Kent Crusaders booked their spot in the Division 2 Playoff Semi-Finals with an 83-58 win over Killamarsh Derbyshire Arrows on Sunday at BA Leisure Centre.

Amin Adamu had 19 points, John Shodipo had 15 points, 8 assists and Tim Shodipo had 12 points and 11 rebounds for Kent, as their hopes for a League-Playoff double were kept alive.

It was Crusaders who made their mark early, taking what looked to be a comfortable 10 point advantage after the opening period, however, Arrows refused to go down without a fight. The visitors started to find the hoop in the second period, turning their defence into offence, but it was in the third where they reduced the lead to five and were threatening the upset in the first couple of minutes.

However, Crusaders responded with a 6-0 run and outscored Derbyshire 22-5 the rest of the quarter to get a cushion which they would ride the rest of the way.

With the win, Kent have set up a match-up with Ipswich in next weekend’s semi finals at Brompton Academy.

“I thought it was a dangerous game for us,” Kent Head Coach Lloyd Gardner said after the game.

“Obviously coming off last weekend where we did really well in winning the league, it’s always difficult to turn around straight away afterwards. You have the high of that then you’ve got to refocus and it all starts again.

“We were a little beat up today, so I thought we did a good job to win the game, performing as much as we had to. At the same time, I don’t think it’s a performance we will be proud of and I don’t think it’s a performance that will get us wins against the other teams that will be left later on in this competition.

“We advance, we go forward, and we’ll be ready this week for Ipswich next weekend.”

Arrows were led by 17 points from Joseph Baugh.