Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Winning league run ended
Basketball
Canterbury Crusaders lost an East Kent Basketball League game for the first time in four seasons.
Their 100% record was brought to an abrupt end by an excellent performance from a Christ Church University team that deservedly won an exciting game by five points.
Anna Mckenna took first blood for the students and their captain Niamh Mooney followed it up with eight points to give Crusaders notice of the university’s intent to take the game to them.
Crusaders were slow to get going and were often second to the loose ball. Emma Loane finally opened their scoring and Danielle Muckian took their tally to eight but Emma Bruce responded to give Christ Church a 16-6 first quarter advantage.
The second quarter was dominated by Christ Church’s Spanish pointguard Zita Mendes. Time and again she penetrated the Crusaders zone, who couldn’t cope with her quickness in the transition.
She racked up a quick eight points before Crusaders finally started to create openings. Takako Watters and Benita Palmer converted their chances but Mendes went on another scoring spree and the teams ended the quarter level at 1515 but Crusaders still trailed 31-21 at half-time.
Mooney opened the third with another baseline jumper to give Christ Church a 12-point lead before Sonya Hood responded for Crusaders with an open look from the wing.
The teams exchanged baskets with Emma Boyce leading the Crusaders’ fightback with trademark drives to the hoop.
However, Crusaders were still caught on the break and Mendes exploited the space and, with another 11 points, she made it a 12-point game going into the final quarter at 53-41.
In the fourth, Christ Church seemed to relax and perhaps thought the game was already won.
Muckian reeled off nine straight points in a surge that had Christ Church rocking and then Leva Vilne converted to level at 61-61.
In the tense final minutes, Christ Church responded via their new American signing Shanya Van Ostrand. She hit five invaluable points to re-establish the lead for her team.
Despite Muckian’s valiant efforts with another two baskets, Mooney and Mendes – who took her tally to a game-high 32 – scored to close out
‘The 10 point start we gave to Christ Church in the first quarter proved to be decisive’
the game for Christ Church, sending the home fans into raptures.
Crusaders coach Graham Jones said: “It was disappointing to lose our record. We were slow to start and the 10 point advantage we gave Christ Church in the first quarter proved to be decisive.
“Take nothing away from them, they have improved massively and thave been on a great run.
“We’ve not had a competitive game in over a month and it showed. They were far quicker than us and will be a force to be reckoned with in the play-offs.” Crusaders: E Panayiotou (2), A Lo-pon, E Loane (10), S Hood (4), B Palmer (6), D Muckian (28), L Thomas, L Martin, S Moseley, S Sauriol (2), L Vilne (4), T Watters (10)