TEAM Solent Kestrels opened their NBL D1 league title defence with a down to the wire 69-64 victory over Reading Rockets on Saturday evening at the Solent Sports Complex. Kestrels made it a fourth consecutive opening day victory but would be made to work for a full 40 minutes by a much improved Rockets outfit, writes Jack O'Keeffe.

The hosts would strike first as they set about building a 9-3 lead through four quick Luke Busumbru points and would later extend the gap to nine through a pair of Andre Arissol free throws. Despite TSK holding a nine point lead through the closing stages of the quarter, Rockets American Tyler Cartaino converted an and-1 opportunity to leave the scoreline at 20-14 TSK, after the first 10 minutes.

Elias Poorman came off the bench for the Kestrels to restore an eight point advantage early in the second but back to back scores for the visitors would spark Coach Guymon into using his first timeout of the ball game, 22-18 TSK. Kestrels responded out of the timeout through Busumbru and Arissol, before Lewis Champion brought his side back within just a point at 25-24. A short 5-0 run with just three minutes left in the half gave Reading their first lead of the game after some tough interior play from Sam Toluwase. The lead would swing back and forth to close the half but it was the visiting Rockets who edged themselves into a two point lead, 31-33 at the interval.

AJ Basi gave Reading their largest lead of the evening when he got all the way to the hoop for a lay up, at 35-41, but that sparked a quick 6-0 run for the home town Kestrels with Orlan Jackman finding his scoring rhythm to tie the game up. After finding themselves down four once again, Kestrels would swing the momentum with a 7-0, run capped off by a steal and coast to coast finishing from Arissol to put his side up 48-45. Reading responded briefly out of a timeout however Elliot Dadds and Cole Gentry extended the deficit to five ahead of the quarter break. Rockets guard Jaz Bains would ensure that his side only trailed by two though as he connected on a triple to close the third, 52-50 TSK.

It was a tense start to the final period as neither side were able to establish scoring rhythm but it was TSK who struck first to build a six point advantage after Gentry stroked another three pointer. Despite Cartaino responding from the foul line another Gentry triple, followed by a Busumbru put back gave the hosts a 10 point lead with a little under five minutes to play. The Kestrels lead reached 12 point post Rockets timeout but the game was far from over as Rockets rallied to trim the gap to four after Meshack Lufile converted inside. TSK would spurn the chance to put the game out of reach from the foul line however Mr Southampton (Elliot Dadds) came up trumps, forcing an offensive foul from the visitors and later putting the game to bed at the free throw line, 69-64.

Kestrels Head Coach Matt Guymon commented, "I was really pleased with our resilience throughout the game, and being able to respond the way we did defensively to close the game out in the second half. We had a number of struggles on the offensive end with missed paint FG’s and free throws being the obvious standouts, but we were able to offset this with an excellent defensive and o.rebounding effort. I liked also how many key contributions we got from across the roster, where we see the early stages of players doing whatever it takes to help our team win."

TSK were led by playmaker Cole Gentry who had 17 points, five assists and four rebounds, whilst Luke Busumbru capped off his move into the starting line up with 12 points, five rebounds and three assists and Andre Arissol marked his return to the squad with 11 points. Reading’s American big man Meshack Lufile led scoring charge for the visitors with 21 points and 12 rebounds whilst Jaz Bains and Sam Toluwase added 10 apiece.

Kestrels now head out on the road next Saturday as they take on Derby Trailblazers in another tough NBL D1 clash.