NATIONAL CUP QUARTER FINAL AWAITS KESTRELS AS THEY DOMINATE WORTHING
Two games in two days as the National Cup rolled around once again at the Solent Sports Complex and the Kestrels complete a 99-52 demolition job of shorthanded Worthing Thunder and Bears. Koby Rival rounds out a strong weekend for him by leading the scoring with 20 points off the bench, Jordan Simpson also added an explosive 16 points.
The very first possession was suggestive of how the next forty minutes of basketball would play out, Kailyn Panchal-Bedward nailing a corner triple after the Thunder and Bears collapsed in on Ash Briggs inside.
Speed. The pure foot speed on offence allowed Simpson to free himself to fire a confident three and add to the early lead.
That speed became apparent, particularly with Simpson on the floor, the American running in transition on every opportunity that he got to beat the away side back to their own basket.
Former Kestrels’ player, George Andrews caught the transition defence of the Kestrels to score the Thunder and Bears’ first bucket of the game with a shot from behind the arc.
Movement. The awareness and presence of mind from Simpson off-the-ball in half court sets allowed the team to share the ball but find the Kestrels newbie on a wonderful backdoor cut to make it an early 10-point differential at 15-5.
A strong end of the opening quarter from Marley Edwards and Rival, alongside the rest of the bench unit, gave the Kestrels a whopping 25-5 lead to end the first.
Rival didn’t just stop there, opening the second quarter with four more points before Edwards threw down the hammer with a dunk in transition.
Louis Weaver boosted the Kestrels’ team three-point percentage from the corner, followed by Simpson going 2 for 2 from the line, making it 36-7.
A continuance of the Kestrels free-flowing offence was on show until the final play of the 1st half, the home side up 47-16.
The Kestrels simply outscored the away side, overwhelming the Worthing defence with many different units on the court.
Edwards, Rival, Reuel Matthias got in on the 2nd half scoring, all stacking upon the foundations built through the opening twenty minutes.
A brilliant performance all round against a Division Two team loaded with talent on a double-header weekend and win 99-52 to continue their unbeaten run and book their quarter final ticket in a match up with Barnet Bulldogs on Sunday 29th November 2026.
Box Score - FIBA LiveStats
Watch the game - 01.11.26_Senior Men vs Worthing Thunder & Bears - Men's National Cup
The Men’s squad head out on the road once again to play the Cobham Cobras next Sunday and come back to the Solent Sports Complex on the 14th of November to play league leaders and fellow unbeaten team Oaklands Wolves.
Tickets for that game are available here - Senior Men vs. Oaklands Wolves - NBL Division 1 Men | Solent Kestrels
The hardwood will be swept ready for the Women’s squad to play in the next round of the National Cup against the Brent Bulls next Sunday (8th of November), tickets for that match are available here - Senior Women vs. Brent Bulls (National Cup) | Solent Kestrels
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