 [17 FEB 00] CRUSADERS NEWS
Coach's Corner
Matt
Donaldson
The resurgence of forward Matt Donaldson since before Christmas has revitalized the
Bupa Crusaders.
The Crusaders' form was floundering until the beginning of December. Since then Matt
has really stepped up his game and once again become the force which Crusaders fans are
used to seeing on a weekly basis.
Throughout his career as a Crusader, for all but one of the past eight years, he has
been known as one of the best power forwards in National League Division One. He took a
year out to recover from various long-term injuries, and the transition of getting back
into playing competitive ball and getting game fit has taken a while.
But now he is back and he has come back strong. The spark he adds under the basket,
with 8 rebounds a game, scrapping for loose balls, his defensive presence under the
basket, not to mention the 20 or so points he usually puts in the basket, has helped to
motivate the team and raises the level of his team-mates’ performance.
This year he has helped the Bupa Crusaders move to a solid mid-table position, with a
glimmer at one of the spots higher up beckoning them to continue improving on a weekly
basis.
If the Crusaders continue to do well, winning the next few games, it would not be
surprising to see Matt in position to get the prestigious "Player of the Month
Award" from the EBBA. That’s the calibre of basketball he’s playing right
now.
Milek Jivens
Congratulations to ex-Crusaders Milek Jivens who has been awarded Player of the Month
for January. Milek is playing at Mansfield in National League Division Three this season.
Tuff at the Top
What do Teesside, Solent, Plymouth and Worthing have in common?
Life is tuff at the top. The 1999-2000 National Division
One Men’s Basketball season has been very unpredictable. Last season's play-off
winners, Plymouth, are now in fourth place after being runners up last season in the
league. Solent Stars, the league winners last year are behind the first place Teesside,
the team which has already won the National Trophy this season against Worthing.
The Sutton Pumas finished 3rd last season, and
now the Pumas are around mid-table. The Bupa Crusaders finished 6th last
season, this season we could be 4th if we win the rest of our games this
season. The Bupa Crusaders have the talent to win the play-offs, but the team must believe
in each other as well as themselves.
Dip Donaldson
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