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[28 OCT
07] CRUSADER NEWS
Bristol Academy Flyers (40)73 Coventry Crusaders
(29) 69
Sunday’s game did not fair too much
better for Crusaders although it was a closer match throughout, than the
one against Manchester.
Keith Sudler was on
fire for Crusaders from the first whistle, scoring 11 of their 18 first
quarter points. Although it was all tied at 18 with less than a minute,
a Crusader foul on Streete allowed the Flyers an 18-20 advantage after
the 1st.
The second quarter
started out with two quick baskets by Hutchinson, creating a 6-point
lead early on, and one that continued to grow throughout the period, as
6 different players contributed to scoring for the Flyers.
Crusaders, on the
other hand, made a number of simple turnovers, which, in turn created
more points for the happy home team. The visitors went into half-time
down 29-40, knowing they had some work to do in the 2nd
half.
The 3rd
quarter was Crusaders best one of the night, as both Ryan Luethy and
Sudler went to work creating baskets and combining to make all 19 of
Crusaders points for the quarter.
Meanwhile, Bristol
struggled to score 11 points – only managing to do that with several
trips to the free throw line. They went into the last period hanging on
to a 3-point lead 48-51.
A basket by Ed
Baynes Clarke in the opening minute of the last quarter allowed
Crusaders a sniff of the victory that could be theirs, before Flyers
took off running again, working hard to keep one step ahead.
In spite of Baynes
Clarke’s efforts and 11 points from him personally, Crusaders never
managed to quite catch up to the home team, and ran out of time, still
trying, at 69-73.
Crusaders can be
glad that they have had the opportunity to see half of the teams in the
league now, prior to the league’s opening game next Saturday in
Sheffield against the Arrows.
The National Trophy
competition has given them – and all the other teams as well – valuable
practise time in seeing their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as
those of some of their up-coming opponents.
Although Crusaders
have not progressed to the next round of the National Trophy, they have
found by participating in it, that they will be better prepared for the
league.
Crusaders Scorers:
Spare 1, Rob Clarke 7, Ben Clarke 8, Luethy 12, Baynes Clarke 14,
Sudler 27
Flyers Scorers:
Simpson 2, Watscon 2, Till 2, Dyer 4, Analts 5, Streete 11, Hutchinson
12, T. Treasure 12, Williams 23 |
