Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
BASKETBALL: CRUSADERS SET SIGHTS ON PLAY-OFF GLORY AFTER SECURING FOURTH SUCCESSIVE TITLE
Canterbury Crusaders beat local rivals Herne Bay by seven points to secure the East Kent League Basketball title for the fourth consecutive year.
Despite their shock defeat last week, Crusaders finished with a 42-35 win to make it 11 wins from 12 and ensure they can’t be caught.
It was a hard-fought game and Bay opened up a 5-0 lead before Danielle Muckian knocked down a three-pointer to get her team on the scoreboard.
Crusaders went ahead at 9-7 but when Bay’s Carly Vincent nailed her two free shots, the home team were looking back at a host of squandered chances.
Poor outside shooting and finishing at close range proved costly as they went in 11-10 down at the end of the first period.
The second period saw a slight improvement with the scoring spread among the Crusaders team. Sam Sauriol and Benita Palmer found the target and when Effy Panayiotou hit a long-range three they moved into a 17-12 lead.
However, Bay responded well via Sam Lee who, with a turn around jumper, made it a one-point game.
The teams exchanged baskets but Ieve Vilne and Emma Boyce scored the last two baskets of the half to send Crusaders in 23-18 at the break.
The third period was a repeat of the second with Crusaders making the early gains. Vilne coolly finished off a slick move and a Muckian drive to the hoop put the home side eight points up at 30-22.
However, as in the previous period, Bay staged a comeback via Lee and Sarah Cooper to keep them in touch.
Despite their efforts Crusaders finished the stronger, a Sauriol three-point play and another Muckian three-pointer helped them into the largest lead of the game as the quarter finished 36-26.
Bay refused to accept defeat and Beth Nugent brought her team right back into the game with five points in an inspired spell under the boards.
Sauriol and Muckian restored the 10-point advantage but their points were the last Crusaders scored in open play in the last six minutes of the game.
Fortunately, Crusaders defended well with Sauriol leading by example with some superb shot blocking.
Lee and Nugent finally found space under the boards but time ran down and a Loane free shot ensured victory and the title.
Coach Graham Jones said: “Taking nothing away from Herne Bay’s excellent performance, we should have won comfortably.
“We created so many chances but our finishing was poor. However, we defended superbly, as we have done all season. I’m proud of all the players who have contributed so much in winning another title. However, the hard work continues. It’s now onto the play offs and it’s the one everyone wants to win.” Crusaders: E Panayiotou (5), A Lo-pon, E Loane (5), S Hood, B Palmer (2), D Muckian (17), L Martin, S Moseley, S Sauriol (9) I Vilne (4).