[05 NOV 09] CRUSADER NEWS

 Derby Match Preview

Derby Trailblazers vs. Coventry Crusaders

Venue: Moorways Sports Centre, Moor Lane, Allenton, Derby, DE24 9HY

When: Saturday 7^th November 2009

Tip Off: 7:30pm

Competition: EBL Division One

By Adam Manning

Coventry Crusaders travel to Derby Trailblazers this Saturday evening, who are yet to drop their 100% record in 2009/10 after seven match ups.

Scott Neely will be looking to rally his troops and turn the form book upside down after last weekend’s home league defeat against Bristol Academy Flyers, and the boss says they will approach the game just like any other trying to implement set plays on a consistent basis.

“They haven’t lost a match yet so they’re feeling good and riding high”.

“I think our guys, it’s one of those things where I don’t feel that they’re carrying this huge weight where they obviously want to go out and get a win, but it’s more about being early in the season. They’re still learning plays and getting to know each other  and that’s why I say for me it’s success and this is how I always want to find it, not just because we’re getting some losses currently, I would have found it the same way if we’d won six matches and lost none. The question is “are you doing what you need to do by putting all your effort out there”, and then the wins losses take care of themselves”.

Meanwhile team captain John Olinger was in upbeat mood when asked about the next game against Derby, and he wasn’t too fussed about what Derby’s form.

“If we put together a good game, then we’ll compete with anybody in this league, but that’s on us” said Olinger, who will be looking to keep up his average of 24 per game this weekend.

“I’m not really worried about the opponent as much as I’m worried about us putting it together and playing as a team and being consistent throughout the game and not having stretches where we don’t play very well”. 

Against Bristol the side managed to take the game to the opponent by opening up an 8 point lead in a frantic few minutes, and Olinger is calling for his team mates to sustain that type of score line throughout the game.

“I felt we needed to come out of the gates a little bit stronger against Bristol, and we did that which is great, and that’s obviously a trend that we’d like to continue, but then we need to sustain it as the game goes on. We’ve just got to keep out foot on the gas and keep going” he said.  

Crusaders have no fresh injury worries, with Dan Taylor expected to return from a shoulder injury after sitting out last week’s home match.

Recent form:

Derby have averaged 73 points from each of their seven victories so far,  whilst conceding 65; displaying that Crusaders will be facing an evenly balanced side performing at both ends of the court.

Crusaders have shown that they’re not far off Derby offensively, scoring an average of 69 points per game. Yet the defensive side is slightly larger for the Crusaders, conceding an average of 76 in each of their six losses so far.

Head to head:

These two sides have met seven times since Derby was promoted for the 2007/8 season, with Derby edging it by four games to Coventry’s three.  The last match between the two sides saw Coventry triumph 87-78 at the Sports Centre back in February, which was in the middle of a rich vein of form that resulted in Crusaders snatching an 8^th placed play off spot. The first ever meeting between the two sides coincidentally was current boss Scott Neely’s first game in charge of Coventry, which handed the American his first senior win as a coach in a 82-77 victory.

Who are they?

Derby Trailblazers was formed in 2000 originally to facilitate competitive basketball for the under 16 & 18 age brackets, as well as senior women. Since then the club has grown to provide basketball to girls, boys, women and men who can all either coach, play or officiate.  The club is run by a group of volunteers who have a remit of where they want to be in five years time, which is: ‘To ensure that everyone within the extended community of Derby is aware of and has access to the club and that there are opportunities for people to be involved at all levels whether as a player, coach, official, administrator or volunteer.’

They were promoted in 2007/8 to EBL Division One after spending two years in Division Two, and are coached by Clarence Wiggins.

So far this season they have progressed to the National Trophy quarter finals as pool winners, and have a 3^rd round National Cup tie against university outfit Loughborough Student Cardinals.

Derby also has a men’s team in EBL Division Three North, who are yet to win a game after five matches in to the season.

Top 3 Scorers for 2009/10:

Coventry	Pts	Derby	Pts
John Olinger (c)	144	Mark Woodhouse	70
Stephen Danso	70	Simon Allaway	55
Dave Edden	64	Matt Shaw (c)	49

 

Crusaders team to face Derby: 4 Joe Francombe (guard); 5 John Olinger (c) (guard);

6 Tim Donaldson (point guard); 8 Will Bastin (guard); 9 Dan Taylor (guard/forward);

10 Simon Payne (guard/forward); 11 Stephen Danso (guard); 12 Dave Edden (forward);

13 Ryann Samuel (forward); 14 Kane Hudson (guard).

                         

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