The Team Solent Kestrels faced heartbreak on the final day of the season as they lost 96-104 to the Milton Keynes Breakers.
Isa Brandon scored 26 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists whilst Elliott Dadds added 21 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals. Ashley Briggs got a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds.
The Kestrels made use of the sell-out crowd at the Solent Sport Complex to take an early lead. Brandon led the way by making shots from all over the court, with Dadds and Matt Hughes spreading the point scoring around too. Two late three-pointers gave the Kestrels a 36-23 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw the physical prowess of the Breakers come into the game more as they started to find more drives to the rim as well as finding space beyond the three-point mark to shoot from range. Milton Keynes pressed their advantage and halved the deficit to 55-48 at the end of the second quarter.
The Kestrels continued to score going into the second half but couldn’t keep up with the flowing attacks of the visitors who showed why they had only lost one game all season. Russell Gariepy tried to spark some attacks for Solent in reply with some nice finishes, as Dadds scored a very deep three to get the crowd on their feet, but couldn’t keep them on level terms with the visitors as the third quarter ended 74-80 to the Breakers.
The fourth quarter proved to be a grandstand finish as both teams left no stone unturned in their quest for the win. Gariepy, Briggs and Joe Lloyd all provided points to close the gap but Isa Brandon saw himself fouled out late in the game, which gave the Breakers just enough momentum to hold onto the win and take the League title.
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