The Kent Crusaders started their game against the Northampton Neptunes knowing that only a win would do. A loss would have resulted in a very tricky play off run, although they still face an uphill struggle. Northampton has recently had to say goodbye to big man Joe Reynoso and Francis Tebo, who both quit the team, and without suspended captain Mark Spatcher they found themselves outgunned and undersized as the Crusaders ruthlessly dispatched them. They now face next season in the third division despite a gutsy performance.

The Neptunes looked like a team fighting for survival with star guards Sherrad Prezzie-Blue and Shafiq Omar cutting through the home side’s defence early with blistering pace and high intensity offence. The Crusaders took some time to get into the game but eventually Robbie Parker and Soren Sorenson started to attack the fragile and undersized Northampton defence. Sorenson looked unstoppable as he bore down on the beleaguered big men.

The lead ebbed and flowed until the seven minute mark when the Kent side started to take over. Parker carved through the key for an easy score, Sam Betts checked into the game and immediately hit a contested three pointer and captain Pete Ayling, playing in his last home game for the club, turned back the years to take the ball from the back court to the rim finishing coolly over the Neptunes big men. The 7-0 run put Crusaders firmly in the drivers seat, up 19-13, and with Rafal Sojcynski, JP Dimandja and Sorenson in control of the boards, Northampton faced an uphill struggle. Another sweet three pointer from Betts saw the home side finish the first quarter up by 5, 28-23.

The second quarter started where the first had finished with Betts scoring again over the Northampton defence. A scrappy couple of minutes ensued with both teams turning the ball over too frequently and missing shots. The rot stopped when Betts cut through the middle and hit Harris in the corner. The three point specialist did what he does best and drilled a long range shot through the heart of the ring.

Half way through the quarter Steve Findley checked into the game. Having had a tough second half of the season Findley looked like a man on a mission. He found his touch from range hitting a three pointer over the much smaller guards. He started to take advantage of the small Neptunes front line by using his height and athleticism. He toyed with the opposition guards hitting a fine finger roll off the backboard and threading an excellent pass through two opposing players to present Sojcynski with an uncontested lay up. Parker and Mitchell started to apply pressure on the guards picking off any loose passes and both were able to penetrate to the ring for easy scores. The half finished with Kent very much in the ascendancy, up 57-42.

It was important that Kent came out strong in the third quarter, having not done so in the previous three games, and initially they did so, going up 64-42. Betts continued his tough play pulling down rebounds and generating second chances for the home side. When he hit Harris for another three pointer the Neptunes had to respond. Prezzie-Blue and Omar tried hard to mount a come back using their pace and agility. Both were able to get the key and finish well under pressure. Between them they stemmed the flow and got their team back to within 13 points of the confident Crusaders, 65-52.

Kent put Damian Lyons back on the court, and his penetrations opened up the Neptunes defence and allowed his teammates to get good looks at the basket. Simon Mitchell then picked the pocket of a Northampton guard and feed Ayling on the break. Ayling penetrated past the first line of defence and spotted Dimandja cutting fast through the lane who caught a fizzed pass and threw down a thunderous dunk over helpless defenders. By this time Crusaders were totally dominant on the boards with Dimandja (17 total rebounds), Sorenson and Sojcynski clearing everything from around the ring and choking the oppositions offence. Parker was able to weave his way to the hoop time and time again for another team high shooting performance. Although the gutsy Neptunes tried to stay with the home side, by the end of the quarter it was clear they were just hanging on, down 19, 80-61.

The onslaught continued into the fourth quarter. Damian Lyons, with typical strength and understated efficiency, penetrated consistently through the tired Northampton line of defence. Findley continued to contribute at both ends of the floor with a block, another deft pull up jump shot and yet another sweet pass to set up Sojcynski. Harris checked into the game with six minutes to go and joined the party with a bang, hitting back to back three’s. Dimandja was superlative on defence and continued to smother anyone who dared get to within 8 feet of the ring. When he found Harris for another three pointer, for Crusaders’ 100th point, the writing was on the wall.

The game was closed out with uncompromising defence and ruthless shooting. Dimandja and Mike Webber both pulled down 8 rebounds between them in under two minutes and finally Webber picked off another errant pass and passed the ball to Harris with only seconds remaining. Harris dribbled to about forty feet and saw captain Pete Ayling in space, in his last home game for the club, in front of an expectant crowd and with a mischievous grin Harris threw up a last unlikely shot and drilled his sixth three pointer. After the game Ayling said: “Although I was thirty-two feet closer to the ring Harris was still the better option”.

The Crusaders ran out victorious 111 – 72 which secures fifth spot in the league and condemns Northampton to relegation.

Captain Pete Ayling was proud of his team: “It was a tremendous team performance with contributions across the floor. Particularly encouraging was the contribution of Steve Findley who has had a frustrating return since badly breaking his finger before Christmas”

Findley said after the game: “It was nice to break into the rotation just before the play offs, hopefully I can contribute to a successful run.”

Coach Olesen was happy with the performance: “We’ve started moving the ball really well on offence. Selflessness is contagious and everybody is buying in. We have players passing up open shots because they see others in a better position, and that’s how talented teams become good teams. Now we’ll have to go out and prove that we’re a good team in the playoffs.”

EBL National League Division 2
Kent Crusaders (28, 57, 80) 111
Northampton Neptunes (23, 42, 61) 72

Scoring:
Kent: Parker 22, Harris 18, Dimandja 17
Northampton: Prezzie-Blue 32, Omar 25, N Wilson 8