Crusaders Cadets Dampen Down The Sparks

Coventry Crusaders 95 Leicester Sparks 34 

It was a great start for Alvin Scott’s Cadet Team on Saturday afternoon when they opened up their new season’s account with a resounding victory at the Coventry Sports Centre over Leicester Sparks.

Crusaders totally dominated through out, in what can only be described as an utterly one sided affair.

All of Scott’s lads played well, and despite the miss match between the teams, they can be pleased with their efforts towards their 95 – 34 point win that has put them top of their league.

Governing at both ends of the court Crusaders dictated the play whilst Leicester made a series of fundamental errors for which they were harshly punished.

Urged on by their young supporters, and with points spread nicely throughout the team, Crusaders led at the end of the first period 23 – 7.

With such a lead it must have been hard to motivate themselves at the beginning of the second and although Kane Hudson continued to produce a steady flow of points, overall Crusader baskets were a bit slower in coming.

Nevertheless, a lovely 3 point shot from Matt Wood coming in off the bench appeared to get Crusaders refocused and from then on they rapidly stretched their lead to end the half ahead by 42 – 15.

It was more of the same in the third, as despite a good few missed lay ups Crusaders never looked like any thing other than winners. Bryson Pope who led the scoring throughout the afternoon bagged two well placed 3 pointers, whilst his fellow Blue Coat Student, Matt Wood drained his second of the game to stretch the lead 62 – 23 going into the final quarter.

There was very little let up as the Crusaders stepped up the pressure in the final quarter leaving little room for manoeuvre by the Sparks.

31 points sealed it for Crusaders including a third 3 of the afternoon from Matt Wood, 14 points from the influential Bryson Pope and 11 points from Luis da Silva who’s game just got stronger as the minutes ticked down.

Overall Alvin Scott was pleased with his team’s performance and despite being confident urges them to keep their feet firmly on the ground.

“This is only the start of the season, we have yet to see what the rest of the opposition is like in this league.”

Next Saturday Cadets will travel to Leicester to take on the other Leicester side competing in this league. Leicester Cannons.

Cannons have yet to compete this season having been given a 0 – 20 win last week when their opposition forfeited the game.

Crusader Scorers  

Bryson Pope  31, Kane Hudson 17 Luis Da Silva Romero 17, Matt Wood 11 Ricardo Gordon 10 Andrew Brookes 5 Robert Layfield   4