63-65

Medway Park Leisure Centre 19/11/11

Report by Nick Moore

The Medway Park Crusaders were edged out 65-63, in a very close battle, against the Brixton Topcats, in round three of their EBL Division One campaign on Saturday night.

The home side lead for around 38 minutes of the game, but could not stop a late surge by the Topcats, who clinched the game in the dying seconds.

The Crusaders started the much stronger team, holding Brixton to just 10 points in the first quarter. 6’2 guard Luke Baker, and 6’9 forward Joesph Schow put the Medway side on the board early, with Kalil Irving and JP Dimanja winning a lot of offensive and defensive rebounds. The score read 17-10.

Brixton stepped up the pace in the second quarter with baskets and assists coming from Tom Adorian, who hit 14 points personal and Karolis Petkus, on his way to 11 points.

The Crusaders defence remained solid under the Brixton pressure and they made it hard for the away side to get into any kind of rhythm.

At half time, the score read 38-29 to Medway.

After the break, both teams matched each other’s strong offensive plays, tying the scoring at 15 a- piece, meaning that the Crusaders went into the final 10 minutes 53-44 up.

In the last quarter Medway were put on the back foot as Brixton started to slowly get back into the game.

The Crusaders, stunned by the Brixton comeback, lost their composure and a frustrated Schow picked up a technical foul, after a personal foul, with just two minutes to go.

Brixton made the free throws, and quickly followed it up by a steal and layup to put them three points up.

With just 15 seconds to go the Topcats made another free throw to put them 4 points up, but Irving then hit back for the Medway side, to pull them within 2 points with just eight seconds remaining.

The Crusaders had a shot to clinch the win but it just came up short. The final quarter read 21-10 to Brixton, and 65-63 to the London side.

Medway Coach, James Vear was pleased with his team’s determination, but clearly disappointed with the loss. He said: “I cannot fault our effort tonight. The guys gave everything on the court and I’m proud of the way we stepped up our defence.”

He added: “We need to become more clinical in the last two minutes of games and make sure we see them out. We led for over 37 minutes tonight and out re-bounded a very tall, athletic team.”

The Crusaders next game sees them take on the Worthing Thunder at home on Sunday, 27 Nov.

Vear will be hoping for a home win, but is remaining very cautious over the South coast side who have won their last two games – over the Derby Trailblazers and the Westminster Warriors.

He said: “Worthing are a good team. Their Coach, Gary Smith likes to play an up-tempo style of basketball and they have had some good results so far.”

He added: “I’ve heard they have got some good import players and we have to make sure we make it hard for them to play.”

The Medway side hope to see a good level of support there on Sunday. Tip-off is 3pm at Medway Park.

All photos for free media use with “Photographer: Cesar Velasco” mentioned only.

82-70

Leeds Met University, 13/11/11

Report by Nick Moore

The Medway Park Crusaders failed to claim a second win in round two of their EBL Division One campaign, losing 82-70 to Leeds Carnegie, on the road.

The game saw Adrian Fenyn, who now wears Crusaders colours, haunt his old side by hitting a game-high 26 points, but despite this, the former Leeds player and his team could not pull off the victory.

It was an emotional return for the Crusaders player, but the 6’6 American could not out power the combination of Leed’s Henry Wilkins and Gyorgy Polya – who combined for 46 points.

Both players hit 23 a piece, but it was the 3 point shooting from guard Wilkins that proved too much for the Kent based side.

Crusaders coach, James Vear, said: “Leeds shot the ball very well today and held a very good back court. Henry (Wilkins) has improved a lot in the past year and is now one of the leading guards in the league.”

Leeds started the stronger of the two sides, coming out on the fast break and hitting a few outside shots to dominate the first quarter 19-10 – the Medway side were getting enough looks at the basket, but nothing seemed to be dropping for them.

However, they picked up the pace in the second quarter and started to slowly chip away at the deficit. They finally saw their attempts dropping, and slowed down the Leeds offence by playing a much higher intensity defence.

They clinched the second period 24-18 and went into half time trailing by just three points, 37-34 – the Crusaders actually had a shot to level the game on the buzzer to tie the game, but it narrowly missed.

After the break, Leeds quickly fired out to a 10 point lead within minutes as the Crusaders started slowly.

The University based side started causing the Medway team problems all over, but especially in the back court. A 25-17 period to Leeds meant the score read 62-51 going into the final 10 minutes.

The fourth quarter was a very edgy affair for both sides, as they struggled to find their rhythm again. The Crusaders started making baskets, but only trading equal points with Leeds.

The Crusaders couldn’t close the 10 point gap Carnegie had established and the home side closed the game out by taking the final period 20-19.

Coach Vear, despite the defeat, was remaining optimistic. He said: “Although we lost today I can take out lots of positives. We played very well in stages and ran our offence strongly.” 

He added: “The problem at the moment just seems to be a lack of consistency on the defensive end.  We cannot allow good teams to go on runs at this level as they will punish you.” 

Vear mentioned youngster Disraeli Lufadeju, 6’2 guard, as having a particularly good game. He said: “I thought our back court was very good today, especially ‘Dizzy’ who ran the team as well as he has all season.” – Dizzy hit 12 points personal.

The Crusaders next game sees them take on the Brixton Topcats at home on Saturday, 19 Nov.

Brixton, who played two games this weekend, lost them both.

The first was a 97-70 thumping by the Bradford Dragons on Saturday and on Sunday they were easily beaten 79-54 by Division One leaders, the Bristol Academy Flyers.

The Medway side hope to see a good level of support there on Saturday. Tip-off is 5pm at Medway Park.

Nick Moore

The Crusaders travel to Leeds this Sunday, 13 November, to take on a strong Carnegie side in the second round of the EBL Division One season.

Leeds were beaten 64-58 (in overtime), by the Bradford Dragons in their opening game last week, but Crusaders Coach, James Vear is not taking anything for granted.

He said: “Leeds will be a tough match up. They have been one of the better teams in the division over the past few years and their Coach, Matt Newby, is very experienced and will have his team well organised.”

Leeds are the current runners up in Division One after making it to the playoff finals in the 2010-11 campaign – only to lose to the Reading Rockets, 88-63.

The Crusaders have recently been plagued by a spate of injury trouble, but Vear is optimistic that he should have a fully fit squad for the tie.

He said; “This weekend we should be at full strength, which will be only the second time this has happened this season.”

The clash is set to be an emotional return to Leeds Met University for Crusaders new signing, Adrian Fenyn, who is all too familiar with the Carnegie side.

The 6’6 forward, from New York, became the leading scorer in the league for past two years, while studying a Masters Degree at Leeds.

Vear added: “I’m sure Adrian is looking forward to facing his old team this weekend. He had some great years at Leeds and I’m sure he will get a warm welcome from their supporters.”

The sides both met in Division Two in the 2008-09 campaign, each winning once.

Former Crusader OJ Reed was drafted by the Austin Toros in the 4th round of last night’s NBA D League Draft. The D League is NBA’s official minor league, with teams linked to NBA franchises.

Reed, a 6’6 Guard/Forward, was the 63rd pick out of 128 players drafted. He played for Medway Park in 2010-11 where he established himself as one of the league’s best players and scorers, using his versatility to take advantage of different match-ups.

Reed met a coach from a D League team (Austin Torros) through working out with Ryan Richards while in England. OJ expressed an interest in going to the D league trial

Reed complimented Crusaders and the role they played in his career. “My stint with the Crusaders was very beneficial for me. I was able to work on some areas of my game and increase my versatility, while also helping lead the club in the right direction in getting promoted and winning the EBL2 Playoffs. It was a fun experience with a group of good guys, along with a tremendous coach in James Vear.”

Crusaders Chairman Jesse Sazant wished Reed all the best saying, “OJ was a tremendous player at the club. Not only in the obvious impact he had on the floor in our success but in the way he fully bought into the club, leading, supporting and pushing our younger players to help their development.”