Team Solent Kestrels finished the calendar year with a 100-64 win over the Newham All Star Sports Academy at the Solent Sport Complex on Saturday afternoon.
Isa Brandon secured a triple-double with 17 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in an all-action performance. Matt Hughes top scored with 19 points whilst Elliot Dadds recorded 17 points and 10 rebounds to earn a double-double of his own.
After the first few possessions saw no score, the Kestrels burst into life and added eight points in a minute as Brandon and Gariepy harried the visitors into multiple turnovers. Matt Hughes took the initiative to start opening the game up and as NASSA protected the paint, he responded by scoring from beyond the three point line, with Dadds and Joe Lloyd soon following his example, helping Solent open up a 31-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Debutant Jakub Ofman came into the game in the second quarter and threw himself into the fray, getting himself six points in five minutes as well as using his body well to defend in the paint. Ashley Briggs returned to the game and continued to fight for rebounds whilst Brandon made sure the scoring rate didn’t lessen by sharing the ball around and earning as many assists as NASSA’s top scorer had points as the second quarter ended 53-25 to the Kestrels.
NASSA started the third quarter with back to back three-pointers before Brandon and Hughes produced some fancy finishes after driving to the hoop in reply. The game opened up and passes that flew over half the court started to fly forward as Solent settled for a counter-acting approach to end the third quarter. Hughes, Brandon and Dadds all benefitted from the transitions as they were left wide open for layups at the rim as the third quarter ended 78-42.
The fourth quarter saw NASSA start to have more of the ball but resilient defending saw them get little reward. Lloyd and Ofman continued their strong appearances from off the bench to keep the scoreboard ticking upwards. Hughes rounded off his performance with some strong action on both sides of the court as the Kestrels saw out yet another home victory.
TSK Top Scorer Matt Hughes added, "It's a great feeling to be winning and especially by the margins, with the team we have, it's a really good feeling. We've definitely surprised ourselves a little, being unbeaten at this point of the season but like I said with the team we have, we expect to win in every game we go into. This is a good time for us to rest and recover over the break ahead of the second half of the season."
Kestrels return to action in the new year on Sunday 14th January 2023 as they host Greenwich Titans (2.30pm at the SSC) you can secure your tickets for that game now. The previously scheduled Milton Keynes Breakers fixture that was due to be played on Saturday 6th January 2023 has now been postponed, due to the Breakers advancing to the semi finals of the National Cup on that weekend. We will communicate via our social media platforms and website once we have confirmed a new date for the fixture.
Comments