Coventry Crusaders (52) 93 Worcester Wolves (33) 78

BBL Cup Competition

It was another thrilling afternoon at the Coventry Sports Centre on Sunday, as Crusaders managed to upset the apple cart and beat Worcester Wolves in their BBL Cup pool. 

Both teams came out firing in the first quarter of play – with Coventry winning the tip but Wolves putting the first two points on the board.  Wolves kept a steady onslaught going throughout the opening period, with seven of their nine players scoring during the first 10 minutes of the game. 

Crusaders Sam Oatman and Marcin Twierdzinski were exceptionally hot, however, and between them, managed to sink 23 points.  At the first interval Crusaders led 27-23 and the home crowd was enjoying themselves hugely. 

The second quarter proved to be the one that determined the outcome of the game, however.  It began with a call that Worcester’s Coach Josh Cooprider did not care for. Consequently he was given a technical. Oatman hit both the free throws, and Crusaders were well away – pulling ahead by 10 points before the Wolves pulled themselves into formation and scored their first answering shot.

Crusaders continued their on-form shooting, with Oatman contributing another 11 points to add to his 13 first quarter total.

Wolves, on the other hand were struggling to find the basket, and shot after shot rimmed out of the ring.   

Crusaders did a good job of rebounding.  Although Sam Spare, Crusaders rebounding expert was missing due to personal reasons, Ed Baynes Clarke particularly, did a good job on the boards pulling down 10 for the night, closely followed by Neely with 9. 

At half time the score was 52-33 for Crusaders, Worcester only managing 10 points for the 2^nd. 

Crusaders Rick Solvason, who played for Worcester until a season ago, was also unavailable for the game on Sunday, but this gave the chance for new Crusaders signing Serge Ndoumbe to get a few minutes of court time along with Alban Schauly who just returned from an Achilles injury which has sidelined him for most of the season. 

In the third quarter it was basket for basket – an all even 21 apiece for the period, which meant Crusaders still had a healthy lead going into the 4^th, 73-54. 

The fourth proved the most exciting quarter, as Wolves began a comeback, and decreased their deficit to just 8 points at one point. 

Crusaders weren’t about to throw it away, however, and kept their poise, in spite of Worcester player Tom Perkes shooting 14 points.  Worcester did win the quarter 24-20, but Crusaders were happy to have this particular feather in their cap and came out overall winners 93-78.

Coach Dip Donaldson was really pleased with the defensive effort of his players and the discipline the team showed on setting up and running plays.

 “We were trying to use this as a practise for next week’s big home league game against joint top placed Manchester Magic. We knew this would be our last BBL cup game because we lost the first two, but I was very happy with the control we exercised today. 

 

Oatman had a fantastic game with 42 points. He ran the game well. 

 

I wanted the players to take pride in their defence – really work on stopping the player they were marking, and they did a good job of it.  If this game marks a change and the beginning of things to come we could end up doing fairly well.” 

Crusaders Scorers: Hall 2, Donaldson 2, Schauly 3, Baynes Clarke 8, Neely 13, Twierdzinski 23, Oatman 42 

Wolves Scorers: Rodriguez 2, Hume-Francis 4, Gayle 4, Potts 5, Collins 10, Sheard 12, Harper 15, Perkes 26