Northampton (41) 73

Crusaders (44) 86

Crusaders Sink Neptunes In Their Own Pond

Last weekend's morale boosting friendly win for Coventry and Warwickshire Crusaders in their preparation for the remainder of the season certainly paid dividends. 

Sunday afternoon they went on to record their first league win of 2004 at Lings Forum Leisure Centre Northampton, taking on the winners of last season’s Division 2 National Shield Northampton Neptunes. 

Crusaders looked relaxed and composed as they warmed up for this must win encounter with the league newcomers, but not quite as comfortable when Neptune's Canadian Star Mike McLeod took the lead with his opening shot from long range.

Even though McLeod tried to dominate the opening quarter for Neputunes by producing 12 of their opening 20 points, Alistair Spires again demonstrated why he has rapidly become such an important signing for Crusaders, with a motivating performance at both ends of the court producing 9 points of his own in the first period.

Supporters of neither team could be discouraged by their sides performances in this close fought and highly entertaining first quarter of basketball, which was to close with the scores all even at 20 points a piece.

Having been brought in to rest Spires in the closing stages of the first quarter, Sam Spare responded well for the Crusader defence in the opening stages of the second period.

As with the first this second quarter would again turn into a very closely fought contest between the two sides with both teams trying hard to seize any advantage.

Crusader's Larry Graves, who in the league this season has so far produced a shooting average of 23.20 points, was unlucky to receive his third personal foul in just the third minute of this second period and it was therefore thought prudent to replace him for a time.

Nevertheless young Lee Muir who came in to replace Graves asserted himself well and if the Neptunes thought that the youngster would be a push over, they soon found they were very much mistaken.

With three minutes left to play in the half, Ed Baynes Clarke was introduced into the game for the first time, and looked much more like the creative and talented player of last season than the quieter player we had seen up until last weekend. His improved performance justified his increase in court time this week.

As the buzzer drew closer and a missed lay up from Graves following an uncontested lay up by Neptune's Captain and former Crusader Ben Knight that gave the home side a slim 38 - 34 lead, Marcus Garvey called for a time out to discuss the closing stages of the half.

Inspired by whatever, their coach had to say, Crusaders came back out on court where a peach of a 3 pointer from Derrick Pope would bring them to just a point behind, and when having stripped Neptunes of the ball deep in their own half, Lee Muir converted the lay up, Crusaders were back in the lead 38 - 39.

Alistair Spires added 2 more points for Crusaders, but the talented Ryan Michalski produced Neptunes fifth long range shot of the half to even things up at 41 a piece.

It looked likely that things would remain level into the interval, until Crusader Coach Derrick Pope sunk a three point shot that any NBA player would have been proud of, to send Crusaders back to the dressing room ahead at 41 - 44.

One could almost feel sorry for the home side for the opening seven minutes of the second half. 

They were completely and utterly demoralised by the Crusader defence, failing to produce any points until inside the final three minutes.

Manny Sharland and Dip Donaldson dominated the defensive boards and tight Crusader defence saw Neptunes with no way through as the clock counted down.

Crusaders could have and should have capitalised more on the Neputunes discomfort, nevertheless, 10 points from the field including a rather spectacular dunk from Alistair Spires and 2 points from the line from Derrick Pope saw Crusaders with what would seem a comfortable 15 point advantage 41 - 56.

There was very little movement on the home side bench as a time out was called and it appeared that Ben Knight was just asking his players to look at the scoreboard and contemplate what was happening on court.

His tactic had an effect as Neptunes hit four from four long range shots inside those closing three minutes to close the third with a much more respectable deficit 55 - 61.

Alistair Spires had his attempt to open up the scoring in the final quarter rejected but a swift and increasingly athletic Manny Sharland picked up the rebound.

However, when Sharland was fouled as he tried to open up the scoring he was forced to earn his points the hard way from the free throw line. Missing the first but making his second free throw Sharland eventually got the fourth period underway.

Yet another long shot got the home side off the mark as they tried hard to get back into the game.

Even this early in the quarter Crusaders appeared to smell victory and stepped up their game to secure it.

Again Alistair Spires made sure he was in the right position grabbing the rebounds and picking up the points from missed shots from both Pope and Sharland.

A controversial decision saw Graves out of the game, when for a second time he was called for an offensive charge. On both occasions Neptunes appeared as surprised as the Crusaders but much to his credit Larry left the court without protest. Once again he was replaced by Lee Muir.

With just two minutes left in the game and Crusaders still only 7 points up 66 - 73, a time out was called.

Neptunes appeared to have selected Lee Muir as the player they would foul to stop the clock. 

Nevertheless on three consecutive occasions the youngster stepped up to the line to take the penalty shots and keeping his composure scored five from six.

A change in the Neptune defence was not without reward in the closing seconds but by this time the game was beyond their reach.

Lee Muir again stepped up to the line for Crusaders final points bringing his personal score to 9, his best for the season.

The final consolation went to the home side's second Canadian Star Greg Richards who having been fouled as he made the closing shot, converted his free throw to close the game 13 points down, and give the Crusader Coach, players and supporters something to smile about with a well earned but hard fought victory 73 - 86.

Crusader Scorers                         

Derrick Pope (C)24, Alistair Spires 17, Dip Donaldson 13, Lee Muir 9, Larry Graves 8, Manny Sharland 8,  Ed Baynes Clarke 7, Team 2   

Neptunes Scorers

Mike McLeod 20, Ryan Michalski 18, Greg Richard 15, Scott Ingram 9, Brendan Erskine 5, Mark Gledhill 2, Ben Knight (C) 2