TEAM Solent Kestrels dropped to their first home defeat since January 2018 on Saturday evening, as Thames Valley Cavaliers escaped Southampton with an 83-78 victory.

Thames Valley were the only NBL side to prevail against Matt Guymon’s side last season and the loss is TSK first in the column this campaign, writes Jack O'Keeffe.

Travis Charles marked his return to the Kestrels side scoring the first nine out of 11 points for the hosts, however a balanced scoring effort for Thames Valley saw them level the game up through the mid point of the quarter.

Hakeem Sylla briefly put the visitors ahead but back-to-back threes from Cole Gentry and an Andre Arissol lay up put TSK up 19-13 with just over three minutes remaining in the first.

An 11-4 run to close the period would see TVC take a 23-24 advantage into the quarter break.

Kestrels opened the second with a short 8-4 scoring run to restore their lead at 31-28 through Elliott Sentance however that would be short lived, as TVC’s American guard Jakobi Bonner tied things up at 35.

Bonner would give his side the lead on the following possession to spark a coach Guymon timeout which seemed to be the wake up call Kestrels needed.

They would respond in fine fashion, closing the half on a 12-3 scoring run to take a 47-40 lead into the interval.

Cavaliers started the second half the better of the two sides and would tie the game up at 49 behind Sylla and AJ Roberts. Max Richardson responded with a triple to put the hosts back in front but that was short lived as another TVC run edged them ahead at 56-59. A late flurry of free throws from Luke Busumbru would ensure that Kestrels held a narrow one-point lead, 61-60.

The fourth opened in back and forth fashion and would make for an exciting final 10 minutes at the SSC. A pair of Charles free throws would put TSK up four with a little over six minutes to play but a quick 5-0 unanswered run from the visitors, edged them back ahead 72-73.

Busumbru and Orlan Jackman restored a three-point advantage but Bonner and Blayne Freckleton ensured that the Cavaliers would be up one, with two minutes to play.

Gentry made a pair of free throws with 1:06 on the clock but veteran guard, Jarrett Hart, converted on the pull up to reply with just 41 seconds remaining.

Gentry’s three would fall short and Kestrels would send the visitors to the line, however the Cavaliers held their nerve and snatched victory, 78-83.

Reflecting on the defeat, TSK head coach Guymon said: “Credit to Thames Valley who closed out the game well at both ends of the floor.

"For us this loss had been coming where we have shown a lack of consistency in what we do. The key thing now will be how we respond and how quickly we can rebuild the offensive cohesion with Travis back with the group."

It was a positive return to action for Charles as he led the way with 20 points, whilst Gentry added 17 points and Busumbru eight points. TVC’s Sylla had 19 points to lead the visitors whilst Charles Acquah-Davis added 14 and Roberts 13.