Kent Crusaders suffered a hard fought 90-93 loss to Thames Valley Cavaliers in an NBL Division 2 top of the table clash on Saturday at Barking Abbey Leisure Centre.

With little being able to split the two teams in the first half, Thames Valley’s Martelle McLemore got going in the third quarter, scoring 17 of his game-high 35 points over a six minute stretch to give Cavaliers an advantage that they would hold on to.

A late charge from Kent, led by RJ Eytle-Rock who hit a huge late three to make it a one possession game, ultimately proved to be too little to late.

“When the margins are thin, three point game, a mistake here and a mistake there and that’s the result,” Head Coach Lloyd Gardner said after the game.

“We let McLemore get going, it’s the first time this year that he hurt us, he had a great game and was probably the difference.

“I said to the guys we have to find a way to slow him down which is difficult but more importantly than that, I thought we showed great fight the last two minutes to keep the game alive. If we had had that fight, that desire, five minutes before maybe it wouldn’t have been a different result but it’s two teams toward the top of the league, it’s a tough game, little mistakes changed the outcome.”

Amin Adamu and John Shodipo had 23 points each, the latter adding 7 rebounds and 7 assists, whilst RJ Eytle-Rock finished with 17 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists.

Crusaders dropped to 14-3 in third place in the table, and will now take on Ipswich at Copleston High School on March 4 at 5pm.