With the men’s season having come to a close, here is an update on the career leaders for Crusaders.
Game Records
Points Scored (Team)
127 5 February 2011 v Sheffield Arrows D2
118 1 October 2005 vRichmondCollege– London United D3
112 7 April 2012 v Tees Valley Mohawks D1
112 11 February 2006 v. Reading Rockets II D3
Open National League Trials
Trials and training for all our National League Teams will take place as follows:
Under 14s Mondays 7:00-8:30 (starting 14 May)
(NB* Under 14s will train on Tuesday instead on 12, 19 and 26 June)
Under 16s Thursdays 7:00-8:30 (starting 26 April)
Under 18s, Division 4 and Division 1 Men Thursdays 8:30-10:30 (starting 26 April)
From 16 July and through the summer
All ages will train Mondays and Thursdays
Division 4 and Division 1 Men
Under 18 (Born after 01/09/94 – September 2012 Year 12/13’s):
Under 16 (Born after 01/09/96 – September 2012 Year 10/11):
Coach Craig Nicol coachnicol@hotmail.co.uk 07896694228
Under 14 (Born after 01/09/98 – September 2012 Year 7/8/9):
Coach: Matt Fenton gillsmatt@hotmail.com 01227463971
|
Cost: £3 per session for new players (returning players free of charge) |
Medway Park Crusaders- 98, Derby Trailblazers- 82
(March, 24)
Report by Nick Moore
Adrian Fenyn was once again the stand-out man for the Medway Park Crusaders as they romped to an emphatic win over the Derby Trailblazers, on Sunday 24.
Fenyn, Medway’s American star, hit a double-double of 21 points and 19 rebounds in Sunday evenings clash with the travelling East Midland side – his strong rebounding tally was the clubs second highest by an individual in one game.
The 16 point win saw the Kent side bounce back from a disappointing 102-59 loss against the Bristol Academy Flyers the weekend before, and they now occupy the 8th and final playoff spot in EBL Division One.
With a record of 50% (11 wins and 11 losses), they only have to see off the remaining two games to qualify for the playoffs – the top eight doing so.
They sit four points ahead of 9th place Brixton Topcats, and only an unforeseeable amount of bad luck will deny them a playoff spot.
Medway take on bottom of the league, Westminster Warriors on March 31, followed by the Tees Valley Mohawks on April 7.
Last time out, Westminster piped the Crusaders 81-74 in a closely fought battle, but James Vear’s side beat the Mohawks 79-61 in a strong performance on the road.
Coach Vear will be hoping his side hold out for the remainder of the season and gain that vital playoff spot.
He said: “We just need to make sure we work even harder in practice and treat every game from here on out like it’s a cup final.”
He added: “I believe the group of players we have can beat any team in the division on our day.
“From here on out we just need to make sure we prepare for each game correctly and leave everything on the court in our last two games.”
On Sunday, leading scorer Fenyn was closely followed by point guard, Steve Vear (18), Dizzy Lufadeju (16) and Luke Baker (14).
Fenyn is now 7th for points scored in one season and needs 18 more to move into 6th place.
Steve Vear collected eight more assists on Sunday, surpassing his total from last season – and is now just 11 short of breaking the record for the number of assists made in a season.
Medway Park Crusaders- 77, Bradford Dragons- 61
(March, 10)
Medway Park Crusaders- 61, Leeds Carnegie- 66
(March, 11)
Report by Nick Moore
Adrian Fenyn led the scoring for the Medway Park Crusaders as mixed weekend of results sees the Kent side still holding on to a playoff place.
Fenyn, Medway’s American star, hit 22 points in Saturday’s 77-61 win over the Bradford Dragons and 17 in their 66-61 loss to an in-form Leeds Carnegie side on Sunday.
Medway Park now sit in 7th place in EBL Division One, with a record of 50% (10 wins and 10 losses), and only have to see off the remaining four games to qualify for the playoffs – the top eight doing so.
Their recent form has been unlike their usual rampant self, with James Vear’s side only winning two from their last seven – they eclipsed the Brixton Topcats 78-69 on February 26.
But with losses to joint league leaders Worthing Thunder and BA London Leopards, as well as Reading Rockets, Leicester Warriors, and now Leeds Carnegie they have everything to prove next week against third place Bristol Academy Flyers.
Vear knows that it’s been a tough couple of months for his side, who lost one of their main talisman and a very influential figure in Joseph Schow.
He said: “We have also had some injuries at key positions, but we haven’t used this as an excuse though. We just need to make sure we work even harder in practice and treat every game from here on out like it’s a cup final.”
He added that he is still confident they can get into the playoffs: “I believe the group of players we have can beat any team in the division on our day.
“From here on out we just need to make sure we prepare for each game correctly and leave everything on the court in our last four games.”
On Saturday, a poor third quarter from the Bradford Dragons cost them as Medway Park Crusaders recorded the home win.
Medway lead 32-25 heading into the second half, and went on a 26-11 run in the third to see out the win.
Dragons coach, Chris Mellor said: “We didn’t play a good game and we didn’t create our usual atmosphere defensively or offensively.
“Our shot selection and completion rate was very poor. They were good though, they shot and ran the ball really well and defended and rebounded better than us.”
Rihards Sulcs led Bradford with 23 points while Steve Vear followed Fenyn with 18.
On Sunday, Leeds took the season series 2-0, after their close win at Medway Park. The away side went into the half 27-26 up, and a final quarter win of just four points meant they closed the narrow tie out.
While Fenyn led the scoring for the Crusaders, Josh Houghton (18) led the way for Carnegie.
Steve Vear is now third for assists in a season, one behind his total from last year and 18 behind Canadian Simon Mitchell. He has also moved into second for career assists, 11 behind Damian Lyons.
Sam Betts has become second Crusader to gather over 100 points, field goals, free throws, 3 pointers, rebounds and assists, following James Harris, who became the first person to achieve it earlier this season.
Medway take on Bristol this weekend on the road. The Crusaders downed the Flyers 84-79 in the reverse fixture, in December at Medway Park and will be hoping for a repeat of that this time out.
PAWS London Capitals vs. Medway Park Crusaders (28/01/12)
73-82
Report by Nick Moore
The Medway Park Crusaders moved up into fifth place in EBL Division One with a comprehensive 82-73 win over the PAWS London Capitals on January 28.
The routine win for the Medway side, was made that little bit harder by a strong display from Capitals’ Ibrahim Gariba, who hit 26 points, and Milek Jivens, 19.
Joseph Schow top scored for the Crusaders with 14, followed closely by Dizzy Lufadeju with 13.
The Crusaders, who were not at their best, took an early lead, winning the first 10 minutes 17-12 and sealed the first half 36-30.
After the break, they increased their lead to eight, but the combination of Gariba and Jivens were keeping the PAWS in the game.
Going into the final 10, the London side pulled the gap back to four points, and it looked like the tie was set for a very close finish.
With just three minutes to go, the Kent-based Crusaders found their form with Captain James Harris, forward JP Dimandja and guards Luke Baker and Lufadeju all making important baskets.
They streaked to a 10 point lead with under a minute to go – a lead which proved too much for the Capitals to overcome. They closed the game out to win by nine.
Crusaders Coach, James Vear said: “We didn’t play our best tonight but we grinded out a tough win at a difficult place to play. It’s a mark of a good team when you play below your best, but still manage to pull out a victory.”
The Crusaders have now won seven out of their last nine and Vear is pleased with the way his team rebounded after losing two straight after Christmas.
He added: “We now have some big games coming up, which could determine where we might finish this season.”
The Medway Crusaders take on the Reading Rockets at home on February 4, at 5pm.
The Crusaders downed the Rockets 73-59 in the reverse fixture in December.
The Rockets, spear-headed by former Crusader, Robbie Parker, have lost their last four games, but will be looking for revenge at Medway Park this time round.
Crusaders Twitter
