Record crowd witness Leeds victory

by Joseph Fitzpatrick

A record crowd of over 400 people witnessed Leeds Carnegie defeat England Basketball Division 1 rivals Reading Rockets 80-78, in what was their final game of the regular season.

Leeds started the game in determined fashion, leading 19-13 after the first quarter. The second period was much the same story with Americans, Mike Medved and Adrian Fenyn, linking up effectively inside, whilst freshman guard Henry Wilkens stretched the Reading defence on the outside.

The second half bore none of the relative ease of the first for Leeds, who in the third quarter threatened a typical crumble on several occasions. Yet every time Reading drew close, Leeds fought back, Captain Albert Margai hurting the Berkshire team in transition.

Leeds held a 55-53 lead at the start of the fourth, and the game was not broken open by either team, allowing for a dramatic finish. With less than a minute on the clock Leeds seemed in control, however a highly questionable foul by Medved on a three point attempt offered a glimmer of hope for the away team.

Reading hit all three shots to cut the lead to one. Margai was then fouled, but only managed to hit one of his two shots, giving the ball to Reading with 3.9 seconds on the clock and the score 80-78 in Carnegie's favour.

Reading managed to get off a last second shot, but it bounced safely off the top of the backboard, prompting 400 people to breathe a collective sigh of relief.