TEAM Solent Kestrels produced a fine display as they returned to the Solent Sports Complex after eight straight road games, to defeat Nottingham Hoods 95-63.

The victory is the second win over the Hoods in the space of three weeks, after dispatching the east Midlands side on their home floor 93-73, writes Jack O'Keeffe.

Hoods started the better of the two sides as Morakinyo Williams scored the visitors' first six points, including a three-pointer to open the game. However, Kestrels responded through Luke Busumbru and Max Richardson to tie things up quickly.

Brendan Okoronkwo, who got the starting nod after an Elliot Dadds foot injury, and Cole Gentry went back-to-back on a pair of threes, followed by five straight from Busumbru, to push the lead to nine for TSK.

Coach Stanley would use his first timeout of the ball game to settle his side, and it did just that as Kyle Jimenez scored on the following possession. Kestrels used a 9-2 run to close the quarter behind Orlan Jackman and Kemel Archer off the bench, who ensured their side would take a 26-12 lead after one.

Archer scored four straight for TSK to get the second quarter underway, however he would be matched by Williams and Leon Bailey at the other end. The sides traded baskets for long spells through the second and it would be the Hoods who used a 7-2 run to trim the arrears to 11 at 34-23, sparking a Coach Guymon timeout.

The home side made the relevant adjustments post timeout producing a 12-2 run to close the half out, capped off by a trademark Gentry pull-up three from a long way out, to send the crowd wild heading into the interval, 46-25 TSK.

Kestrels would score six unanswered across the opening 90 seconds of the second half to push the gap out to 27 in a hurry and despite brief respite from Johde Campbell, Kestrels extended the arrears to 30, prompting an early Hoods timeout.

The teams would again trade scores through the mid point of the quarter, but with Kestrels still more than 30 ahead, that would do nothing to trim the arrears for the visitors. Hoods rallied briefly to close the quarter after being down as many as 34 but it was Kestrels who took a 68-39 lead into the final 10 minutes.

Hoods showed they had some life about them early on the fourth as Olarerin scored eight straight points, but Busumbru and Gentry ensured that the Kestrels lead would stay in tact as they replied immediately. Chris Scarlett came off the bench to stroke a trademark triple whilst Gentry continued his hot streak from beyond the arc, as the Kestrels lead got out to 36.

Arissol would give TSK their biggest lead of the game at 39 when he knocked down a three with a little under three minutes remaining. Hoods replied late to cut the lead with a flurry of scores in the closing stages but TSK would win this one convincingly, 95-63.

Kestrels head coach Matt Guymon commented: “Our guys were incredible at both ends of the court and sustained a relentless pace for the full 40 minutes.

"Nottingham Hoods are a talented team, that will challenge for a top-three finish, which makes this result even more impressive."

Kestrels were led by Gentry’s 22 points, nine assists and four rebounds whilst Busumbru had 21 points, six rebounds and four assists and Arissol added 14 points off the bench. Nottingham Hoods big man Williams was their high point man with 22 points, whilst Olarerin and Andrew Vickers added 14 and 10 respectively.