Kestrels 74 Team Kilkenny 72
Mens Division 1
Kestrels got back to winning ways this evening when they edged out Team Kilkenny in a tense affair at the Watershed Sports Complex.
The Laois side came into the game off the back of a two week break with their last outing seeing them go down away to UUJ Elks.
Chris Keesley and Aaron Whelan were to the fore in this one in the first two quarters as Kestrels went in for the half time break leading by 40 to 36.
The scoring remained tight throughout the third quarter but a burst of baskets from James Butler gave Team Kilkenny a two point lead as the clock ticked into the final minute.
In an exciting finale, teenager James Gormley held his nerve to convert two free throws to level the tie before American Chris Keesely won it with just six seconds to go.
This was a win which keeps Kestrels in third place in the South Conference and closes the gap on the sides above to 12 points.
After two games on the road, Kestrels will be back in Portarlington this weekend for the first time in almost a month.
They will look to keep winning in Division 1 when they host Dublin Lions, who currently sit second from bottom of the North Conference, on Saturday in Colaiste Isogain.
KESTRELS
Aaron Whelan 14
Chris Keesley 29
Dan Debosz 10
Dinas Stragas
Mantas Vilabos
Subs:
Dylan Dunne
James Gormley
Sean Condon
