Mixed results for Crusaders

The Central Coast Crusaders travelled to The Hills on July 6 to take on the Hornets in their last away game for the regular season.

The women got things started against a Hills team which has been eliminated from post-season contention but was still looking to give the Crusaders a run for their money.

That’s exactly what they did as they came out of the gates hot taking the first quarter 21-15.

But it wasn’t long before the Crusaders evened things up going tit for tat with a close 40-38 scoreline going into the half-time break.

Late-season addition to the squad Kristina Moore looked comfortable, scoring efficiently to keep the Crusaders alive late into the match.

The starting five for the Crusaders all did their part, scoring double-digits for the third consecutive game in a row, but it was Mikaela Dombkins’ work on the boards that gave the Crusaders the winning edge in the end.

Dombkins notched a 10-point 16 rebound double-double to edge the Crusaders over the line to steal a 79-74 win on the road.

The Crusaders women’s squad retain their fifth spot on the ladder but the work’s not over yet with one game remaining in the regular season and the Sutherland Sharks just one win behind in sixth place.

The men’s game tipped off next and the Hornets came into it desperate to win to secure a top eight finish.

As in the women’s game, the Hornets came out of the gate firing and scored a whopping 59 points to the Crusaders 33 going into half time.

Young gun Luke Cassidy did everything in his power to hold the Hornets off, slashing to the basket and scoring at will.

Cassidy dropped 24 points but, in the end, it wasn’t enough as the Hornets cruised to a comfortable 95-81 win in front of the home fans.

Nothing changes for the Crusaders men as the season comes to a close.

They finish in 13th place and out of the race for the post-season.

It will be double header for the Crusaders this weekend in the final round of the season as they travel to Barker College in Hornsby to take on the Spiders on Friday, July 12, with the women’s game tipping off at 5.45 pm and the men’s at 7.45pm.

The Crusaders return home the next day to host the Manly Sea Eagles in a special life member round on Saturday, July 13.

The action begins at 11 am with the Youth, followed by the NBL1 women who tip off at 5pm and the men who close out the year with their matchup at 7pm.

Stefan Kataric