Five Crusaders Can’t Hold Back The Vikings

COVENTRY CRUSADERS 2, 20 VIKINGS 2 (LIVERPOOL) 54

NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 3 NORTH

The Crusaders second team got their first ever Division 3 campaign stated at City College Tile Hill on Saturday.

With the team consisting of only 5 players due to injury problems in the squad, and four from five of the players appearing in the Division 2 game to follow on from this one, all in all it was a big day for the team.

Crusaders 2 knew this was going to be a tough one from the start, facing the more experienced Vikings so early in the season.

The home team line up consisting of Nick King, Adam Crinage, Neill Gardner, Justin Gibson and a debut in National League Basketball for Gareth Davies, started very nervously.

Despite being on the same squad for some time, this line up had never been on court together before, and that inexperience saw them unable to convert, chances into points.

Vikings in contrast were confident and full of ability, consequently resulting in a very one sided first quarter seeing Vikings leading 3 – 11 at the break.

Defending well in the second, Crusaders started to compel their guests into working harder for their points.

Again the home side created chances but nevertheless poor finishing saw them unable to make any impact on the Viking basket, leaving the visitors to extend their lead to close the half 7 – 26  

It was more of the same throughout the second half.

Crusaders increased their work rate but their finishing was still second best on the day.

Coach Paul Claridge was impressed with the way Adam Crinage equipped himself playing the position of Point guard for his first time in.

Unlucky though for him and his team, 4 minutes into the final quarter young Crinage picked up his 5^th personal foul for what his coach saw as a very harsh technical, called by referee Taylor.

This saw Crusaders down to 4 men for the last 6 minutes of the game.

Urged on by the great team spirit in this squad, Crusaders dug deep and  continued to play hard, managing to hold off the Viking attack, who whilst having the player advantage only  succeeded in scoring 2 further points.

The Game closed 54 – 20 In his summary of the game Coach Claridge felt the team played quite well for their first outing together.

They missed countless easy chances and were made to pay by a well drilled Vikings team.

“This is all good experience for these developing players. They will get stronger as they play together. All of these players have talent and this season will be a hard but they will all benefit from lots of court time”

Crusaders Scorers

Adam Crinage 7, Justin Gibson 5, Neill Gardner 4 Nick King 2, Gareth Davies 2.

Next fixtures are on Sunday the 10^th October with a double header with 1^st and 2^nd teams away at the Sheffield Steelers.