Team Solent Kestrels picked up their first road win of the NBL Division 2 regular season at the first time of asking this Saturday, as they escaped Richmond with an 80-78 victory over the Knights. The win see’s them move to 2-0 in league play after last weekends win over Ipswich.
Isa Brandon continued his fine start to the season with another huge performance, pouring in 33 points on 15-19 field goal attempts, whilst Andre Arissol added 20 points and Wayne Kitenge 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Kestrels started the game with a good energy and jumped out to an early 8-4 advantage after Arissol found his way to the basket for an easy lay up. Knights responded and brought themselves within a point at 10-9, before a 7-0 run for the visitors gave them a 17-9 lead inside 4 minutes. Richmond did weather the run but it would be Kestrels who took a 12 point lead into the first quarter break, up 26-14.
The hosts opened the second quarter with a 7-2 run to trim the gap to 7 points, Kestrels were able to keep them at bay however as both Isa Brandon and Wayne Kitenge responded. TSK pushed the lead to 10 points with a little under three minutes left in the half as Arissol connected on a pair of free throws. Kestrels would eventually take a 9 points advantage into the half, 43-34.
Richmond stormed out of the blocks in the second half cutting the lead to just 1 point at 45-44 forcing coach Guymon into an early timeout. The experienced Kestrels outfit weathered the run and restored a 5 point lead through Arissol and Isa Brandon. Itchen College prospect Jaidan Dawes came off the bench to convert a huge and-1 to push the lead back to double figures for the Kestrels as they held off any Knights come back. 63-55 at the end of the third.
Russ Gariepy kept the Kestrels double digit lead in tact in the early part of the final period, however Richmond were not going away easily and responded to keep themselves with 8. A number of uncharacteristic turnovers from the Kestrels guards, slipping on a surface that could only be described as questionable, meant that the Knights were right back in the game with just over 3 minutes to play. Richmond briefly edged ahead at 77-78 but a timely and-1 and free throws for Kestrels saw them over the line, 80-78
Kestrels head back to the capital this weekend as they take on Westminster Warriors (5.30pm - Saturday) at Moberly Sports Centre.
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