A shorthanded Kent Crusaders men’s team lost their final tune-up to the London Leopards, last year’s Division 1 fifth place team by 9, 80-71. The Crusaders had only nine players suit up for the game, including two Under 18 players, as Robbie Parker, Simon Mitchell, Sam Betts and Rikki Broadmore.
Despite the loss I thought we played a good game, said Crusaders head coach Mads Olesen. “We’re still getting to know each other, and because of the injuries we had four new players compared to the Bristol trip a week ago, so we’re still getting familiar with each other out there on the court”
The game was tight for the first 35 minutes, but with the home side Leopards almost always a little on top and the Crusaders playing catch-up.
In the first quarter the Leopards got up 13-6 before the visitors could pull back behind 7 points from JP Dimandja and take the lead in the last minute, 20-19. In the second quarter the guests came out hot, taking a 27-19 lead, but the hosts didn’t lie down and die, and last year’s Leopards MVP Garreth Laws scored 12 of Leopard’s 14 straight points to bring the hosts up 35-28. The hosts didn’t keep up the pressure and Soren Sorensen and Damian Lyons could even the score before the half, 35-35.
After the break the hosts again pulled away by nine, before three 3-pointers by James Harris and Mike Webber evened the score at 51. From there, however, and through the beginning of the 4th, the hosts went on a 15-7 run and with five minutes left the Leopards were up 74-63.
Over the next couple of minutes the Crusaders were unable to find the basket, and it wasn’t until the game had been decided with a Leopards 80-64 lead that the Crusaders brought it back to a respectable 80-71 in the last minute.
Danish newcomer Soren Sorensen scored 21 for the guests while James Harris was second top scorer with 13, including three 3-pointers.
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