the game on our YouTube channel here - https://youtu.be/GGyoyV-1mqU
Dwayne Orija would get proceedings underway with a quick three pointer in the opening possession for Kent, with Kestrels guard Elliot Dadds replying on a trip to the line. The hosts would capitalise on sloppy TSK play and use an 8-0 run sparked by a Caleb Fuller dunk to push the lead to 12-4, prompting an early TO for Coach Guymon. On the otherside of the TO a much needed lift in the intensity of TSK’s play would see them reduce the deficit almost immediately with Dadds and Tagarelli scoring well. Crusaders guard Tim Shodipo would help himself to back to back tough scores and the quarter would see the teams tied at 21.
Solent point guard, Herm Senor II, opened the second quarter with a floater in the lane followed by a Chris Scarlett steal and Louie Kirkman lay up which triggered a Coach Gardner TO for the home side. The rest of the quarter would make for a back and fourth affair with Sean Nealon-Lino and Herm Senor II tallying consecutive scores for the their respective teams. Kestrels big man Joe Tagarelli would close the half out with a steal and score to leave TSK with a 44-40 lead at the break.
It would be Tagarelli who’d pick up where he left off scoring on back to back possession to start the half. Baskets from Senor II and Oyefusi pushed the Kestrels lead to 12 early in the third. However Dwayne Orija picked up back to back buckets of his own to keep the lead down to single digits. A pair of Oyefusi free throws at the buzzer would leave the Solent lead at 3 (58-55) after a low scoring third quarter for both ball clubs.
Things would be all square after the first Kent possession of the fourth as Shodipo converted on a three ball, but another Kestrels run prompted a Kent timeout at the 6 minute mark. Shortly after the timeout Tagarelli scores on the inside would restore the advatnage to double digits for TSK, but Crusaders were not done yet and big man Theo Hughes would score on back to back plays, whilst a Nealon-Lino tip in kept things close down the stretch. A Caleb Fuller and-1 would close the gap further but Kestrels would see out the win from the line in the closing stages to finish 78-72 winners.
The win sees Team Solent Kestrels go 3-0 in National Trophy play setting up a semi final in the new year vs. Loughborough Student Riders who were the pool 4 winners after defeating Leicester Warriors and Hemel Storm.
Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say on his sides performance; “Kent definitely made lift difficult for us at times with their length and high tempo style, but I was disappointed with how we failed to capitalise on our scoring runs. We allowed Kent to stick with us for the full 40 minutes and credit to them for pushing us the whole game. We will need to be more clinical moving into this weekends fixture at both ends of the floor. That said, we are into the National Trophy Semi Finals and at this stage of the season it is a huge positive for us as a club.”
Joe Tagarelli lead all scorers with 24 points and 9 rebounds, Herm Senor II had 21 points and 7 rebounds whilst Kirkman chipped in 11 points. Kent Crusaders were led by Sean Nealon-Lino with 16 points and 11 rebounds whilst Orija and Hughes had 12 a piece.
Kestrels make the longest trip of the year up to Newcastle on Sunday to face Team Northumbria whilst Kent travel to last years playoffs champions Manchester Magic as they get their league campaign underway.
You can check out highlights from the game on our YouTube channel here - https://youtu.be/GGyoyV-1mqU
ROCKETS GROUNDED AS KESTRELS GO 2-0 IN NATIONAL TROPHY
Herm Senor II takes it the rack vs. Reading Rockets | Image Courtesy; Mirror Box Studios
Team Solent Kestrels made the short trip to neighbouring county Berkshire to face Reading Rockets at Rivemead Leisure Complex this past Sunday. It would be game two for Kestrels in the National Trophy having triumphed last time out vs. Worthing Thunder. Reading who were scheduled to face Kent Crusaders on Saturday in their first game of the competition, travelled to Barking Abbey to find out there was no referee allocation so Sunday would be their first competitive outing this season.
The hosts opened the scoring with a quick trip to the line for guard Declan Soukup where he would go 2/2 but Kestrels would reply on the following possession through Louie Kirkman’s put back. Strong point guard play would be the story for both teams in the early stages of the game with both American point guards trading buckets for their teams, Hendricks (Rockets) & Senor II (Kestrels). However Herm Senor II would pick up two early fouls that saw him routed to the bench until the second half with Coach Matt Guymon relying on his bench and taking no chances on Senor II picking up a third.
Elliot Dadds earned himself a trip to the line to start the second followed by a Chris Scarlett triple and an Oyefusi double from the stripe as a result of a Danny Carter unsportsmanlike. With both teams managing foul trouble for key players in the second, Kestrels would take the initiative and go on a run of their own. However poor free throw shooting and a flurry of scores from Rockets’ duo Sydney Donaldson and Jonny Foulds meant they would be unable to capitalise. Dadds again with a timely score closed out the half from beyond the arc restoring Kestrels lead at 45-43.
Donaldson picked up where he left off to start the third and his baseline drive followed by Tim Gill put back would see Rockets edge into the lead. Kestrels big man Joe Tagarelli would then go on a 7-0 run of his own with some nice finds from Senor II and Kirkman. The reintroduction of Herm Senor II sparked a new intensity into the TSK offence and this lead to several scores/trips to the line in transition. Despite holding the Rockets to 17 points in the quarter Kestrels only held a slender 7 point advantage heading into the 4th, after a controversial Ali Sbai buzzer beater.
Sharpshooter Scarlett would stroke a three ball off of some excellent ball movement to get Kestrels off the mark in the final period, which would then be followed up by another trey from forward Tayo Oyefusi. A 15-5 run to start the fourth would push the visitors lead out to 17. Reading’s new Lithuanian signing Raupys would keep the score board ticking over with back to back post scores but TSK’s lead would again increase at 84-65. Kestrels improved to 2-0 in the Trophy with the final score 93-78.
“I'm proud of how our guys approached the game as Readings personnel and style of play was an unknown to us. I felt we were able to keep the game at our tempo throughout the contest. Although there is a lot to work on I like where we are at especially the intensity the guys are playing with.” Added Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon on his sides performance.
Kestrels were lead by Joe Tagarelli who posted another double double with 20 points and 16 rebounds, followed by 18 points from Chris Scarlett who added 4 triples. Elliott Dadds also stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals, whilst holding Rockets guard Hendricks scoreless in the second half.
The hosts were led by Sydney Donaldson who posted 17 points and 3 rebounds, whilst Declan Soukup added 15 points and 4 rebounds.
Both teams are in action on the road next Saturday, with Kestrels traveling to Barking Abbey to face Kent Crusaders in a win and advance situation, a win will see them top the trophy group advancing to the semi finals for the first time in the clubs history. Reading look to get their trophy campaign back on track at Worthing Thunder.
You can check out the highlights on our YouTube channel here; https://youtu.be/qof8ngNoLxg
The hosts opened the scoring with a quick trip to the line for guard Declan Soukup where he would go 2/2 but Kestrels would reply on the following possession through Louie Kirkman’s put back. Strong point guard play would be the story for both teams in the early stages of the game with both American point guards trading buckets for their teams, Hendricks (Rockets) & Senor II (Kestrels). However Herm Senor II would pick up two early fouls that saw him routed to the bench until the second half with Coach Matt Guymon relying on his bench and taking no chances on Senor II picking up a third.
Elliot Dadds earned himself a trip to the line to start the second followed by a Chris Scarlett triple and an Oyefusi double from the stripe as a result of a Danny Carter unsportsmanlike. With both teams managing foul trouble for key players in the second, Kestrels would take the initiative and go on a run of their own. However poor free throw shooting and a flurry of scores from Rockets’ duo Sydney Donaldson and Jonny Foulds meant they would be unable to capitalise. Dadds again with a timely score closed out the half from beyond the arc restoring Kestrels lead at 45-43.
Donaldson picked up where he left off to start the third and his baseline drive followed by Tim Gill put back would see Rockets edge into the lead. Kestrels big man Joe Tagarelli would then go on a 7-0 run of his own with some nice finds from Senor II and Kirkman. The reintroduction of Herm Senor II sparked a new intensity into the TSK offence and this lead to several scores/trips to the line in transition. Despite holding the Rockets to 17 points in the quarter Kestrels only held a slender 7 point advantage heading into the 4th, after a controversial Ali Sbai buzzer beater.
Sharpshooter Scarlett would stroke a three ball off of some excellent ball movement to get Kestrels off the mark in the final period, which would then be followed up by another trey from forward Tayo Oyefusi. A 15-5 run to start the fourth would push the visitors lead out to 17. Reading’s new Lithuanian signing Raupys would keep the score board ticking over with back to back post scores but TSK’s lead would again increase at 84-65. Kestrels improved to 2-0 in the Trophy with the final score 93-78.
“I'm proud of how our guys approached the game as Readings personnel and style of play was an unknown to us. I felt we were able to keep the game at our tempo throughout the contest. Although there is a lot to work on I like where we are at especially the intensity the guys are playing with.” Added Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon on his sides performance.
Kestrels were lead by Joe Tagarelli who posted another double double with 20 points and 16 rebounds, followed by 18 points from Chris Scarlett who added 4 triples. Elliott Dadds also stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals, whilst holding Rockets guard Hendricks scoreless in the second half.
The hosts were led by Sydney Donaldson who posted 17 points and 3 rebounds, whilst Declan Soukup added 15 points and 4 rebounds.
Both teams are in action on the road next Saturday, with Kestrels traveling to Barking Abbey to face Kent Crusaders in a win and advance situation, a win will see them top the trophy group advancing to the semi finals for the first time in the clubs history. Reading look to get their trophy campaign back on track at Worthing Thunder.
You can check out the highlights on our YouTube channel here; https://youtu.be/qof8ngNoLxg
KESTRELS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING IN SOUTH COAST CLASH
Image Courtesy; Mirror Box Studios
Saturday night saw the return of the basketball season to Fleming Park where Team Solent Kestrels played host to south coast neighbours Worthing Thunder in the National Trophy competition. With both sides making plenty of changes in the off season it was a chance for both coaches to see exactly where their squads are at ahead of the start of the regular season.
The first quarter started with a 6-2 run from the visitors with Guards Grinham and Okoronkwo getting to the bucket for easy scores. With both sides enjoying short runs of their own, in a back and forth opening period, Elliot Dadds cashed in from beyond the arc to send Kestrels into the quarter break with a 25-19 lead.
Herm Senor II would open the second quarter exchanges with 2 of his game high 24 points but would be matched at the opposite end by Worthing’s American Zaire Taylor who responded with 2/2 at the line. With Worthing big man Jasper Chiwuzie picking up his 3rd foul followed by a technical and out of the line up Kestrels would stretch the lead to 11 points forcing a Coach Gayle time out. Post time out would see much of the same with Kestrels bench scoring well in transition through Josh Brown & Kalvin Anns’ three pointers and stretching the lead to as much as 18 points before taking a 60-45 advantage into the locker room at the half.
Kestrels big man Joe Tagarelli would get the scoring load started in the second half after back to back Thunder turnovers. A Zaire Taylor trey would keep Worthing in touch at 68-54 but that would be as close as it would get for the Sussex outfit with Coach Guymon able to rotate through his roster and have everyone contribute during the second half. The lead would grow to as much as 28 at 89-61 with some strong fourth quarter play from Leon Henry and Louie Kirkman finding the bucket. 11 out of the 12 Kestrels roster would get on the box score and help to secure a 107-85 win in TSK’s first outing this season.
Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say on his side’s impressive first display; “Saturday was an impressive performance from our guys, especially at such an early stage of the season. We have a great group of characters that have bought in so far and are playing for each other, which I thought really showed on both ends of the floor. Even though we gave up 85 points, we made Worthings key playmakers work for touches and credit to them as they were able to hit a number of tough shots to keep the game close for spells.”
Herm Senor II led the Kestrels scoring with 24 points, as well as an impressive 12 assists, 8 rebounds, 2 steals in 33 minutes of action. Joe Tagarelli also had himself a double double with 19 points and 12 rebounds, whilst guards Elliot Dadds and Leon Henry had themselves 16 points a piece. Worthing were led by former BBL MVP Zaire Taylor who put up 30 points, backed up by guard duo Brendan Okoronkwo and James Grinham who had 27 and 17 respectively.
Full Stats can be found here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/matches/86310/20/18/60/588pLbNk5Xmo/
Kestrels go on the road next Sunday as they look to take a firm hold on the top spot in their National Trophy pool with the short trip to Reading Rockets at the Rivermead Leisure Complex at 5pm.
You can also catch highlights of this Saturdays game on our YouTube Channel here; youtu.be/bCzb-V73lzQ
The first quarter started with a 6-2 run from the visitors with Guards Grinham and Okoronkwo getting to the bucket for easy scores. With both sides enjoying short runs of their own, in a back and forth opening period, Elliot Dadds cashed in from beyond the arc to send Kestrels into the quarter break with a 25-19 lead.
Herm Senor II would open the second quarter exchanges with 2 of his game high 24 points but would be matched at the opposite end by Worthing’s American Zaire Taylor who responded with 2/2 at the line. With Worthing big man Jasper Chiwuzie picking up his 3rd foul followed by a technical and out of the line up Kestrels would stretch the lead to 11 points forcing a Coach Gayle time out. Post time out would see much of the same with Kestrels bench scoring well in transition through Josh Brown & Kalvin Anns’ three pointers and stretching the lead to as much as 18 points before taking a 60-45 advantage into the locker room at the half.
Kestrels big man Joe Tagarelli would get the scoring load started in the second half after back to back Thunder turnovers. A Zaire Taylor trey would keep Worthing in touch at 68-54 but that would be as close as it would get for the Sussex outfit with Coach Guymon able to rotate through his roster and have everyone contribute during the second half. The lead would grow to as much as 28 at 89-61 with some strong fourth quarter play from Leon Henry and Louie Kirkman finding the bucket. 11 out of the 12 Kestrels roster would get on the box score and help to secure a 107-85 win in TSK’s first outing this season.
Head Coach Matt Guymon had this to say on his side’s impressive first display; “Saturday was an impressive performance from our guys, especially at such an early stage of the season. We have a great group of characters that have bought in so far and are playing for each other, which I thought really showed on both ends of the floor. Even though we gave up 85 points, we made Worthings key playmakers work for touches and credit to them as they were able to hit a number of tough shots to keep the game close for spells.”
Herm Senor II led the Kestrels scoring with 24 points, as well as an impressive 12 assists, 8 rebounds, 2 steals in 33 minutes of action. Joe Tagarelli also had himself a double double with 19 points and 12 rebounds, whilst guards Elliot Dadds and Leon Henry had themselves 16 points a piece. Worthing were led by former BBL MVP Zaire Taylor who put up 30 points, backed up by guard duo Brendan Okoronkwo and James Grinham who had 27 and 17 respectively.
Full Stats can be found here; http://www.fibalivestats.com/matches/86310/20/18/60/588pLbNk5Xmo/
Kestrels go on the road next Sunday as they look to take a firm hold on the top spot in their National Trophy pool with the short trip to Reading Rockets at the Rivermead Leisure Complex at 5pm.
You can also catch highlights of this Saturdays game on our YouTube Channel here; youtu.be/bCzb-V73lzQ
