KESTRELS BATTLE BACK FROM SLOW START TO SEE OFF COBRAS

Image Courtesy of Dan Crowther

The Kestrels had to overcome a poor first quarter to fight back and beat Cobham Cobras 76-59 to kick off their back-to-back away trip weekends. Andre Arissol’s 18 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists and 7 steals and Wayne Kitenge’s impact off the bench to shore up the glass and provide impactful points to kick the Kestrels into sixth gear.

The home side opened up the game with a flash, scoring just 3 seconds into the game, Charlie Ollis winning the tip, allowing John Stewart to open with a three-pointer from the corner. Cobham brought energy to their home court, capitalising on numerous missed buckets on the Kestrels’ side of the floor to build an early rhythm and build a slender lead. Ollis, who ended on a tidy 15 points in the reverse fixture, led his team’s first quarter by hitting key jump shots and controlling the glass on both the defensive and offensive side of the floor. Neither team could hit consistent shots midway through the opening quarter and with the score at 11-4, the Kestrels needed to work their way back into the game early. Rotation in the starting unit enabled a change on the offensive end, Kitenge instantly getting in on the action with points and rebounds, but Cobham continued to beat the Kestrels to the ball off of missed shots. Marcel Dias Mendes concluded the first quarter scoring, leaving the home team with a 15-11 lead, giving the Kestrels an added challenge on the road with the early deficit.

Another rotation in the five on the floor for the Kestrels resulted in a quick bucket that gave them a sense of urgency, Ethan Round getting his first points of the afternoon with a three from the top of the key. There were two scoreless minutes until Greg Durand gave the away team their first lead of the game, that was until that man Ollis responded with a three to quiet the subtle sense of hope for the Kestrels. Both teams continued their shooting woes, but Cobham continued to out rebound the physical presence of both Briggs and Kitenge and force the lead back into their favour.

However, Kitenge didn’t let that stop him from playing his game, scoring 6 easy points and just like that Kestrels claimed the lead once again. Round fed off Kitenge’s energy to push his team further in front, hitting another three to make it 28-21 with three minutes left in the half. The Kestrels looked to put the first quarter shooting performance behind them, Arissol adding to the three-point tally in the box score to follow Ethan’s, shifting the momentum well into the hands of Solent.

The change in momentum caused a change in lineup for Cobham, as Stewart and Ollis getting a deserved rest before they enter the half. Jakub Ofman then entered the three-point party with a transition bucket and giving the Kestrels a 13-point lead with a single minute left on the clock. That lead remained with them at the half, so what was a 15-11 differential in the first quarter, the Kestrels go the second quarter with 24-7 run to alter the Cobham momentum heading into the second 20 minutes.

Arissol hit another three on the Kestrels’ opening possession of the second half to maintain the momentum that Solent had gathered before entering the dressing room. The double AA energy triggered Round to re-enter the fray with his third three but Cobham responded almost instantly, hitting two threes of their own through Oladipupo and Ollis, showing the Kestrels that they were not to be pushed aside. AA had not yet finished his impressive captain’s performance, netting another three and turning defence into offence, getting a steal and scoring a simple lay up in transition. The lead began to slowly grow, as Ofman hit a jump shot inside the arc to make it 54-38 with three minutes left in the third quarter.

Missed free throws became the key learning point from this game, win or lose, as the Kestrels up until the final quarter went 9 for 19 from the line and Arissol was no exception, hitting just 1 from 2 after being fouled on his shot attempt. These missed points allowed Cobham to stick to the coat tails of the Kestrels, trading buckets and ending the third just 16 points behind Matt Guymon’s side. The added pace of the Kestrels in the second and third quarters changed the flow of the game and allowed the likes of Round and Arissol to build point totals to lead their team’s scoring.

Both teams continued to trade baskets, Kitenge, Ofman and Round scoring on the Kestrels side of proceedings and Arissol put the stats to the back braided head to hit both free throws. Now a 68-51 game, Matt Guymon kept the same five to ensure they would come out of the game with the win, until Kitenge made way for Briggs after tipping home the ball and capping off a 13-point game for the big.

A slow close out to a solid comeback from the Kestrels to complete the double over Cobham with a 76-59 win and they maintain pace with Barnet Bulldogs at the top of the league.

Box score - FIBA LiveStats

The title race heats up next weekend as the Kestrels travel to the North side of London to face league leaders Barnet in a game that could potentially decide the title.

With games in hand, the Kestrels then welcome CoLA on the 7^thof March in what is a revenge game for the reverse fixture where the Kestrels lost 78-71. Tickets for that game can be purchased here - D1 Men vs. City of London Academy Southwark Pride - NBL Division 1 Men | Team Solent Kestrels