****PRESS RELEASE: Sportivate Basketball programme of coaching and competition for young people a great success in Medway****

The Howard School Sports Partnership (which is a network of schools in the Rainham, Gillingham Strood and rural area of Medway) secured ‘Sportivate’ funding to organise expert coaching from the Medway Park Crusaders Basketball club professionals, for young people aged 14 years plus in Medway.

The Sportivate programme forms part of the Sport England ‘Places, People, Play strategy’, which includes part of the £135 million mass participation legacy plans unveiled by the Government in November 2010. The Sportivate programme has been designed to help capture the excitement of sport and London 2012 and to help provide attractive and sustainable community sports opportunities. The Sportivate programme in Kent is administered by the Kent Sport, Leisure and Olympic Service.

Approx. 25 young people from both the Howard School in Rainham and the Brompton Academy in Gillingham received 5 weeks of expert after-school basketball coaching from professional basketball coaches: Adrian Fenyn and Joe Schow. Then on the 6th week there was a friendly competition between the two schools at Medway Park. Both school teams won at least one match each and Craig Nicol (Medway Park Crusaders Basketball Community Coach) was the match official and handed out prizes. Players were also encouraged to come and watch Crusaders matches (EBL division 1) at Medway Park and join the club, to continue playing and enjoy the sport in the longer term.

The Howard School Sport Partnership also secured a small grant from Sport England to establish a new community basketball club at the Howard School for children aged 8 year upwards. This will commence on Thursday 26th January 2012 from 5-6.30pm and will run every Thursday during term time only. The new community club based at the Howard School main sports hall, will be open to children from any school wishing to learn how to play the sport of basketball. Boys and girls of any playing standard (beginners would be particularly welcomed) are very much welcomed and the session will cost £2.00 per person. For further details on this new community club contact: Craig Nicol Head Coach Tel: 07896694228

Claire Moore (Partnership Development Manager) said: ‘This new community club is another exciting playing opportunity for young people in Medway. I am confident that Craig Nicol – Head Coach will help to inspire young people and teach them useful life skills through basketball. Furthermore, this new community club provides an excellent school to community club link and a chance for young people who take their sport more seriously to be directly linked with the Medway Park Crusaders basketball club – which has Clubmark.

We are also actively promoting once a month on the last Thursday of the month a wheelchair Basketball coaching session for young people (sports wheelchairs provided) at the Medway Park in Gillingham. This is led by Mike King – Coach from the Maidstone Rebels Club. For further details contact: Mike King Tel: 07542099375 or 01622 872566 or email: mikeking52@hotmail.com

There are also two Medway School Games competitions organised for both primary and secondary schools: Weds. 29th February 2012 – Medway Secondary Schools Basketball tournament at Medway Park, 2pm onwards and Thursday 1st March 2012 4-6pm – Medway Primary Schools Basketball Festival at Medway Park. All entries for these competitions and enquiries about any of the basketball coaching sessions should go to:

Claire Moore at the Howard School, Derwent Way, Rainham Gillingham Kent ME8 OBX, email: moorec@thehowardschool.co.uk or Tel: 07725724393 or 01634 388765 ex.228
www.howardssp.org.uk

By Nick Moore

Former Medway Park Crusader Omar Reed has started to stamp his authority on the NBA D-League with some outstanding recent performances. 

‘OJ’, as he was known, made a name with the Medway side last season, and is now having a large impact for the Austin Toros – a feeder club for the San Antonio Spurs in Texas, USA. 

The 6’6 guard/forward from Virginia, has helped his team to top of the West Conference League with 12 wins in 15 games, hitting 90 points and collecting 51 rebounds along the way – a PPG average of 8.2 and RPG average of 4.6. 

Luckily, the D-League, (the NBA’s official minor league) was not affected by the five month NBA lock-out, and Reed capitalised on this with an impressive double-double (14 points, 12 rebounds) and a stand-out 26 points when his new side faced the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Friday 9, and Saturday 10, Dec respectively. 

He then followed this up with 18 points and five rebounds against the Texas Legends on Sunday 18, December but has not played in the Toros last three games – victories against the Maine Red Claws on Thursday 5, the Texas Legends on Friday 6 and the Tulsa 66ers on Sunday 8, January. 

Reed, who won both Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year for his college team, Bluefield in 2009-10, got his big break in the D-League when he met a coach from the Austin Toros at Medway Park last year, whilst training with Ryan Richards, another former Crusader. 

The coach reassured Omar that he had a real chance to make it in the NBA, and urged him to try out – Richards was also draft-picked for the San Antonio Spurs the previous year, but is now playing in Europe. 

Reed attended the official NBA open trials from the 25-27 June in Louisville, Kentucky, and his ability to rebound, ball handle and shoot from range led to him getting noticed. 

After a two week wait, Reed got the call to say he had been put into the pool of select draft-picks. In November he was picked by the Toros and since then he hasn’t looked back. 

He said: “My goal for this season is to ultimately get a call-up to the big league, but understanding the statistics of my positioning I will continue to strive to get better every day, and get stronger by hitting the weights room.” 

He added: “I want to learn the ins and outs of this professional play and get smarter in the mental aspect of the game.” 

Reed is quick to not forget his time in England. During his time at the Crusaders, he established himself as one of the league’s best players and scorers, using his versatility to take advantage of different match-ups. 

Reed praises the Crusaders for the role they played in his career. He said: “My stint with the Crusaders was very beneficial for me. I was able to work on some areas of my game and increase my versatility, while helping lead the club in the right direction in getting promoted and winning the EBL2 playoffs.” 

OJ, who stays in touch with some of the Kent players via Facebook, has been following their progress in 2011/12 very closely: “It looks like it was a rough transition starting out but they seem to have turned it around. Adding, former BBL point guard Steve Vear, back to the team must have given them a spark.” 

Crusaders Chairman, Jesse Sazant, has praised Reed’s start to the season saying: “OJ was a tremendous player at the club.  Not only in the obvious impact he had on the floor in our success but in the way he fully bought into the club, leading, supporting and pushing our younger players to help their development.”

He added: “I hope things work out for him in the draft as he fully deserves the opportunity.”

Omar wants to return to England to catch up with the Crusaders soon but doesn’t think he will make it to watch the Olympics as it’s going to be too expensive.

Reading Rockets vs. Medway Park Crusaders – 59-73

(17/12/11)

Leicester Warriors vs. Medway Park Crusaders – 90-94

(18/12/11)

Report by Nick Moore

The Medway Park Crusaders rounded the year off in style with two huge wins on the road, lifting them into sixth place in EBL Division One.

They triumphed 73-59 against current Champions, the Reading Rockets, on Saturday, 17 and followed it up with an 94-90 overtime (OT) win against the Leicester Warriors on Sunday, 18.

The two victories stretched the Crusaders winning streak to four matches and moved them up into the playoff places.

Crusaders Coach James Vear said: “I think many teams had written us off with the start we had this season and I think the guys have used this as motivation to prove we can be a very good team.

“We have now won against four of the best teams in this league.  I love coaching the Crusaders and am already looking forward to getting back on court after a well-deserved break.”

The on-fire Crusaders kicked things off in Reading with American forward Adrian Fenyn stealing the show with a game-topping 30 points.

The first two quarters were very close, with the Medway side just edging the Rockets 40-38 at half time, but in the third quarter a 22-0 straight run helped them to an impressive 73-59 victory.

Canadian forward Joe Schow helped himself to 13 points in a game that saw all 10 Crusaders on the score sheet.

In Leicester, Fenyn brought his weekend total to 54 points with another 24, guard Luke Baker hit 23 and point guard Steve Vear hit 16.

The Crusaders were down 50-44 at half time, but a strong second half meant the teams were level 81-all at full time, and they went into five minutes of OT.

In OT, both teams, who were understandably tired from their Saturday games, put up an intense fight, but it was the Crusaders, who didn’t want fitness to be the separator, who closed the game out 94-90, with crucial baskets from Vear and Baker – taking OT 13-9.

Coach Vear, said after the game: “I cannot speak highly enough about my team. We had a very tough start to the year but the guys have made no excuses and continued to work hard week in, week out. 

“We have great team chemistry and every player from one to 12 contributes to the team dynamics.  We are already looking at the first game back after the Xmas break against a very tough Derby team.”

The Medway side know the second half of the season will be challenging, starting with a trip to the Derby Trailblazers on Saturday, 7 January.

Derby have won six of their opening nine games, one more than the Medway side, and sit third in EBL Division One, two points ahead of the Crusaders.

84-79

Medway Park Leisure Centre, 10/12/11

Report by Nick Moore

The Medway Park Crusaders made it two wins in two weeks as they toppled league-leaders, the Bristol Academy Flyers 84-79, at home on Saturday, 10 December.

The Bristol side, who went into match having only lost one game from seven in their EBL Division One campaign, travelled with a full squad but could not deal with the Crusaders newly found spirit and intensity.

Crusaders point guard, Steve Vear, who looks like he has never left the court, hit 26 points point on the night, as the Medway side’s big men Joseph Schow and Adrian Fenyn combined for 31 points and 25 rebounds

The Flyers stand-out players were Tyrone Treasure and Douglas Mclaughlin-Williams – who combined for 46 points and six rebounds.

The game started in a cagey manner with both teams focused on the defensive side of their game. Neither team took control of the ball, but it was Medway’s five turnovers which meant they trailed 13-12 after the first quarter. 

In the second, the Crusaders began to find their rhythm, managing to find the clinical passes on offense which allowed them to get some easy looks at the hoop.

As captain, James Harris hit two three’s, guards Tom Raymen and Dizzy Lufadeju put in some great minutes towards the end of the quarter, which helped them build up a 39-35 lead at half time. 

After the break, Bristol came out firing and showed why they are currently sitting at the top of the league. They made easy work of the Crusaders defence and impressively took the quarter 24-12, meaning they led 59-52.

But, as is often the way with the current Crusaders side, they never gave up hope. Before the final quarter their coach, James Vear, demanded that his side step up their defence and played with a little more freedom on offence.

And yet again, his team responded. Fenyn and Schow became a real handful for Bristol as they went hard to the basket, and guard Luke Baker began to find his range from the three point line.

With five minutes to go the game was tied at 63 apiece. Point guard Vear then took over, going on a straight 10 point scoring run.

With two minutes left, the Crusaders streaked into a 12 point lead, but Bristol piled on the pressure, eventually closing the gap to five points. The Crusaders won the final 10 minutes 33-21, taking the match 84-79.

Coach, James Vear was incredibly proud of his team’s efforts and said: “That was a great win for us tonight, especially as Bristol are a team who will definitely be right up there come the end of the season.”  

However, he still thinks that there is a lot of room for improvement, adding: “The unselfish basketball we played tonight might have been the best I have seen since I have been coaching this team.  We assisted on 28 of the 39 field goals scored tonight which just shows you how we always made that extra pass.”

He concluded by noting great performances by his forwards Schow and Fenyn, and guard Vear: “Joe nearly had a triple double and he has formed a great partnership with Adrian. Steve was great in the fourth quarter for us. I haven’t seen him take over a game like that in a long time.”

The Crusaders have a double-header of matches next weekend as they take to the road to face the Reading Rockets, the current Division One Champions, on Saturday, 17 December and the Leicester Warriors on Sunday 18, December.

Both teams sit in joint second place near the top of the league on five wins out of seven in this year’s campaign.

Reading beat Leeds Carnegie 91-75 this weekend, while Leicester beat the Tees Valley Mohawks, 82-73.

Both teams will be up for their clashes with the Crusaders side, who know that this weekend will be a tough one on the road, and possibly pivotal in deciding whether they make the playoffs.

93-83

Medway Park Leisure Centre, 03/12/11

Report by Nick Moore

The return of point guard Steve Vear, and a strong last quarter of 34 points helped the Medway Park Crusaders pull out a 93-83 victory against the BA London Leopards at Medway Park on Saturday night, 03 December.

The win, which helps the Crusaders move up to mid-table in the EBL Division One, is their second win of the season.

Stand out players on the night were guard Vear, who hit a double-double of 13 points and 11 assists, making him only the fifth player in Crusaders history to make 100 career assists, and the power forwards, 6’9 Joseph Schow and 6’6 Adrian Fenyn, who combined for 50 points.

The game was always going to come down to how well Medway contained the Leopard’s Vernon Teel and Ousman Krubally, who are the top two scorers in the league – between them have averaged nearly 55 points and 24 rebounds per game.

Luckily for the Crusaders, Krubally did not play, and they managed to keep the import Teel to just 24 points.

The BA-sponsored Leopards won impressively last week against league leaders Bristol, and their confidence showed in the first quarter, with Teel hitting three 3’s early on.  The Crusaders struggled to find any rhythm offensively and were down 20-15 after 10 minutes.

In the second period the Crusaders started to get the ball inside to Schow and Fenyn who both were becoming a handful for the Leopards defence. 

The Leopards though continued to knock down their shots to remain in the lead, and with only a few seconds left in the quarter 6’2 guard Luke Baker knocked down a big three to take the Crusaders into the break trailing 39-35.

After the interval, both teams came out a bit flat in the third, but half way through the quarter the Crusaders began to hit some big shots. 

Vear and Schow combined well giving the Medway team some easy looks at the basket.  They took the third by three points meaning it was 60-59 to the Leopards going into the fourth.

In the final 10 minutes the Leopards came out very strong and Teel once again found himself getting to the basket and hitting some tough shots. They took a quick five point lead, but the Crusaders continued to chip away at the lead.  

In the last 4 minutes of the game the Crusaders caught fire with everyone hitting shots. Vear, Baker and Schow all hit huge threes to put Medway up by eight. The chasing Leopards had to foul to kill the clock, but the Crusaders held their nerve and saw out the game to get their second win.

Crusaders coach, James Vear, was thrilled with his teams result. He said: “We showed great mental toughness tonight and we have been lacking a bit of confidence over the past month, but the guy’s hard work in practice has finally paid off.”

He also paid credit to the efforts of Schow, Fenyn and Baker: “Our big guys were great today. Both Joe and Adrian played some fantastic team basketball and Luke hit some big shots towards the end of the game – he is easily one of the best shooters in the division.”

Leopards’ coach, Dejan Mihevc, was understandably disappointed. He said: “I would like to congratulate Medway Park’s players for a deserved win. They showed more desire and were more focused especially in the last part of the game.”

He also praised point guard, Steve Vear: “Vear was a true leader on the floor tonight and he showed that he is exactly what they needed.”

Steve’s brother, James added: “It was a massive boost getting Steve back tonight. He hasn’t played since we won the playoff final last year but he had a great game.”

The Crusaders next game sees them take on the Bristol Academy Flyers at home on Saturday, 10 December at 5pm.

The Flyers have been the stand out team in this year’s campaign winning six out of their seven opening league fixtures.

Scoring an average of 81 points per game, the Bristol side will be very hard to stop. Coach Vear concluded by saying: “we know we will have to be better defensively when we come up against Bristol next week who are arguably the best team in our Division.”