[01 OCT 09] CRUSADER NEWS

 Taunton Tigers

Match Preview

Taunton Tigers vs. Coventry Crusaders

Venue: Wellsprings Leisure Centre Cheddon Rd, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 7QP

When: Saturday October 3^rd

Tip Off: 6:30pm

Competition: Mens National Trophy

Coventry Crusaders’ senior team go into this weekend’s second National Trophy match at Taunton Tigers boasting two new welcome additions to the squad.

6’5 forward Ryan Samuel and 6’4 guard Stephen Danso, who both hail from London and are first year Coventry University students have been added to the roster to take the number of squad members up to ten.

Both players will hook up with the same team that played Bristol and Birmingham last weekend to bring a heightened presence into the side vs. Taunton.

Head coach Scott Neely, who hopes to have his side in full rhythm come the end of the year, had the following to say on the recent versatile recruits.

“Ryan will help us at the 3 and 4 position and he can knock down the open mid-range jump shot and will hopefully provide rebounding help on both ends of the court”.

“Stephen can play 1-2-3 positions, especially right now as we do not have great size in the post positions” conceded Neely, despite praising his defence for their resilient performance against Bristol last Saturday.

 “He likes to push the ball up the court and we will look for him to take advantage of his speed and quickness in transition”.

 As for Saturday’s opponents, Neely remains cautious over what to expect from a closely knit team that is under new leadership.

“It’s a bit difficult to say since they now have a new coach that took over at the end of the season”.

“According to the players they still have from the past couple of years I expect a team that works well together for the best offensive opportunity. Many have played together since youth basketball and really fight well for one another”.

Neely also played down any pressure being placed on his side following two straight defeats last weekend.

“We are beginning the journey of the season and I really see it as that, a growing process which we hope to be at our strongest by the end of the year”.

“I really look forward to seeing what players have taken on board from the trainings and put into practice in the match”.

Taunton Tigers: Who are they?

Taunton Tigers Basketball Club was formed in 1997 and is based in the western county of Somerset, and play their home games at the 500 seater Wellsprings Leisure Centre.

They were one of three teams who gained promotion to EBL Division One for the 2007/8 season after finishing third in Division Two.

During their first season in Division One they held their own, finishing one place above Crusaders in 8^th place to snatch a play off place, before finishing in the final twelfth position last year with just two league wins out of a possible eighteen.

Tigers are under new leadership this year in the form of American Tom Kambouris, after former head coach Ronnie Heath resigned ironically after the last time the two sides met back in February following eleven straight league defeats. 

Head to Head

Taunton and Coventry share the spoils at two apiece, with Tigers doing the double in the 2007/8 season, whilst Coventry summoned revenge in style last year by coming from behind in both league games.

The last meeting saw Coventry miraculously turn around a 20 point half time deficit to triumph 87-84 in over time, with American duo Travis Lay and John Olinger along with Marcin Twierdzinski all on top scoring form for a second half come back, contributing 58 points.

This will be the first time the two sides have met in the National Trophy competition.

 

07/08 EBL Div 1	Coventry	74-77	Taunton
07/08 EBL Div 1	Taunton	83-74	Coventry
08/09 EBL Div 1	Coventry	87-81	Taunton
08/09 EBL Div 1	Taunton	84-87	Coventry

Team to play Taunton: Joe Francombe (guard); John Olinger (guard) ; Tim Donaldson (point guard);                    Will Bastin (guard); Dan Taylor (guard/forward); Simon Payne (forward); Dave Edden (forward);                         Kane Hudson (guard); Ryan Samuel (forward); Stephen Danso (guard).

                                                                                                                               Story courtesy of Adam Manning (Crusaders Reporter)

 

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