GAME PREVIEW - KESTRELS HEAD TO MANCHESTER FOR A SHOT AT THE LEAGUE/CUP/PLAYOFF TREBLE

Image Courtesy of Dan Crowther

Another season, another Play-Off Final for the Solent Kestrels but also a chance at the treble, after clinching both the D1 South title and NBL Cup this season. An unknown matchup between the two sides will make for an entertaining final this Sunday, the last recorded matchup between the two was during the NBL Division Three Play Offs back in 2022, the Wolves coming out on top 72-63. A number of changes for both sides since that game with the stakes even higher this time round.

Worcester Wolves

The Worcester Wolves are the best the North have to offer if their league title is anything to go by, finishing on a 17-5 record and winning the league on head-to-head against Myerscough College. Just the one loss since Christmas to Manchester Magic, Worcester have proven their strong inside game, averaging the most points in the paint across the regular season that will challenge the strong three big-man rotation of the Kestrels and the main ingredient of their overall success stems from Earl Burgess.

Not only home to a University team but was also previously home to Kestrels centre Wayne Kitenge during the 2019-20 season in the British Basketball League. Against his old side, Kitenge will most likely be tasked as second-string centre to make the impact off of the bench to solidify the boards and be a trusting force underneath the basket.

Andre Arissol

It’s almost getting boring now having to put the Kestrels’ captain in these previews but given his great season, making a brilliant case for MVP and previous in NBL Play-Off Finals… it’s hard not to bet against Andre Arissol to put in a great performance. Despite this matchup being somewhat unknown, that arguably gives Arissol a stronger chance of Finals MVP this Sunday, using his experience in and around the game to read defences in the opening possessions to make the impact late on.

A 37-point demolishing of Barking Abbey in last year’s final will set as the standard coming into the weekend, but I’m sure the Kestrels man can use the pressure and expectation to fuel another unbelievable performance.

Earl Burgess

A versatile big that loves a pick n’ roll and rightly so, able of finding mismatches on what seems like every half court set and disrupts opposition defensive assignments. His first season in British basketball turned out to be a successful one, averaging 18.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg and totalling the 3^rd most rebounds and points in the entire league. The 6’7 centre, having graduated out of Converse University just last year, has become accustomed with the British game with ease and settled being a comfortable help defender at times to boost Worcester’s interior shot blocking ability.

Match Ups

Battle of the Bigs

The NBL has a plethora of strong big lineups and Sunday’s final is not exception, containing two of the better big rotations in the league. Ash Briggs and Earl Burgess will most likely start the ball game, with each other as defensive assignments will undoubtedly be a physical battle inside the paint. Worcester’s Chukwudumekwu Okibe also provides another level of physicality and speed in transition, with the Kestrels able to utilise both Wayne Kitenge and Dawid Cimochowski to offer something different entirely to Briggs to produce an intriguing match up between the two centre spots.

Bench Points

Although this week doesn’t include a specific ‘player vs player’ matchup, the inter-game matchups can make even more of a difference. One of those this weekend in the impact of both benches, as both teams contain strong starting units, the bench minutes could prove pivotal in deciphering which out of the two sides is the victor.

In the opening round on the play-offs, Worcester scored a staggering 43 bench points to overcome an impressive London Stars side that went toe-to-toe with the Kestrels in their final regular season game. Compare that to the Kestrels’ 17 bench points against BCU and nine points against Barking Abbey, there is an expectation from Matt Guymon the coaching staff for the starting five take on the offensive workload. However, in a game such as this, a play-off final, the offensive load cannot solely rely on those who begin the game.

Last Recorded Result:

Worcester Wolves 72-63 Solent Kestrels

This season has been a spectacular one for the Kestrels, from the regular season highs and buzzer-beater winning shots to the energy infused crowds at every home game in the Complex. So, whatever the result, thank you Kestrels Family for your support throughout the season,

If you do still want to make the trip up to Manchester on Sunday, tickets are available here -Event Tickets – Basketball England Shop.