[26 JAN 08] CRUSADER NEWS                           

Coventry Crusaders (32) 75 -  Manchester Magic (47) 81

The Crusaders put together a much improved team performance on Saturday as they hosted league joint leaders Manchester Magic at the Coventry Sports Centre. 

Crusaders USA player and development coach Ryan Luethy started off the scoring when he was fouled, by making both of his free throws. His score was closely followed by two baskets from Magic’s Boonham, and the competition was on. 

Crusaders stayed with Manchester basket for basket well into the first quarter before a combination of plays by Boonham and Adu racked up points quickly for the visitors giving them a 10-point cushion after 10 minutes, 17-27. 

Manchester continued to monopolize the scoring in the second quarter as seven different players managed to score and no one in particular scoring more than 5 points for the period. 

Crusaders zone defence did keep Magic’s big men from scoring as easily as they are known to do, but they still managed to pull even farther away from the home side with a healthy 15-point lead at the half-time interval 32-47. 

The break was what Crusaders needed to re-group. Crusaders won the second half 43-34, but the deficit inflicted on them in the first half was too much to win them the game. 

The third quarter started off with two 3’s by Coventry’s Ed Baynes Clarke and three more points from the foul line as he was fouled shooting yet another trey.  With Manchester still a bit rusty after the break, Crusaders had cut Magic’s lead to 10 and the home crowd was definitely back into the game. 

By the end of the third Manchester still led 54-64, but with 10 minutes left, anything could happen. 

Crusaders continued to cut into their deficit slowly throughout the last quarter. A 3-pointer by Mackay and another by Gayle kept Manchester’s outcome safely intact, but when Luethy hit a 3 with less than 2 minutes left, and Sudler swished another one, Crusaders only had 6 points between them and over-time. 

Unfortunately for Coventry, Magic did well protecting the ball, and forced Crusaders into making fouls to regain possession. Gayle was fouled on several occasions, managing to make 4 out of 6.  

With the game virtually over Crusaders U-18 forward Dave Edden was fouled and sunk both his shots to bring the home team within 5 points of the Magic 75-81. 

Manchester can be glad that they were able to leave with the win. Their depth and versatility definitely helped them to do that, with almost evenly shared scoring between 8 of their players. 

But Crusaders showed a lot of new character and the ability to stick to a game plan that will win them some games in the second half of the season. 

Crusaders Scorers: Luethy 24, Sudler 21, Baynes Clarke 17, Spare 6, Payne 3, Edden 2, Hall 2

Magic’s Scorers: Ogilvie 15, Gayle 15, Adu 11, Boonham 8, Gill 8, Mackay 8, Jackman 7, Dwyer 7, Hilliard 2