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KESTRELS BOUNCE BACK WITH VICTORY OVER ELITE


Image Courtesy - Kai Johnson
Image Courtesy - Kai Johnson

Team Solent Kestrels bounced back from just their second defeat of the regular season, as they handed London Elite a 105-72 loss on Saturday evening at the Solent Sports Complex. The victory improves TSK to 15-2 as they keep pace at the top of NBL Division 2 South.


Kestrels boasted 6 players in double figures as a balanced scoring effort powered them, with Russ Gariepy posting 18 points, Isa Brandon adding 17 and both Andre Arissol and Greg Durand chipping in 13 a piece.


Kestrels wasted no time at all in this one, maybe with the previous weeks loss on their minds and came flying out the blocks to build a 10-0 lead and force Elite into an early timeout. Isa Brandon and Matt Hughes pushed the arrears to 13 post timeout to keep the hosts firmly in control and despite a late pair of scores to close the quarter from London, TSK took a 23-12 advantage after one.


It was a slow start to the second quarter for both squads with just a Russ Gariepy triple on the scoreboard over the first 3 minutes. A 6-2 run for the visitors would prompt a Coach Guymon timeout with Elite back within 10 points. 5 quick points the other side of the break in play restored a 15 point Kestrels advantage, capped off by an Ash Briggs finish inside on his return to the line up. The sides traded scores to close the half and that saw the home side take a 43-31 lead.


Elite started the half with 4 quick points which trimmed the deficit to just 8 points for them, however that would be short lived as a 7-0 run for the Kestrels, behind 5 Brandon points, re-established a 15 point gap. Again the sides would trade scores for long spells of the third, before a 12-0 run to close the period for TSK, capped off by a Brandon triple, gave them a 79-51 lead with 10 minutes to play.


A 6-2 run to open the final quarter extended the gap to 32 and although London replied, a barrage of triples from Greg Durand and Gariepy pushed the deficit to 36. The sides exchanged a flurry of three pointers (7) before Kestrels finally broke the 100 point mark, much to the excitement of local primary school, Springhill, who were in attendance supporting the home side. TSK eventually taking a 105-72 win.

Springhill Catholic Primary School in the huddle with the Kestrels!
Springhill Catholic Primary School in the huddle with the Kestrels!

Kestrels now have a break in the schedule with this weekends originally scheduled match up at Barking Abbey being moved to Saturday 29th March 2025. TSK will be back in action on Saturday 1st March 2025 at the SSC where they’ll welcome Cobham Cobras. Tickets are on sale for that game now!





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