[16 FEB 08] CRUSADER NEWS                    

        Crusaders (33) 62 Reading Rockets (38) 76

Coventry Crusaders kept their home crowd on the edge of their seats on Saturday as they entertained Reading Rockets at the Coventry Sports Centre. 

Rockets Tom Sadler was first to score in the game, and before Crusaders quite knew what he was doing, had managed to follow his first basket with a couple more. 

Ryan Luethy was quick to counteract Sadler, however, as he scored 7 points too, to give Crusaders a short-lived lead.  

Rockets then went on a 10-0 that helped them to a 13-21 lead by the end of the first quarter. 

Dan McKay’s 7^th point of the game began the second quarter’s scoring bout for Reading, and as Reading continued their offensive barrage, Crusaders slipped behind by 13 points before fighting back with 9 unanswered points 28-32.  

During the last two minutes of the half the Crusaders kept Reading in sight, and went into the interval down by 5 thanks to a buzzer-beating three by Keith Sudler (33-38).

The third quarter went Crusaders way, as they outscored the Rockets 20-14 as Sudler continued to hit shots including another buzzer three to give the home team their second lead of the game 53-52 going into the 4^th. 

Simon Kearney’s two successful free throws gave Reading the lead in the first minute of the last period, but Crusaders were right there, keeping the pressure on.

The score swung back to Crusaders lead half way through the quarter, momentarily, before McKay’s basket that would give Reading the lead for the rest of the game. 

Reading went to the line 13 times in the last quarter, making 8 of those attempts. Crusaders who so desperately wanted this win, could not make the shots fall in those closing minutes, and with fatigue setting in to their depleted 7-man side, were not strong enough to finish what they had worked so well at for 35 minutes. 

The free throws added up, and before the final hooter, the Rockets had managed to eke in a 14-point lead which in no way gave indication to what a close match it had been for the majority of the game. 

Rockets should have been happy to go home with that win. With a healthier squad, the ever-improving Crusaders squad would have given them an even harder time, and who knows maybe even a different result. The final score 62-76. 

Although suited up, Tim Donaldson did not play because of a shoulder injury sustained in an earlier U-18’s match. His brother Syd Donaldson turned his ankle in the same match, putting him out for the weekend.

Simon Payne was also unavailable with an injury, and Dave Edden another U-18 player who has come in on several occasions to spell the “big men” was recovering from illness.

Ed Baynes Clarke did manage to play, but was feeling far from well. 

Crusader’s Coach Scott Neely had his team playing some great defence, however, and did a good job of fighting for rebounds.  Wes Hall played particularly well for Crusaders, scoring 12 points along with a sensational dunk, numerous blocks and many rebounds. 

“Lethal” Luethy gave Rockets a hard time with his 19 points, complimented by Sudler’s 17. But top scorer was Rich Wellings from Reading with 21, including five 3-pointers. 

Crusaders scorers: Leuthy 19, Sudler 17, Hall 12, Spare 7, Taylor 3, Hudson 2, Baynes Clarke 2. 

Rockets scorers: Wellings 21, Carter 17, McKay 12, Watts 11, Sadler 9, Kearney 6