The Medway Park Crusaders looked like they were going to finally get their first league win as they led for most of their game against Birmingham A’s, but the A’s took the lead for the last five seconds when it mattered.

Crusaders came out aggressive at the start and built a 13 point lead in the first quarter. Defensively they put pressure on the A’s, forcing six turnovers and star player Brad Smith had 17 early points as he hit from inside and outside.

In the second quarter it looked like Medway were going to build on the lead, as they built the lead from 11 to 14 points over the first four minutes, but six offensive mistakes in three minutes led to easy A’s baskets and the lead had disappeared with two minutes left in the quarter. Crusaders managed to get back on track and kept Birmingham scoreless over the next two minutes to build a halftime lead of three points, 42-39.

After the break neither team was able to score much, as it became a defensive battle. After four minutes played, only 11 points had been scored between the teams, as Crusaders had built the lead to four, 48-44, as Harris and Smith scored for Crusaders.

For the rest of the quarter the teams exchanged infrequent baskets, as both sides protected the basket well and forced outside or hurried shots. Crusaders managed to build the lead to six on several occasions but always Birmingham came back and brought it down to a two-point-game. With 30 seconds left Brad Smith got the go-ahead basket after a Greg Currat steal to give the home team a 60-54 lead going into the final quarter.

In the fourth it was more of the same as the two teams defended well. Crusaders couldn’t build a commanding lead, and Birmingham couldn’t make it all the way back until veteran guard Robin Hall scored two long three pointers and a layup to give the visitors a lead.

Going into the last minute down two Crusaders managed to get a rebound and force the ball up the floor where Kalil Irving got the the ball to Brad Smith who scored his 37th point on a layup and his 38th on a the following free throw. Up one, 70-69, Crusaders defended well as Hesson missed a shot close to the basket.

With 24 seconds left Crusaders had the ball, but Hall tied the ball up and forced a jump ball, and with the arrow pointing the Birmingham way the visitors were awarded the ball. Steven Hansell drove to score but Irving fouled him. With seven seconds left A’s inbounded the ball and got it to Hansell who took two dribbles and made a tough shot over JP Dimandja to take the lead.

Crusaders got the ball up the court and found a wide open James Harris for a last second shot. The shot looked good all the way, but it rimmed out, and the visitors could collect the ball for the victory.

“Losing like that is heartbreaking”, said Crusaders coach Mads Olesen after the game. “We played the best we’ve played all year, and we just came up short. For the first time all year we played 40 minutes of defence. If we play defence like this we beat most of the teams we’ve lost to”.