[24 JAN 10] CRUSADER NEWS

 Mohawks Post Match Reaction

By James Bourne 

COVENTRY Crusaders head coach Scott Neely agreed after the game with Tees Valley Mohawks that the game turned in the third quarter.

Neely said: “Definitely, I think we were able to open up a margin. Teesside, I thought they did well in coming back, carrying on remaining aggressive and hitting shots, but that opened up a little gap for us and with us then carrying on and being aggressive offensively, finding the right options, then we were able to keep the lead.

However, the Crusaders head coach was unhappy with certain aspects of his team’s performance, saying that parts of their game were ‘not smart basketball.’

“I’m happy with the win, but not happy with some of our execution, especially in the first half. Defensively, giving up 55 points in the first half just shouldn’t happen,” Neely said.

“With Matt, we were doing lots of work on the inside and so for us not to get the ball into him to at least hopefully have an easy shot or maybe get the foul, then it’s not smart basketball.”

Neely also praised the visitors’ resolve, saying: “Teesside shot the ball really well, their threes were from deep, full marks to them and how they kept battling and battling.

“I thought there were two times in the first half, and then again in the second half, when I thought we could pull away earlier, so credit to them.”

Tees Valley head coach Paul Douglas blamed tiredness for his side’s downturn in the final ten minutes, but praised his team’s efforts.

Douglas said: “I was very pleased with our performances considering our troubles and the problems we’ve been going through, but today I thought we showed what we’re capable of.

“It just bore down to fatigue in the end, we just ran out of steam, but all credit to the Crusaders. They shot the ball well, very well. I don’t think it was bad defence played by either team, I just thought both teams shot the ball superbly well and in the fourth quarter we just ran out of legs.”

Like many other coaches in the league, Douglas spoke of how closely matched the teams were in the Division One this season.

Douglas said: “I called this before the season started, this year the league looked like anybody could beat anybody on any given day, and I think that’s possible.

“If we shoot the ball reasonably well, play defence how we know we can do and play a good 30-35 minutes, I think we can beat anybody.”

Douglas also had praise for the Crusaders team, saying: “The Crusaders executed well today. They’re a tough team, one of the better ones we’ve played so far.

“Smith played well, Olinger shot well. They did what they did well. From 1 to 12, everyone did a superb job for the team, and no matter where it was on the court, we got punished by everybody.”

                               

  Main Menu | News | Mohawks Post Match Reaction   24 JAN 2010