TEAM Solent Kestrels got their L Lynch Trophy title defence underway with a hard-fought 91-78 victory in Worthing, reports Jack O'Keeffe.

Luke Busumbru marked his return to the Kestrels line up with a fine display pouring in 23 points, six assists and five rebounds to power the visitors to an opening-night win.

Kestrels raced out to a 12-2 advantage early on behind six Travis Charles points, forcing a Worthing Thunder timeout and although Hafeez Abdul responded post timeout, Max Richardson pushed the TSK gap to 14 at 18-4.

A number of successful trips to the foul line for the hosts would see them trim the lead, before Elliot Dadds knocked down a buzzer-beating triple to finish the quarter, 23-16 TSK.

The sides traded baskets to open the second quarter with both finding plenty of high percentage scoring looks and when Abdul finally tied the game at 29 apiece, coach Matt Guymon would use his first timeout of the half.

Kestrels would respond out of the timeout with a 9-0 run as Busumbru led the charge to restore his sides advantage at 38-29. Thunder rallied late in the half however and Jarred Dixon pulled them to within just a point before the break, 40-39 TSK.

Thunder edged in front early in the third, taking a five-point lead after Abdul connected on his only triple of the game and despite TSK answering back on almost every possession, Thunder obliged every time also. When Zaire Taylor knocked down a three ball with 1:52 left in the third, the hosts would take a six-point advantage, their biggest of the game).

However a 9-2 run to close the period for TSK behind Kemel Archer and Busumbru saw them take a narrow one-point lead into the final 10 minutes.

Neither team were able to seize control of the ball game in the opening exchanges of the fourth, but it would be the visiting Kestrels who strung the first scoring run together. A 10-0 run capped off by a Brendan Okoronkwo lay up pushed Kestrels out in front 77-70 and forced a Thunder timeout with 5:50 to play.

Dadds scored five straight post timeout to extend the advantage to 12 and although Dixon replied to cut it to 10 that would be as close as the hosts got. Kestrels eventually closing the game out 91-78 winners.

TSK head coach Guymon said: “It was great to be back at Worthing LC, in a really tightly contested game. After a good start by our guys we really struggled to execute defensively in transition and guarding their perimeter threats.

"I was pleased by the resilience and defensive focus we showed in the final quarter with a number of players stepping up at the end of the floor.

"We look forward to continuing to build with our group as we progress through this competition."

Kestrels were led by Busumbru’s 23 points, six assists and five rebounds, whilst Orlan Jackman added a 16-point, 14 rebound double-double and captain Dadds chipped in 10 points, six rebounds and six assists.

Thunder’s American guard Dixon had 26 points to lead their scoring output whilst Abdul had 20 points.