Tees Valley Mohawks vs. Medway Park Crusaders (21/01/12)

61-79

Bradford Dragons vs. Medway Park Crusaders (22/01/12)

72-74

Report by Nick Moore

A last gasp three pointer by youngster Dizzy Lufadeju against the Bradford Dragons gave the Medway Park Crusaders two crucial wins on the road this weekend.

The 74-72 win on January 22, combined with a thumping 79-61 win over the Tees Valley Mohawks the day before, moved the Medway team back up to sixth in EBL Division One.

The Crusaders, who travelled with only seven players and without leading scorer, Adrian Fenyn, started the weekend on a high as they made light work of bottom of the table Tees Valley.

Guard Luke Baker, found form again, and dominated the show with a game high 25 points, including four three’s in the first 10 minutes – he went on to hit 39 points over the weekend.

Forward Joseph Schow was close behind, hitting a double-double (21 points, 10 rebounds), on his way to a 36 point weekend, and point guard Steve Vear, matched him with his own double-double (12 points, 10 assists).

The Medway side took an early 49-30 half lead with two strong first quarters, stifling the Mohawks offense.

They took their foot of the gas a little in the final 10 minutes, but the game had already been put to bed, as they stretched their lead to 25. They closed the game out to win by 18 points.

Crusaders Coach, James Vear, was happy with his team’s efforts saying: “We played some great basketball tonight and to only have seven players we looked like we had a lot left in the tank if we needed it.”

He also praised Baker’s efforts: “Luke shot the ball great tonight, but it wasn’t his shooting that impressed me the most today though it was his defence.  He did a great job defending the Mohawks best player, Demarcus Berry – holding him to a scoreless night from the field.”

Their first win of 2012 carried them through to Sunday’s clash with Bradford, but they found themselves 42-36 down at half-time.

Baker, Vear, Schow and Lufadeju started to fire, and they were helped along by a game high 18 points from Kalil Irving.

Schow and Vear both hit their second double-doubles of the weekend and with just seven seconds left to go, Vear found ‘Dizzy’, who managed to hit the winning three-pointer, sealing off a superb weekend for the Kent-based boys.

The Bradford game also saw yet more Crusaders records tumble. Steve Vear’s 13 assists was the second highest ever, by any Crusader.

Dizzy’s game winner was also his 50th game for Crusaders, making him the 13th Crusader to reach 50 games.

And finally, Captain, James Harris, became first Crusader in his career to reach 100 points, field goals, 3’s, free throws, rebounds and assists – some achievement.

After the game, Coach Vear said: “This is maybe one of the proudest weekends I have had as a coach, with only seven fit players we managed to get two wins this weekend, when I think a lot of people thought we wouldn’t. The players have a never say die attitude that I’m sure rivals any team in the country.”

The Medway Crusaders take on the PAWS London Capitals on the road on January, 28.

The Capitals are now bottom of the league, having lost their last four, and only picked up one win the whole season.

The Crusaders beat them on the opening day of the season with a 77-69 win.