A record crowd applauded the Mavericks Cheerleaders and the Body & Mind Kent Crusaders new light and smoke show, but on the court the team put on a sub-par first half performance, as Team Northumbria hit a barrage of three pointers to take the game out of reach by halftime.

“We just seemed flat from the first whistle, and Northumbria was shooting very well”, said Crusaders head coach Mads Olesen, “We gave them some incredibly open shots, and tonight they just knocked them down. They moved the ball well, but our effort was just lacking in the first half.”

Northumbria started out hitting six of seven from three point land in the first quarter, on their way to a 24 point lead, 36-12. The Crusaders were unable to get anything going against Northumbria’s physical defence, and when they got to an open shot, they didn’t fall.

The second quarter was much like the first with Northumbria first hitting two threes, and then steadily scoring more points than the Crusaders behind full court press and tough defence, running out to a 62-27 halftime lead.

After the break the Crusaders came out looking much more aggressive and while Northumbria started the half with a 10-4 run, the more aggressive Crusaders came back with a 15-3 run that forced Northumbria to take a time out at the score 75-42.

“Our chances of winning the game were slim at halftime, but we had to take that chance, and we came out running and gunning”, said Olesen, “We tried to force tempo and get to quick baskets, as it was the only way to have a remote chance to come back from 35 down. I think we had Northumbria worried for a while, but the time out calmed them down and they were able to cruise the win home”.

From the timeout in the middle of the third quarter to the end of the game the teams traded baskets, with the Crusaders unable to cut into the Northumbria lead. Crusaders ended up winning the third and fourth quarter by one point each, but ended up losing the game by 33, 102-69.

Kent Crusaders v. Team Northumbria
Saturday 19 January at 7.30
Venue: Body & Mind Leisure, Canterbury High School
Result: Crusaders 69 Team Northumbria 102 (12-36, 15-26, 23-22, 19-18)

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