REGULAR SEASON COMES TO A CLOSE WITH A NARROW VICTORY OVER STARS

Image Courtesy of Dan Crowther

The Kestrels closed out the season with a 72-69 win on the road against the London Stars to extend the unbeaten run the 12 games and end the regular season with a 16-2 record.

Although the title was decided last weekend, the Kestrels were playing as if it was still all to play for in the opening minutes of the game. Andre Arissol and Ash Briggs combined for seven unanswered points. The London Stars, coming off the back of an impressive win against Barking Abbey the day before, had started slowly and allowed the Kestrels to open up with a 12-2 run as Ethan Round added another five points, a three and a layup, the latter scored directly after a Stars timeout.

After starting slowly, the pace of the Stars was what got them back into it, scoring directly after defensive sets where a home player obtained the rebound then a layup was scored down the other end within a few seconds. This happened on three consecutive possessions, with the fast break being the main tool of the Stars offence to bridge the gap. The Kestrels’ lead was equalled with 3:58 left in the first but only for 26 seconds, thanks to a Jakub Ofman three pointer. The Stars, however, ended the first differently to how they opened it up, as they levelled the score and then built on it, Struiga with another fast break opportunity and subsequently points went the way of the London Stars. It was all square, at 17-17 as the referee called time on the first quarter.

The Stars experienced big man, Ryan Martin fired them back ahead at the beginning of the second, nailing a three just eight seconds into the possession. Once again, the Kestrels responded with an answer, this time it was Arissol in transition and a minute later hitting his own three pointer, giving the Kestrels a 22-20 lead. They went end-to-end, sharing the lead throughout the second quarter.

Both teams went scoreless for two straight minutes, with missed shots and broken up half court sets, with fouls and substitutions to slow down the momentum of play. Wayne Kitenge and Thomas Blower added to the score column, that edged the Kestrels into a three-point lead at 34-31 with the teams heading to the changing rooms. After many bench rotational minutes in the second quarter, the starters returned for the Kestrels and the lead was maintained to start the second half, Arissol, Greg Durand and Briggs scored points in the paint in before Round made it 45-39. Despite averaging 11 points per game in the league, Bradley Kaboza was finding success across the floor in this matchup, lacing a three to reinvigorate the Stars offence before a tidy ending to the third saw the home side bring the differential back to four.

Heading into the final quarter and the momentum was firmly on the side of the Stars and that showed with Martin scoring five points within the opening 35 seconds. Matt Guymon was forced into a timeout after losing the lead, but the bleeding remained as Kaboza hits a jumper to make it 61-56 with 4 minutes left in the game. Ofman kept the Kestrels in the game, with a crucial shot from downtown, however, the Stars were persistent, Struiga this time finished out of a timeout and bottomed a free throw. Despite, the now, seven-point differential, the Round-Ofman connection was beginning to become a worry for the Stars defence, Round hitting a trademark three-point shot to bring the gap to just two.

With a singular minute remaining, the Kestrels were still behind and the Stars in the driving seat, that was until Ofman and Round connected once again at the top of the key, giving the wing player an open three on the left, that he downed. The Kestrels were back into the lead and Ofman kept that lead alive by scoring two late free throws heading into the final 30 seconds. London Stars had an opportunity to equal the scoring out of a late timeout, but with the score at 72-69, it would have to be a three to send it into overtime. The player entrusted with that shot was Kaboza, but the shot did not go down, the Stars had a second bite at the cherry with Martin, but not even the experienced centre could equal the scoring.

After a dramatic ending on the road to close out the season, the Kestrels come away with yet another win, making it 12 unbeaten in all competitions. Ofman and Round connected for all of the Kestrels’ final 11 points to complete the victory before the Solent-based side return to Southampton for the playoffs.

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Thank you for your support throughout the regular season, we’d love to hear you again ready for playoff action, which gets under way on Saturday 28th March 2026. Kestrels will play host to Birmingham City Univeristy in the Quarter Finals of the NBL Division 1 Men's playoffs, at the Solent Sports Complex, 6pm Tip off.

Tickets for that game are on sale now; https://www.solentkestrels.co.uk/tickets