TEAM Solent Kestrels retained their National Cup title in Manchester, dominating proceedings against Team Newcastle University from the opening tip to the final buzzer, to run out 109-66 winners.

The victory sees Kestrels claim a back to back National Cup crown after a one-year COVID-19 hiatus, writes Jack O'Keeffe.

Kestrels started the better of the two sides as they raced out to a 9-2 lead inside the first three minutes of the ball game, behind a balanced scoring effort as Cole Gentry, Elliot Dadds and Travis Charles all got on the box score.

TSK would briefly push the advantage out to nine points after Kemel Archer came off the bench to cause problems on the offensive glass for Team Newcastle. However a 9-2 run for Newcastle saw them pull within just two points with a little under three minutes to play in the quarter.

A blistering 14-2 scoring run to close the opening 10 minutes for TSK left them firmly in charge at the quarter break, after Andre Arissol and Orlan Jackman came off the bench to power the Kestrels offence, 29-15 after one.

Max Richardson opened up the second quarter with a three-pointer, but both sides traded scores through the early part of the period and by the halfway mark the lead was still at 18 for TSK, 45-27. Team Newcastle forward Ronald Blain helped cut the arrears to 15 when he knocked down his second triple of the half, but Luke Busumbru and Jackman ensured that the Kestrels' advantage was at 19 at the break, 58-39, after a high-scoring second quarter.

Kestrels started the second half as they meant to go on, scoring seven unanswered points, kick started by a Dadds and-one and although a pair of Martyn Gayle free throws provided some respite for Newcastle, it would get worse as Dadds and Jackman added five more points to push the gap to 29.

Newcastle would respond post timeout through Blain and Gayle but TSK’s Busumbru and Charles restored all order as they scored at the rim on back-to-back possessions. Blain continued to be the offensive spark for the North East side but Dadds and then Charles, pushed the Kestrels lead to 30 to finish the third, 88-58.

Dadds continued his hot shooting into the fourth and Charles would follow suit, scoring six unanswered to extend the gap to 37. Kestrels continued to shut out Team Newcastle holding them to just eight fourth-quarter points, whilst Chris Scarlett and Elliott Sentance came in off the bench to pile on the offensive production, eventually extended the advantage to 43. TSK would keep their lead well and truly intact to close the game out and run out 109-66 winners, securing a second successive National Cup title.

TSK head coach Matt Guymon was ecstatic with his sides display. “I couldn’t be more proud of our group and their performance," he said.

"They came in with a clear focus and togetherness we haven’t seen yet this season and with multiple contributions across our roster this is without question our most complete performance so far.

"We will enjoy this one, but I know our guys are looking forward to getting back into league play next weekend.”

Team Solent Kestrels were led by Finals MVP Jackman who had 22 points and eight rebounds in 18 minutes, whilst captain Dadds added 16 and Charles 15.

Team Newcastle’s Blain had 24 points to lead the charge for the runners-up with Brandon Federici chipping in 16 and Martyn Gayle 11.

(Pictures: Luke Simcock)