TEAM Solent Kestrels improved to 7-1 in NBL D1, with a convincing 110-52 victory over Leicester Warriors on Saturday evening at the Solent Sports Complex. Kestrels would control proceedings from start to finish as they lead from opening tip to final buzzer, behind yet another balanced team effort, writes Jack O'Keefe.

Cole Gentry and Luke Busumbru combined to open up the TSK lead at 5-0 in the opening two possessions, despite a brief reply from the Warriors it was the hosts who raced out to a 12-5 advantage with a little over three minutes played. Leicester’s American guard Van Turner tried his best to keep things close with a three pointer of his own but Elliott Sentance came off the bench for the home side, to push the lead to double figures, 23-10. Sentance would add two more three’s before the quarter was up leaving his side 29-14 to the good after one.

Kestrels used an 8-4 run to push their lead to 19 in the first minute of the second quarter, with Sentance knocking down his fourth triple, followed by an Andre Arissol three also. The sides traded scores through the mid-point of the period but Travis Charles returned to the game to finally increase the deficit to 20 at 43-23. A huge 17-5 scoring run to close the half, including a Kemel Archer dunk to take the roof off of the SSC, left TSK firmly in control at the interval, 59-28.

Cole Gentry extended the gap to 34 early in the second half and then again to 36 a minute later, as he found his scoring rhythm in transition. Leicester would respond briefly through Kieran Wright and Theo Riley however Max Richardson had other ideas, as he got in on the three point party for TSK. Sentance would continue the hot streak from deep before Archer ensured his side held a 89-43 advantage heading into the final ten minutes.

A Chris Scarlett triple opened the fourth quarter as Kestrels continued the third and it wasn’t long before the lead was out at 50 after a pair of Sentance free throws. Luke Busumbru capped off his fine triple double with a dunk and a three of his own before Sentance pushed the gap to 56 with his seventh triple of the night. Scarlett would add another one before an Archer dunk to put the cherry on top of an impressive display from the hosts, 110-52.

TSK Head Coach Matt Guymon weighed in on his side’s impressive victory: “I was really pleased with how we came out against Leicester with our defensive intent. We knew they were missing some key players but still being able to limit Turner and Powell the way we did was impressive. This was another offensive game where we shared the ball and looked for guys that had the hot hand and the box score reflects that.”

Team Solent Kestrels were led by Sentance’s 29 points in 24 minutes as he went seven/10 from beyond the arc, whilst Gentry added 21 points on 6/9 from deep also, however perhaps the most all round performance came from Busumbru who posted 15 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists with zero turnovers. Leicester Warriors’ American guard, Turner, had 10 points to lead the way for the visitors whilst Delany Powell added eight.