Good Start To Junior's Title Defence 

A solid and promising display from Crusaders Juniors saw them bag their first win as they opened up their defence of their National League Midland Conference title on Saturday afternoon at the Coventry Sports Centre. 

Ilkeston Outlaws had tipped off their season last weekend with a 96 – 43 win over Lincolnshire Wildcats, and last years runners up were hoping to use that experience as an advantage over their Coventry rivals. 

At the end of a fairly uneventful opening quarter Ilkeston had got their noses marginally head, with just a single point lead at 13 – 14. 

Crusaders took over the game at the start of the second when Nathan Pope rose high above the rim to put back his own rebound and give Crusaders the lead. 

Some real impressive and exciting manoeuvres from Kane Hudson produced a spell of both valuable and entertaining points for the home side.

Captain Hardeep Khosla added to his 9 first quarter points, as he kept his side focused and well disciplined, whilst the youngest on the Crusader team, at just 14, Bryson Pope played with both strength and maturity, and would by the final buzzer have equalled his Captains top score of 18 points. 

Half time arrived with Crusaders up 37 – 25, and  they  really should have put the game to bed in the third, but a spell of sloppy passing overshadowed some of the good moves they were making, fortunately however not enough to loose the overall control of the game. 

With just over 5 minutes left and the score board displaying 45 - 37 Crusaders lost Nathan Pope to a painful bang to his left leg that saw his game over for the day.

His departure saw the return of Ben Douglin how had been in early foul trouble for his effective but over zealous defence and it wasn’t long before he was picking up his fourth foul. 

As if inspired by the loss of Nathan, the home side put in a good run of points, whilst at the same time forcing Ilkeston to foul.

Douglin took full advantage from the line with some well placed free throws that saw Crusaders ahead 60 – 43 going into the closing period. 

Catching the home side on the hop, Ilkeston narrowed the gap early in the fourth with two fast and fruitful breaks plus a couple of free throws  that saw them move onto 49 points before Bryson Pope eventually got Crusaders going again.  

The experienced “Dips” Khosla checked back in and urged his side to slow down the pace, as Ilkeston appeared to throw caution to the wind in the closing stages, hustling for every ball. 

Coach Roger Payne called to his players from the side line to calm things down as Khosla was fouled out, shortly followed by Douglin with the score at 70 – 60. 

It was however too late in the day for Ilkeston to take full advantage of the loss of two such key players and Crusaders held on to take the win 70 – 64. 

Speaking after the game new Coach Roger Payne was overall pleased with this first performance, and is looking forward to working with the team as time goes on. 

Crusader Scorers 

Hardeep Khosla 18, Bryson Pope 18, Ben Douglin 8, Kane Hudson 8, Nathan Pope 8, Ben Camberbatch 6, Andy Brooks 2, Simon Clarke 2.