The Central Coast Crusaders Waratah Youth League teams are tasting playoffs once again with both teams doing more than enough this season to earn themselves a spot in the semi-finals.
The Crusaders Women’s post-season spot was sealed a few weeks ago with a 3rd place finish, however last weekend saw them take on their potential grand finals match up against the first placed Manly Sea Eagles.
The Crusaders traveled down to the Northern Beaches to face the Sea Eagles for the second time this year, the first being at home in Terrigal where they suffered a 51-84 loss.
Things were different this time though as the Crusaders held their own with co-captains Bronte Moore and Sammi McCubbin lighting up the first half with the score locked in at 40-37.
It was the young rookies and sophomores stepping up to bat for the Crusaders in the second half with Rubie Hassab going a perfect 3/3 from deep leading into the 4th quarter.
Rubie Hassab in action Photo: Kye Santarossa – @santasmedia_
The Sea Eagles defence held the Crusaders to just 7 points in the final period of the game where they cruised to a 71-59 win.
The Crusaders have struggled with 4th quarter intensity drop-offs all year, an aspect which will surely be addressed heading into this week’s semi-finals when they travel to Sutherland this Saturday, August 26, to take on the Norths Bears at 9am in what should be a very closely contested affair.
The path to the semifinals has been a bit different for the Youth League Men who hosted the Sydney Comets in an elimination final last weekend.
The day started off sour for the Crusaders due to captain Alex Bailey’s ankle injury which he had suffered a few days before and hadn’t progressed as they hoped.
The Comets matched the Crusaders bucket for bucket as Bailey limped from end to end looking for his shot; it was the big man in the paint Cody Wells who kept the Crusaders afloat in the first quarter.
By the second quarter Bailey found his rhythm and propelled the Crusaders to a 13-point lead going into the half.
The Crusaders made light work of the Comets, stretching the lead by 21 points before easing off the accelerator in the final period, ending the elimination final 80-68.
Despite his injury, Bailey led all scorers and finished the game with an impressive 27 points.
The Youth League Men Crusaders will travel to Bankstown this Saturday, August 26, to take on the Hills Hornets in their semi-finals matchup at 3.30pm where Crusaders Center Cody Wells thinks defence will be the key factor.
“Hills are a solid team all-round, they’re big and have got a couple of guys that can shoot the lights out,” Wells said.
“Our defence will be crucial to winning this game and they’ll be a good test for us as a team moving onto the final.”
Stefan Kataric