HUGE BENCH EFFORT POWERS KESTRELS TO HOME WIN OVER SUSSEX STORM
High flying Kestrels battle through yet another test in an 89-72 victory over Sussex Storm to move onto a 4-0 record in NBL Division 1. Efficient scoring from captain Andre Arissol and impact off the bench from 18-year-old Stelios Christofi helped overcome the visitors on Saturday as they combined for 45 points for the evening.
The target of the offence was Wayne Kitenge to start the game off, with the smaller framed Sussex players having to double the Kestrels big to negate his ability to finish around the rim.
A strong 6-2 start for the home side was put to waste after back-to-back turnovers allowed the Storm, particularly Zachariah Opoku, to show off their raw foot speed and ability to push in transition.
It was speed that allowed Opoku to break away from his defender and get the and-one finish off the glass to give Sussex their first lead of the game four and a half minutes in.
The Kestrels responded, however, with a 10-0 run, topped off by an Arissol long range three that tallied him to eight points in the opening six minutes.
Momentum began to swing in favour of the Kestrels, and the positive bench energy was oozing throughout the Solent Sports Complex once Christofi went coast-to-coast to defy the stereotypes of that centre position.
The very next possession, Arissol and Christofi joined forces on a simple pick n’ roll offence, the guard sensing space stepped back… and with an element of certainty, let a deep three fly, to give the Kestrels their first double-digit lead.
As the clock wound towards the end of the quarter, neither team found the bottom of the net, which meant that the Kestrels 10-point lead saw the end of the opening ten minutes.
That rushed and incomplete offence from both sides crept its way into the second portion, with neither team scoring until Rashayne Padmore got the better of La’Quarne Sayles to nail a long two.
Opoku and Padmore had kept the visitors in the game on both sides of the floor, and it was Opoku’s corner three that brought the game to a four-point differential.
41-33 at the half, as the Kestrels collected themselves and looked to push on and make the win unattainable for the visitors.
The Sussex Storm had other ideas.
Clouds began to loom and a series of wasted offensive possessions allowed the away side to draw ever closer.
Great crashing of boards from the Storm, Anthony Ozobuekwe collected the offensive rebound after a Padmore missed free throw and capitalised by giving his side their first lead since the first quarter at 49-48.
Although the lead was brief, Arissol finished from close range to respond with the very next possession.
The Kestrels were being forced to dig deep, and it was the deep shooting that propelled them back into a rhythm, Koby Rival this time left wide open and the young guard punished Sussex.
Christofi wasn’t done just yet for the evening, the big scored the Kestrels’ last six points in the third quarter, subsequently extending the lead back out to 60-54.
Youth was the answer for Matt Guymon to find the Kestrels’ momentum on offence, the combination of Christofi, Rival and Kailyn Panchal-Bedward played with ultimate freedom, and they had seemingly weathered the Storm run.
Arissol made his way back out onto the floor and put the game to bed, two threes in the final quarter left the Storm looking around for an answer.
The same old story with a Kestrels win, but plenty of chapters that told the full story. From messy offence to youngsters showing their potential and finally the Arissol captain’s performance… an 89-72 win and the Kestrels can see nothing but clear skies towards the upper rungs of the NBL 1 Pool B standings.
Box Score - FIBA LiveStats
Watch the game back on YouTube - 17.10.26_Senior Men vs. Sussex Storm - NBL Division 1 Men
The Men’s side play host next on the 31st of October to Barking Abbey at 6pm, the perfect way to spend your Halloween evening. Tickets are available here - Senior Men vs. Barking Abbey - NBL Division 1 Men | Solent Kestrels.
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