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[05 JAN
08] CRUSADER NEWS
Coventry
Crusaders (42) 82 – Bristol Academy Flyers (44) 86
High
Flying Team Takes the Win
Coventry and Bristol
came face to face on Saturday with the same result as the first time
they met.
Earlier in the
season the two sides played each other at Bristol in the National Trophy
competition and the Flyers won by four.
This time it was a
league game in Coventry, and although Crusaders led throughout the first
quarter 28-22 and well into the second, the away team never fell too far
behind, and challenged them all the way.
The first quarter
included 12 points from hotshot Keith Sudler for Crusaders, and three
hard-slamming dunks by Bristol’s Simons, so spectators could be in no
doubt that they would get a good night of entertainment.
When the 2nd
quarter got under way, Bristol acted quickly to make up the difference
between the two sides with a basket by Williams followed by a three
pointer from Analts, who captains the team.
The Crusaders just
managed to stay in the lead up until late in the 2nd when
Bristol finally took over with two more baskets by Williams who kept a
steady stream of points flowing in for the visitors throughout the
evening.
Williams’ points
were matched almost point for point by Crusader’s Ryan Luethy’s,
however, as the Flyers double teamed Sudler after his opening quarter,
consistently leaving Luethy free to shoot.
Just before half
time Crusaders had taken the lead again, only to be thwarted by a
3pointer by Williams to give the visitors a 42-44 advantage to start the
second half with.
In the third quarter
Crusaders did not do a good job of containing Williams, who continued
his onslaught with another 12 points including 3 three pointers.
Although Crusaders
did not fall too far behind, they were playing catch-up for the rest of
the game, down by 5 moving into the 4th period of play
62-67.
Luethy came to life
again in the last quarter, hitting 3 three pointers and adding another
11 points to his 33 total, while Crusaders as a team slipped farther
behind in the first several minutes.
They battled back,
however, and Bristol was the one trailing with just under three minutes
left when Ben Clarke’s three-pointer put the home team ahead 79-77.
Crusaders sent
Flyers to the line, forcing them to make free throws rather than give a
basket freely, and the Flyer made six out of nine attempts, giving them
the lead once more.
Although Crusaders
had possession of the ball and opportunity to set up some game winning
baskets, they lost possession of the ball and with it their chance to
pip the result. Instead they had to watch another win slip through
their fingers, as Bristol celebrated 82-86 and a win on the road.
Crusaders scorers:
Luethy 33, Sudler 18, Clarke 12, Baynes Clarke 9, S Donaldson 4, Edden
4, Spare 2
Flyers scorers:
Williams 32, Simons 13, Makowski 12, Streete 11, Analts 7, Hutchinson 4,
Treasure 3, Ahmed 2, Watson 2 |
