The Body & Mind Kent Crusaders beat the Plymouth Marjon Cannons Saturday on a Steve Findley three pointer with two seconds to go. The Crusaders mounted a fourious come-back, without starting point guard Damian Lyons, who were taken to hospital at half time with a concussion, as they were down 10 with just over two minutes to go.

The game leaves Crusaders with two wins and two losses in this years Patrons Cup, and with the last group game against Cardiff still three weeks away, the Crusaders are still in the running for a semi final spot.

The game looked as if it would be lost to Crusaders when Plymouth captain Hatchell hit a three to give Plymouth a 78-68 lead with two and a half minutes left in the game. The Crusader, however, didn’t seem to get the message. Mike Webber promptly went and drew a foul and hit one of two foul shots to bring the Crusaders within 9. After a good defensive stop, James Harris hit a three pointer to bring the Crusaders within 6 at the two minute mark, but Plymouth’s Gillbard quickly answered with a two to take the lead up to eight.

Again Mike Webber drove to the basket, and again he drew the foul and made one of two foul shots, for the last of his career high 20 points. Now within the last minute, and Plymouth up seven, the game still didn’t seem within reach, but an interception by Crusaders led to Steve Findley making a fast break layup on which the referee decided that Plymouth’s Rodgers committed an unsportsmanlike foul to try and stop him. With the lead at five and Findley up for a bonus foul shot and the ball going back to Crusaders because of the intentional foul, the comeback suddenly seemed possible.

However, while Findley hit the bonus shot to cut the lead to four, the ensuing possession saw Crusaders loose the ball with 45 seconds to go and still down four. Plymouth seemed rattled by the comeback, though, and were not able to put the game away as Kent again got the ball back, and Plymouth fouled Robbie Parker who could calmly sink his 23rd and 24th point of the game from the foul line.

At this point, with 36 seconds to go, and Plymouth up 80-78 the visitors called a time out to calm things down. On the inbounds play Crusaders were able force 5 second count, as Plymouth were not able to inbound the ball in time, and Crusaders got the ball back. Crusaders were not able to capitalize on the Plymouth mistake, however, as Steve Findley misfired on a three from the corner, and again the game seemed lost to Crusaders as Robbie Parker sent Plymouth’s Peard to the foul line for two with 9 seconds on the clock.

Luck again shone on Crusader, though, as Peard missed both shots, and Crusaders were able to charge up the court with the ball. Crusaders head coach Mads Olesen describes the ensuing seconds like this: “When I saw Steve Findley with the ball outside the three point line with a clear path to the basket, and us needing two points to tie the game and force overtime, I already started preparing for the extre five minutes. As he shot the three I’m sure I shouted ‘Nooo’, and as the ball was in the air, I managed to think about two or three running drills Steve would have to do on his own next practice. Taking a shot like that is not something a coach would ever recommend, but at the same time it shows extraordinary mental toughness to make that shot to win a game with two seconds to go”.

Plymouth had one last chance at throwing the ball long for a last second shot, but again Steve Findley came up big with a steal, and was able to dribble out the clock before being mugged by his teammates. After the game Findley was pleased with the result, but thought the team could have played better: “It wans’t the best 40 minutes we’ve put together, but there were some key stops in the last three minutes that allowed us to get back in the game. A win like that at this early stage in the season can only give us more belief going forward”.

At the start of the game it didn’t look like the finish would get exiting. Crusaders came out guns blazing, hitting four three pointers in the opening quarter to take the lead 28-22, behind an exellent Robbie Parker. The second quarter as marred by an incident where starting point guard Damian Lyons ran head first into a Plymouth players elbow and was left on the ground needing treatment. Crusaders physio Max Ganderton had to take Lyons to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a concussion, that might keep him out of next weekends league debut.

After Lyon’ injury Crusaders lost a step on offense. Coach Olesen said: “While we have very good guards, Damian provides that steady hand on offense, that’s so important for us to run things as a team. We were able to get through it, but the incident just shows how important he is to us, as we weren’t able to run offence with the same stability for the rest of the game”.

Lyons himself hopes to be back for next weeks game: “I’m desperate to be involved next week, but I still have to recieve the all clear form the doctor before I’m going to be allowed on the court”.

In the third quarter Plymouth started pounding the ball inside close to the basket and capitalized on it as Crusaders were without big guys Dan Gerrad and Sam Bets, who were both out with injuries. Plymouth tied the game at 55-55 with five minutes left in the third before ending the period with a three point lead, as Crusaders only managed to score 15 points in the quarter.

In the first six minutes of the fourth Plymouth went on a 14-7 run to set up the exiting finish to the game.

After the game Crusaders coach Olesen was pleased with the result, but still thought his teams performance could have been better: “I thought we played a good first half but our concistency on both offense and defense needs to be better. We have a tendency to revert to one-on-one play when we’re under a little bit of pressure, when we really should look to play even more as a team”.

Olesen still praised his players for their collective effort to come back into the game, and individual players for their efforts: “While Findley obviously won us the game, Mike Webber kept us in it with his tough play inside against bigger defenders, and his quickness gives his defenders fits. He got to the foul line 10 times and scored 20 points. Thats what I call stepping up big!”

Olesen also praised Robbie Parkers performance: “Sometimes I think we forget how good a player Robbie is on both ends of the floor. His 24 points was huge, but he also makes such a big impact on defense, just being smart as he is.”

For the second time this season 18 year old guard Rikki Broadmore was forced to play extended minutes because Damian Lyons could not take the court. Rikki perhaps summed up the game in the best way of all: “What a comeback, that’s what I call team performance and teamspirit!”