Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Derby win hard earned
Basketball
Canterbury Crusaders came away with a 14-point win over their perennial city rivals University of Kent A after a tight game on the road.
The win keps Crusaders top of the league and on course to retain their East Kent Basketball League title.
Crusaders’ Sam Sauriol took first blood with one from two from the free-throw line but Bianca Parades hit back to give the University the lead.
Although there was little to choose between the teams, Crusaders went 10-4 ahead due to their better field goal shooting percentage. UKC stuttered at the free throw line while Takako Watters converted all of hers to put Crusaders 14-7 up.
Crusader Emma Loane had an exceptional game and rounded-off a great baseline drive by reversing the ball off the backboard.
The basket put Crusaders 18-7 up and the University were in danger of the game getting away from them until Vanessa Johnson nailed a three pointer as time ran out in the first, bringing it back to 10-18.
The University rallied in the second quarter and KG Banjoko started to impose herself in the Crusaders’ zone with six points inside the key.
Her team-mate Sophia Koch then reeled-off three straight baskets to make it a one-point game at 23-24.
Crusaders finally broke the run with Benita Palmer knocking down back-to-back baskets from the top of the key.
However, although it wasn’t enough to stop UKC taking the quarter 12-10, Crusaders still had the edge at 28-23.
Crusaders dominated the scoring in the opening minutes of the third quarter with Danielle Muckian, Effy Panayiotou and Loane all finding the target to outscore the students in a 10-4 run.
UKC persisted by going inside to Banjoko who was still causing problems and, with another six points, she brought them back into the game. Koch then found herself open and converted to make it 33-40.
However, it was their last score of the quarter and Crusaders grasped the initiative via Muckian, Loane and Palmer who, with another open look, made it 47-33 as the quarter ended.
At the beginning of the fourth, Palmer and UKC’S Sinclair exchanged baskets as the teams went head to head. The inspirational Emma Loane then drove to the hoop to make it 53-37.
Again the University fought back, refusing to accept defeat, and Koch made it an eight-point game with another short-range effort.
However, the University side could not maintain the pace and, as the game went into the final minutes, Steph Roworth stepped up, scoring four straight baskets without reply to put the result beyond doubt for Crusaders who won 61-47. Crusaders: Panyiotou (6), Watters (4), Roworth (11), Loane (16), Hood, Palmer (12), Muckian (9), Thomas, Sauriol (3), Vilne.