[01 DEC 07] CRUSADER NEWS                                                        Derby Trailblazers (41) 89

Coventry Crusaders (38) 75

The Coventry Crusaders experienced another disappointing game on Saturday, playing newly promoted Derby. 

The two sides first encounter went Crusaders way, and the Coventry side were looking forward to their first league win of the season. It was not to be, however, as Derby came to life in the second quarter and dominated the rest of the game. 

The first period went all Crusaders way, as Crusaders hit five 3-pointers and were looking strong and relentless, taking an early lead and clearly ahead 28-15 after 10 minutes. 

Derby changed their defensive tactics in the second and third, and Crusaders never quite adjusted to the change, allowing Derby to creep ahead before half time and containing the Coventry team to just 10 2^nd quarter points. Derby went into the break up 38-41. 

The next quarter was slightly better for Crusaders, as Ed Baynes Clarke continued to score six more of his 20 points and the gap was only 15-21 for the quarter. In the meantime, however, Derby’s Barber and Sherlock had kept their steady onslaught with 12 points between them, allowing the home side to slip to a nine-point lead 53-62. 

In the fourth quarter Trailblazer’s 6’10 Barber played like his life depended on it – scoring four 3-pointers and hitting two more baskets to tip his 17 previous points to 33 on the night. 

Crusaders had no answer for the tirade, and although there was a good team effort from Coventry with 22 points for the quarter, Derby topped that with 27 of their own, sealing Crusaders fate and keeping that elusive first win still out of reach. 

Baynes Clarke was the big news for Coventry this week, top scoring for his side for the first time with 20 points. 

Crusaders will have a chance to rewrite results quickly if they can learn from their experiences this week and make necessary adjustments. They will entertain Derby at home this coming weekend in the return game that will be played at North Solihull Sports Centre. 

Crusaders were originally scheduled to play Worthing Thunder, but that game has been rescheduled for Feb. 24th, 2008. 

Crusaders scorers: Baynes Clarke 20, Sudler 19, S.Donaldson 12, Luethy 11, B.Clarke 11, Taylor 2 

Trailblazers scorers: Barber 33, Spicer 23, Attewell 10, Sherlock 11, Selby 4, Stones 4, Attaway 2