WILDCATS SURVIVE TOUGH TEST

Durham Wildcats                   (23, 34, 46) 69
Medway Park Crusaders     (11, 29, 36) 50

Durham Wildcats maintained their challenge at the top of EBL Division 2 with a home win on Saturday against a determined and well-organised Medway Park Crusaders. The visitors began strongly, with a defensive intensity that kept their hosts in check, and six points from Canadian centre Brad Smith helped them to a 6-9 lead after four minutes. The Wildcats finally clicked into gear, however, with a 17-2 run, to stamp their authority on the game, and they led by twelve at the first break, with Scott Morton having contributed ten points, and Paul Elderkin taking two steals. The home side failed to build on that advantage in the second period, however, as both teams’ defences dominated proceedings, and Medway Park steadily edged back into contention, with Andy Chiguiri contributing eight points. Just five points separated the teams going into the half-time interval.

The first four points on the restart hauled the Crusaders back to within a point, at 34-33, and though Morton and Elderkin restored the five point margin, defences remained on top as the Wildcats failed to score in the next five minutes. The visitors, however, could only manage three points themselves in that spell (while spurning 3 of 4 from the stripe), and Durham remained ahead, 38-36.
At last, captain Mark Elderkin sparked a Durham surge to close the quarter, as he hit a long 3-pointer, and eight unanswered points took the Wildcats into the final stanza leading by ten.
Smith was still causing problems close to the basket, however, and his five points early in the fourth quarter were capped by a “trey” by James Harris which opened the game up again, at 50-44.
This time it was Stephen Jones who stepped up to kick-start the home side into action, as his “3” began a 12-point run which put Durham firmly in control at 62-44.
The final 19 point margin did not truly reflect the strong showing by the visitors, but while both defences played a significant role, and both sides struggled to score for long spells, the Wildcats always looked as though they were the ones who could put on a spurt, and so it proved in the end.
While Smith had a game-high 22 points, Morton led the Wildcats with 21, but Damian Lyons was the only other Crusaders’ player to achieve double figures, with ten, while Durham had Paul Elderkin with 19 (and three steals) and Jones with 12.
Five other Wildcats contributed points, and Michael Davies took three steals in a strong defensive display..  
Wildcats: Scott Morton 21; Paul Elderkin 19; Steve Jones 12; Mark Elderkin 7; Notis Chalkidis 4; Anthony Trigg 2; Rafa Vilar-Franca 2; Tolis Apostolidis 2; Michael Davies.
Medway Park: Brad Smith 22; Damian Lyons 10; Andy Chiguiri 8; James Harris 6; JP Dimandja 4; Sam Betts; Jeff Wadey.
“We knew it wouldn’t be an easy game, after our experience in the reverse fixture, when we struggled for long spells” said coach Dave Elderkin, “and they made it difficult for us again.
“We played well in the first quarter, but lost our way for most of the second and part of the third, as we lost our focus. I had to re-emphasise to them that we have to work as a team, and that finally showed in the way we dominated the last six minutes.”