Crusaders’ home comforts

Basketball

Canterbury Crusaders returned to their home court for the first time this year to secure a 19-point win over an ever improving Folkestone Saints.

Emma Loane got Crusaders underway with two baskets from the top of the key and a lay-up.

In their next move, Effy Panayiotou brought down a rebound and was fouled in the act of shooting, however the shot fell and she converted the free-throw to put Crusaders 7-2 up.

Rebecca Grew hit the target for Saints but Crusaders kept the scoreboard ticking over and Sonya Hood closed the quarter with an open shot from the wing to make it 16-8.

Both teams found points hard to come by in the second quarter though Crusaders still managed to move into a 25-10 lead.

However, they failed to score in the final three minutes while Saints took full advantage of space on the perimeter and Mollie Davis and Cara Shaw knocked down big three-pointers to close the gap as the half finished 25-16. Crusaders started strongly in the third period with Loane and Danielle Muckian combining to score four straight baskets without reply to take their side 17 points up.

Saints hit back, outscoring Crusaders 12-6 in the remainder of the quarter with their new Lithuanian signing Agne Zilinsktye hitting six points while Davis, in superb shooting form, converted a further two three pointers to make it an 11-point game at the end of the quarter.

The impetus was with Saints as the final quarter started and they continued their comeback with three baskets from Caitlin Chapman and Shaw bringing Saints within seven points at 41-34 with just six minutes remaining.

Crusaders, forced into taking a timeout, however regrouped and stepped up their game.

They responded well, defensively shutting out Saints for the rest of the game whilst Muckian ran off 10 points to take her tally to a game-high 26 points. Loane continued her fine form with two to take her to 18 and secure the win for Crusaders 53-34. Crusaders: Panayiotou (3), Loane (18), Hood (2), Palmer (4), Muckian (26), Thomas, Martin, Moseley, Lo-pon.