The Kent Crusaders lost their crucial relegation battle with the Plymouth Raiders. A game of wild scoring runs came down to the last four seconds, as the visiting Raiders could celebrate a victory, and the Crusaders faced further relegation worries.

After the Crusaders had been up by 20 early in the game, and Plymouth had been up late, the teams entered the last minute with Crusaders up three. Crusaders had a chance to build the lead to five off a couple of JP Dimandja free throws, but he missed both shots. Instead Plymouth came down and hit a three pointer to tie the game. After a Crusaders miss with 13 seconds to go Plymouth ran the ball down the court and made a tough shot with 3.8 seconds to go.

The Crusaders called a time out and Rikki Broadmore got a good look at the basket from the corner, as he shot a potential game winning three pointer that rimmed out and was knocked out of bounds with 0.2 seconds to go. The Crusaders tried to inbounds the ball, but time expired as the ball was tipped by Plymouth.

“It was one of those games that both teams needed and wanted really badly, and it might be one of the best basketball games we’ve been a part of this year,” said Crusaders head coach Mads Olesen, “We came out losers, and to be honest it’s a horrible feeling coming out losers after such an important game. I have faith in our ability to fend off relegation though, as we have matters in our own hands. If we win two of the remaining four games we’re safe, and with displays like tonight I believe we can do that.”

Crusaders are battling Welsh side NEWI Nets and Midlands side Black Country to avoid the relegation spots. To avoid relegation Black Country would need to win the rest of their three games while Crusaders have to lose out. NEWI are two points behind the Crusaders and have three games remaining, but if the teams end up with the same number of points the Crusaders would win out, as they won both of the team’s meetings this year. If NEWI wins the rest of their games two more wins would keep Crusaders safe.

Saturday’s game fluctuated wildly. At the start of the game the Crusaders looked like they would run away with it easily, as they scored 20 unanswered points in the first four minutes of the game. Plymouth were not about to lie down, though, and they came back to being only 13 down at the quarter break, 26-13. In the second quarter the teams traded baskets, with the Crusaders holding a 17 point lead through most of the quarter, before Plymouth made a small run at the end to bring the lead down to twelve, 40-28.

After the break Plymouth had their own run, as they ran all over the Crusaders, who seemed to have forgotten how to play defence. The away side scored 28 points in the quarter and could enter the final quarter up five, 56-51.

In the fourth the Crusaders again got their defence going, and they had several leads of five and six points, but Plymouth came back and set up the last second finish to win the game.

Kent Crusaders v Plymouth Raiders

Saturday 8 March at 7.30 pm

Venue: Body & Mind Leisure Centre, Canterbury High School

(26-13, 40-28, 51-56) 74-76

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