[08 MAR 08] CRUSADER NEWS                    

Crusaders (54) 103

C of W Anglia Fury (29) 55

The game, which was sponsored by Coca Cola Enterprises Ltd followed a highly entertaining All-Star Game put on by Warwickshire Basketball Association and highlighting some of Warwickshire’s best players. 

When the Division One game began it didn’t take long before College of West Anglia scored. They spent the first five minutes trading baskets with the Crusaders, managing to stay ahead until six minutes into the game. 

Crusaders then went on an 8-0 scoring run helped along by two 3-pointers by Ryan Luethy to put Coventry Crusader’s last home game of the season gave the home crowd a huge night of high scoring basketball and a resounding victory over the team just below them on the league table.Coventry up 25-14 at the first interval. 

The second quarter began well for the home team as they continued to rack up unanswered points, continuing what they started with another 9-0 run before Fury’s Patrick Manifold scored a basket followed by a three.  Manifold went on to score 9 out of Fury’s 15 second quarter points. 

It was young Sydney Donaldson who was the hot shooter of the game, however, scoring 11 of his 30 points and boosting Crusaders ahead 54-29 by halftime. 

Scores continued to come few and far between for the Fury in the second half as Crusaders scored almost at will.  The 3^rd period turned out to be the closest of the four with West Anglia scoring 16 to Coventry’s 21. 

Crusaders Luethy and U-18 played Dave Edden combined to sink 14 points between them, as the home side continued to widen the gap. 

As the home side slid into the 4th quarter with a comfortable 30 point lead (75-45) the pressure Crusaders had put on themselves to win this game, eased, and their steady onslaught of baskets flying in increased their lead to 48 by the end of the game.

Donaldson hit four 3-pointers in the 4^th, padding his total nicely, and giving him a new Division 1 career high and top scoring for Crusaders with 30 points. 

Crusaders needed that win, along with another one or two in order to claim a slot in the play-offs. They’ve got three games left to do it! 

Crusaders scorers: Spare 2, T. Donaldson 2, Payne 6, Edden 8, Taylor 10, Hall 12, Baynes Clarke 13, Luethy 20, S. Donaldson 30 

Fury’s scorers: Manning 2, Smith 2, Westerby 4, Plaice 4, Eboigbe 9, Bevin 9, Manifold 11, Bamfield 14.