Crusaders
Come Up Trumps To Aces
Coventry
and Warwickshire Crusaders were again victorious on Saturday, as once more fielding their
strongest team this week they took on the Bucks Aces who had been so outclassed by
Crusaders earlier in the season.
Nevertheless
this return match was to be a completely different game.
The
strengthened Ace's line up featured quality from the 1st division with height, speed and
class.
Even so,
Crusaders got off to a good start with Sho Ayub, Justin Gibson and young Adam Crinage
leading the scoring.
Bri
Tierney popped up to dispatch his first three pointer of the season for the Crusaders to
take them into the first break 11-6 up.
Crusaders
leading scorer Paul Claridge had had an unusually poor start to the game hitting
everything but net and did not figure in the scoring until the second quarter where he hit
8 of the team’s 11 points.
With the
full court press running well, the half time interval came with a 22-14 lead in favour of
the Crusaders.
In the
third quarter again Claridge seemed jinxed with multiple shots rimming out without score.
The Aces
fought back despite Ayub and Gibson propping up the team.
All this
resulted in the Crusader half time lead now being turned around in Aces favour seeing them
go into the final period 26 - 33 up.
The fourth
quarter of this game was as exciting as it gets! The
Crusaders were clawing back points from nothing, Ayub scored again to get the tide turning
then with quality support from the whole team Claridge finally put the scoring machine
into gear with 6 points before a 3 pointer from a different postcode to level the game at
37 a piece.
Sho Ayub
then took the lead for the home side with a classic shot before the Aces levelled again.
It was now
left to Crusaders junior and eventual MVP Adam Crinage, who putting up a confident quality
shot from the edge of the key to secure the win for Crusaders 41 – 39.
By pulling
together as a team Crusaders had pulled off a win in what was a very important match for
the club. The quality in the Aces was very high and they ran the team very close.
An elated
Coach Claridge said after the game,
"This
was a very fine result for the team and it shows how mentally strong we are in being able
to play under pressure and snatch a well deserved victory!"
Crusaders
Scorers
Paul
Claridge
17
Sho Ayub
11
Justin
Gibson
4
Adam
Crinage
4
Bri
Tierney
3
Carl Leeth
2
Next game
is at home Saturday the 21st February when Crusaders take on Colchester.
Tip off
City College Tile Hill 11:30 am.
