The Team Solent Kestrels started 2024 off with a bang as they secured a 93-66 point win over the Greenwich Titans. Almost a month after their last competitive fixture, the holiday season break didn’t knock the league leaders off their stride too much, as a comfortable victory followed on their return.
Isa Brandon started where he left off last year and recorded 23 points and seven rebounds in a My Cookie Pie player of the game display. Elliott Dadds also put in an impressive performance, recording 18 points (4/6 from 3) and seven rebounds himself.
The first quarter burst into action very early on as the ball flew from left to right and back to left as both teams scored in transition. Brandon wasted little time in getting Solent’s scoring started and soon found a small lead for the home team to build on. The visitors weren’t to be left too far behind though and kept the game close as the first quarter ended 30-21 to the Kestrels.
The second quarter saw a slight decrease in the speed of the game as the two teams started to take their time with the ball and build their offensive sequences up. Russell Gariepy found some space under the rim to score from close range as Ash Briggs also found success from inside the paint. The second quarter would see Solent stretch out their lead slightly further to a 51-36 advantage.
The halftime break afforded Kestrels’ Head Coach Matt Guymon to make some adjustments to his gameplan as Solent became more active from long distance. Dadds, Sean Mulhern and Brandon all found the net with efforts from the three-point line to cause uncertainty in the Titans’ defence. The new form of attack saw the lead grow even more as the third quarter ended 75-52.
The final quarter saw the least mount of points scored as the benches of both teams got minutes to shake off any rust. Dan Fawell-Molloy made his homecoming appearance as he re-joined the Kestrels for the second half of the season. Brandon didn’t let the slowed scoring disappoint the crowd though as he put an exclamation point on the win with a two handed dunk after stealing the ball.
Kestrels head to Brighton Bears this Saturday (5pm) before returning home to face Richmond Knights on Saturday 27th January 2024, you can secure your tickets for that game now!
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