The Medway Park Crusaders exceeded expectations as they were one shot away from winning the London Leopards pre-season tournament. The opponents were the BBL’s Worthing Thunder and the hosts, Division 1 side London Leopards.

Crusaders started the afternoon well by beating the hosts as they took the lead 10 minutes into the first half and never relinquished it again. The low scoring first half ended 21-19 to Crusaders as JP Dimandja and Sam Betts led the way scoring and rebounding and Damian Lyons and Kalil Irwing played good defence.

Import player, 6 foot 6 inches big man Brad Smith spent the first half adjusting to the English style of refereeing, as he quickly racked up three fouls. Crusaders head coach Mads Olesen wasn’t surprised by that: “We always see that North American import players have get a few games under their belt over here to adjust their game to the way it’s played over here, and Smith is no different. He’s a smart player though, and it looked like he’d already figured it out by the second half”.

In the second half Leopards played some zone defence, but outside shooting from James Harris drew the hosts out of their shell and build the lead to 11, 38-27. As the hosts countered the outside shooting they opened up the inside and Brad Smith scored six of the Crusaders’ last 8 points as they ran out winners, 49-44.

“We were happy at beating Leopards”, said coach Olesen after the game, “as they are the highest ranking team we have beaten in club history, but we also know that injuries have severely diminished the Leopards roster and that they didn’t have their Americans in yet. It was a good confidence builder, but we shouldn’t let it get to our heads”.

In the second game of the afternoon Crusaders almost pulled off the unlikely upset against Worthing Thunder from the professional British Basketball League. After a game that featured 13 lead changes Crusaders were down two with two seconds to play and the ball on the sideline. Crusaders got a good look for Brad Smith but we unable to convert and had to see Worthing run away with the win.

Crusaders started the game well as Harris hit two three pointers, helping put Crusaders up 15-7 midway through the first half. Worthing quickly answered with a run of their own as they got up 24-17. Baskets by Smith and Lyons got Crusaders going again, and the teams went to half time tied 24-24.

“Brad Smith really stepped up against Worthing”, said Olesen, “In the first half he really put a mark on the game, being aggressive as a scorer, showing why he was a star in Canada”.

In the second half the teams went neck to neck with none of the sides ever leading by more than four points. Smith continued his aggressive play and junior Kalil Irwing also made his mark going for layups and shooting from the outside.

Crusaders led by two with two minutes to go, but Worthing went on a 8-2 run to go up 54-50 with only seconds to go and the game would have been over if it wasn’t for a technical foul to Worthing that put James Harris on the line for two points and set up Smiths missed shot for the win.

After the game Olesen was happy to compete so well with Worthing, but was also aware that Worthing didn’t play their best: “I’m sure Worthing will have another gear or two when they go to play in the BBL, but it was a really good experience for us. We did some things well, but we also have a lot to go home and work on before next weekend’s season premiere.”