Coventry Crusaders get off to exciting start.

If basketball fans were looking for an exciting start to the new season, they certainly got what they paid for on Saturday night at the Coventry Sports Centre, when Coventry and Warwickshire Crusaders entertained Westminster Warriors for the opening game in this year’s league campaign.

Despite losing out by just two points in overtime, Crusaders were upbeat and positive about their overall performance, as were their large, noisy and appreciative crowd.

Starting his twelfth Crusader Season, a fitter slimmer looking, Dip Donaldson got the Coventry season off to a good start, as his opening shot found its target.

Drawing a foul on his way to the basket Donaldson converted the bonus and gave the home side the early lead.

Crusaders appeared to settle quicker as the opening minutes saw Warriors struggle to find form and by midway through the first period Crusader's lead had stretched to 7 points 11 – 4.

Westminster narrowed the margin through Leon Bernard and Ola Ogidan from the line after a couple of unnecessary Crusader fouls.

New boy Larry Graves netted his first points for his new club to maintain the tentative advantage to the home side.

However, some wayward shooting, and a drop in defense from Crusaders, along with a timely substitution from the visitors, saw Westminster go ahead in the final minute of the opening period to close the first quarter at 17 – 21.

Crusaders Coach Derrick Pope opened up the second from long range, setting Crusaders up for a 13 – 3 run inside the first five minutes to retake the lead 30 – 24.

Again it was Ogidan who shone for the Warriors as he tied the game with a little under four minutes left to play in the first half 30 – 30.

Chidoze Offiah put the visitors ahead with a perimeter shot, only to be matched by Pope with his second basket of the quarter.

Nothing could separate the two sides as they traded baskets, including a debut basket for Crusader Junior Ben Douglin, who had made a major contribution in the junior’s victory prior to the Senior game and was now making his first appearance in a Senior vest.

Both teams were made to work hard for the half's closing points, as a flurry of fouls from both sides saw the final 10 points come from the line, but saw Westminster go into the break 40 – 42 ahead.

It was shared spoils in the third quarter as again both teams traded baskets. Crusaders had turned up their defense but Warriors had matched them at the other end.

Neither team could make a break for the lead and an exciting period of basketball ended with the visitors still ahead by a single basket 61 – 64.

Despite a continued upsurge in the Crusader defense that saw Crusaders second American signing Kevin Richard excelling on the defensive boards, Crusaders failed to pick up the advantage as too many loose turnovers saw them fail to reach their own basket.

Three minutes into the final quarter Crusaders were trailing by 5 points 65 – 70.

Nevertheless, some sharp shooting from Pope and Richard plus one out of two free throws going in for Graves and it was all even again at 70 points a piece.

The American duo of Graves and Richard who played together at Northwest Nazarene University paired up well again here, and along side fellow former Northwest Nazarene student and the nights top scorer Donaldson, they maintained the equilibrium for Crusaders into the closing two minutes.

A big and timely 3 pointer for Ogidan, followed by a call for goal tending by Crusaders saw Westminster suddenly open up a 5 point advantage 78 – 83, as the clock moved into the final minute of the game.

However, a lot can happen in a minute of basketball, and having been fouled on his way to the basket Ed Baynes Clarke narrowed the gap again for Coventry when he converted the bonus.

Then with just 30 seconds left and amid cheers from the fired up crowd Donaldson went inside and found the basket to even the scores at 83 – 83.

A huge and determined rejection from Donaldson protected the Crusader basket, but as Westminster regained possession they played the clock down before taking a successful shot giving them a 2 point lead with 13 seconds left.

A hurried time out was called to set up a play that saw Graves level for Crusaders seconds ahead of the final buzzer and force the game into overtime 85 – 85.

Bernard got Warriors off the mark, as Overtime got underway, but when he then committed two quick fouls he allowed first Donaldson and then Graves to take advantage from the line.

As with the rest of the game things remained tight between the teams as the clock counted down.

With 8 seconds left Ogidan levelled things from the line with his first of two free shots, however missing the second a very alert André Akmee grabbed the rebound and took the shot and the lead for the visitors.

Crusaders had possession but Pope's final attempt from long range was way off the mark and Westminster recorded the victory in what can only be described as one of the most exciting curtain raisers in Crusader History.

Speaking after the game Larry Graves said he was pleased with his overall debut performance.

"There are obvious differences between the American game and the English game but I feel very confident that I will be able to adapt"

Also speaking after the game was assistant coach Marcus Garvey who said he was,

"......pleased with the positive attitude and good responses.

 

We need to know how to close the game down and not let them back in.

 

Winning comes from doing the simple things well.

 

We made too many mistakes in the first half, too many turnovers and poor defense, but we learned from that and we rectified them in the second.

 

The youngsters in this evolving squad did very well for a first outing I am pleased with them.

 

We will be working on a few things in training this week, we will make adjustments for next week against Worcester and do a little fine tuning."

Crusaders are at home again next Saturday when they face Worcester Wolves in the Patron Cup.

Tip off next Saturday is 7:30.

Crusader Scorers :-

Dip Donaldson 27, Larry Graves 25, Derrick Pope 15, Kevin Richard 14, Ed Baynes – Clarke 12, Ben Douglin 2.

Westminster Scorers:-

Ola Ogidan 24, Darren Sutherland 15, André Akmee 14, Chidoze Offiah 14, Leon Bernard 11, Daniel Montigue, 5, Jack Gibbons 4, Patrick Auorklia 4, Francesco Figini 2, Team 4.