The Kent Crusaders Under 14 National League team finished the season with a well earned victory over bottom side Reading Rockets on Saturday 21^st March.

With a number of players out of the side for Kent through either injury or playing else where, this was going to be quite a test for the rest of the team and would show how deep the squad really is.

It didn’t start well for Crusaders as Reading took an early lead and were making the Kent side look quite ordinary in their own back yard. The first quarter finished with Crusaders trailing by 1 at 19-20

Crusaders came out in the second quarter much more willing to take the game to Reading and passed the ball round much better and scored 21 vs Reading’s 16 to finish the half 4 points up at 40-36

Once again Coach Matt Fenton’s half time talk to the Kent players proved to be a turning point and Crusaders never looked back scoring 30 points in the third quarter and playing great defence to limit Reading to just 14 points. The third quarter ended with Kent up 70-50

It was a similar story in the fourth quarter with Kent scoring at will as they put up another 33 points and kept Reading to just 10 with some outstanding defensive displays.

A number of players stepped up and had a great game both scoring wise and protecting the ball with much less turnovers than in previous games. Amongst others, Max Carpenter had a much improved game with 10 assists.

The game ended with Kent Crusaders winning 103-60

Coach Fenton said “Despite another slow start, we finally showed parents and supporters alike just how well we have been playing away from home this season. We were short of a number of key players, (Callum- nose, Lee and Jono knee, Alex- toe, Harry Tyler and James- CVL for saints) and the depleted squad showed great team spirit and overcame a potential banana skin to beat bottom of the league Rockets. Seasons best performances by Ciaran Kelleher, Ayo Salawu and Chris Henry meant they had their best shooting displays of the season. The 3 little men from CHS combined for 15 points including 2 - 3 pointers. MVP Liam Carpenter finished with stats of 35 points, 17 rebounds and 4 assists.”

He carried on by saying “This has been an enjoyable and eye opening experience for coaches, parents and players. I have been so pleased with the ways the boys have bonded and developed over the season. I would like to thank the parents that have ferried the children around all season, some travelling over 150 miles a week just to make training. Finally, I wish those who are moving onto the U16 their best of luck in the next stage in the development.”

Coach Fenton’s MVP was Liam Carpenter. 

Statistics
EBL National League Under 14’s Boys South II Division

Kent Crusaders (19, 40, 70) 103
Reading Rockets  (20, 36, 50) 60

Scoring:

Kent: Liam Carpenter 35, Joe Denton 20, Chris Henry 17

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