The Solent Kestrels are an English professional basketball club based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. Founded in 1998, the Kestrels play their home games at the Solent Sports Complex at Solent University.
History Junior roots The club was founded in 1998 by Jimmie and Bev Guymon, who wanted somewhere for their son and other youngsters in the area to play competitive basketball. Originally set up to offer junior basketball to boys teams from under-13's to under-18's, the club offers junior basketball to boys and girls from under-10 up to under-18 National League level. The girls program was introduced in 2001, an initiative of Ollie Jerram and Bev Guymon, giving Ollie's daughter the opportunity to play with other girls, as mixed basketball was not allowed after the age of 15. In their first season, the team won the U16 National title.
Elite academy The club is partnered with Itchen College, with whom they offer elite level, under-19 basketball development to some of the county's top male and female players.
Senior teams The Kestrels offers senior basketball with two teams playing at National League level.
The men's senior team, established in 2012, are previous National Basketball League League and Playoffs champions, the second tier of British men's basketball. In 2020, the Kestrels became the first-ever NBL team to reach the semi-finals of a top-tier British Basketball League competition, the BBL Trophy, and eventually finished as runners-up, losing to the Newcastle Eagles 96-94 after overtime in the final.
Men's team Honours National Cup Champions (2): 2019-20 , 2021-22 National League Division 1 League Champions (4): 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 National League Division 1 Playoffs Champions (3): 2018-19, 2020-21, 2021-22 National Trophy Champions (1): 2017-18 https://www.hoopsfix.com/2018/02/team-solent-kestrels-take-national-trophy/ } National League Division 2 League Champions (1): 2015-16 National League Division 3 South League Champions (1): 2014-15 L Lynch Trophy Champions (1): 2020-21
Players Notable former players
Joel Freeland Jeremy Sochan
Season-by-season records SeasonDivisionTierLeaguePlayoffsNational Cup Finish Played Wins Losses Points Win % Solent Kestrels2012-13D3 Sou47th18711140.389Did not qualify1st round2013-14D3 Sou43rd20173260.650Semi-finals1st round2014-15D3 Sou41st18153300.833Runners-Up1st round2015-16D231st22184360.818Runners-Up1st round2016-17D126th261511300.577Semi-finalsRunners-Up2017-18D122nd24204400.833Quarter-finalsSemi-finals2018-19D121st26224440.846Winners, beating WorthingRunners-Up2019-20D121st23221470.957No playoffsWinners, beating Reading2020-21D121st19172340.895Winners, beating HemelNo competition2021-22D121st2624248 0.923Winners, beating HemelWinners, beating Newcastle2022-23D128th261214240.462Quarter-finals5th round2023-24D2 Sou32nd22211420.955
Record in BBL competitions Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away2018–19BBL TrophyR1Cheshire PhoenixL 86-752019–20BBL TrophyR1London LionsW 82-92QFWorthing ThunderW 81-94SFBristol FlyersW 103-67L 92-73FNewcastle EaglesL 96-94 (OT)2020–21BBL TrophyR1Derby TrailblazersW 73-101QFSurrey ScorchersL 82-732021–22BBL TrophyR1Glasgow RocksL 82-91
Women's team Honours National League Division 1 League Champions (1): 2016-17 National League Division 1 League Champions (1): 2022-23
See also
References