A second enrapturing tie between Coventry and Warwickshire Crusaders and Worcester Wolves again, despairingly, resulted in disappointing defeat for Crusaders.

Derrick Pope and his squad now have an uphill struggle if they are to progress further in the Patrons Cup Competition.

The game started well for Crusaders. Coach Derrick Pope had known before hand that his team could not allow a repeat of their last Worcester encounter when they permitted long range shooting from Wolves to give them an early advantage.

Therefore in the opening minutes Crusaders dictated the pace of the game, not allowing any fast breaks from Worcester and Pope himself took control of the perimeter line steering Crusaders into an early lead.

A couple of early fouls from Jones and Cooprider for Worcester enabled Crusaders to maintain their position. A jump ball situation inside the Crusader arc gave Worcester the possession.

This enabled Cooprider to narrow the gap from long range with what was to be Wolves only three point basket of the quarter 9 – 12.

There was little to pick between the two sides as the first quarter progressed, with each team moving the ball well around the court and the lead passing to and fro.

It was nevertheless, the home side that held the advantage as the first period closed. However, unlike the last game when Wolves were 15 points up at this stage, on this occasion their lead was just a single point 25 – 24.

Crusaders redressed the balance early in the second quarter through Kevin Richard. Derrick Pope added his fourth three pointer of the half to extend the Crusader lead to 29 – 25, but his efforts were soon cancelled out by his counter part Rick Solvason, Worcester's Captain.

Having been without a game last weekend, Crusaders seamed unable to recreate the form that had given them victory on their last outing and other than Pope, few of the Crusader performances in the second quarter were as expected, based on previous showing.

There were good spells from Larry Graves and Manny Sharland, but inconsistency in Crusader's defence left them unable to maintain the lead and the buzzer announced half time with the home side 46 – 41 up.

The third period saw fumbled shots from both teams, and it took until well inside the third minute before there was any change to the score.

As Richard dragged down the rebound from a missed shot by fellow Crusader Larry Graves and made the basket he got proceedings underway in what would be an even matched third period with both team scoring 16 points a piece.

Twice during the final four minutes of the quarter Worcester stretched to a 10 point lead, but twice a determined Crusader's brought themselves back, thus frustrating the home side as demonstrated by Ty Shaw being awarded a technical foul for dissent when questioning the officials call on his travelling violation and twice more when Wolves were penalised for "unsportsmanlike" fouls in their attempt to stop Crusaders reaching the basket.

Manny Sharland held the gap at five points as having been fouled by Colin Chiverton, Sharland converted his bonus shot from the line to close the third period 62 – 57.

Having closed the third playing his best basketball of the season, Sharland took the opening possession of the final quarter and made the lay up.

Tightening their defence Crusaders boxed out the home side and with five minutes left in the game had evened things up at 66 a piece.

Nevertheless, having worked so hard to get back on even terms, Crusaders just could not keep up the momentum.

Perhaps the lack of available mid week training facilities coupled with the loss of playing rhythm following last weekend’s lay off, while not being an excuse for the Crusader performance did appear to have some effect down the stretch.

A 10 – 0 run for Wolves anticipated victory for Worcester, despite brave attempts at a final rally for Crusaders.

With just 32 seconds left to play and the score standing at 76 – 71 a time out was called. Tactical fouls from Crusader's Richard and Graves in an attempt to stop play and regain possession did nothing other than see them both fouled out of the game in the closing seconds.

This allowed Cooprider and Solvason to seal Crusader's fate from the line as the game closed 80 – 73 in Worcester's favour.

Speaking after the game was a disappointed Derrick Pope.

"Basically not every one showed up to play tonight, and when things were working out players stopped playing and started thinking. When that happens bad things happen. It is always best to play with your instincts."

Pope refused to let the lack of training facilities this week be an excuse for the defeat but agreed

"that it would not have helped especially having missed out on a game last week".

 

 

How things Stand in Patrons Cup Group 3