Crusaders finally broke their losing streak after a tough game on Saturday, to win in a close game against Solent Stars on Sunday.  That elusive win was all the more sweet because they had to wait for it so long. 

Solent squeezed this fixture into their schedule by playing late on a Sunday in Portsmouth, but nevertheless, Crusaders made it and the win made the trip worthwhile. 

Crusaders, who had been held up in road works along the way, pulled into the Mountbatten Centre’s car park just before tip off. Despite the rushed start to the game, the visitors were first on the scoreboard, and never looked back during the opening period.

Six players were on the score sheet for Crusaders by the end of 10 minutes, and they held the lead 22-18. 

In the second quarter roles were reversed, and it was Stars who came out shooting. With Payne’s three pointer, in the third minute, they edged ahead of the Crusaders and held onto that lead until Oatman, who was having a hot shooting spell, tied it up again 34-34.  

During the rest of the half the two sides played “TIG” and ended the half all even with 40 apiece. 

It wasn’t until half way through the third quarter before Crusaders edged away from Stars   55-48.  Although they led by as many as 9 points, Solent was determined to keep in touch.   

Stars recent run of wins gave them the confidence to fight back, and by the end of the period Stars had cut the gap with two fine 3-pointers from Stanley and Payne, to just two points again, 65-63. 

The fourth quarter started once again, with Crusaders scoring first, and capitalising on that with several threes from Scott Neely, they led 79-70 going into the last five minutes. 

Stars must have wanted the win quite badly, but in spite of cutting it to just a four point deficit with over three minutes to play, they were still having to play catch-up.  The Crusaders, smelling the unfamiliar scent of victory, were equally determined not to give the game away. 

In an attempt to stop the clock with Solent down by 6 points, Crusaders went to the free throw line 8 times, only managing to score 4 of those.  

In spite of the fact that Moore’s basket and then another Stanley three pointer found it’s mark, the buzzer signalled the end of a long dry spell for Crusaders, and a win that could still help them climb back up to a top eight place. 

Crusaders scorers: Spare 2, Ndoumbe 3, Baynes Clarke 4, Donaldson 12, Omar 13, Neely 22, Oatman 34 

Solent scorers: Wilkins 2, Milner 3, Stanley 6, Young 16, Moore 17, Payne 17, Bright 26