Dixon steps off plane on debut and helps Arrows to narrows victory

Linbraze Arrows 85 London Westside 80

The Linbraze Arrows returned to action in 2016 with a heart – stopping victory over London Westside by 85 – 80. After a sluggish opening which saw the Arrows trail 30 – 17 at the end of the first the Arrows eventually overhauled Westside down the straight behind 24 points for Callum Mccallum, 20 points for the debutant Chris Dixon and 16 from Joseph Baugh.

The Arrows performed better in the second quarter as they attacked the basket with greater urgency behind some clever moves from Chris Dixon and the inside play of McCallum and Denis. Rory Wheatcroft and Andreas Lycoudis showed great promise with rebounds and two clever finishes respectively as the half closed with the Arrows now trailing by only 43 – 44.

The teams were locked together for much of the second half. In the third quarter Joseph Baugh began to show his offensive skills while Andre Rankine began to show his experience at both ends of the court. However it took a clever steal and athletic finish by Dixon in the final seconds to see the teams locked at 64 – 64.

The fourth quarter was always going to be a tight and tense affair with Westside taking the early initiative but Joseph Baugh’s “3 point play” levelled the scores again. James Kelly made a vital steal with Westside looking certain to score, turning this instead into a McCallum basket which gave the Arrows a five point lead inside the last minute. There was still some nerves but Chris Dixon capped a long day for him personally with the free throws that ensured victory at 85 – 80.

Scorers; Mc Callum 24, Dixon 20, Baugh 16, Kelly 9, Lycoudis 4

The victory keeps the Arrows in second place in the division with an 8 – 3 record and importantly unbeaten at Killamarsh Sports Centre for the season. This is important as they play the next 3 games at home starting with Worcester on the 17th

January at 5pm.

If not the greatest certainly the longest day for Chris Dixon basketballer

It will be a day Chris Dixon will have in his memory for a long time the longest trip to a game ever. Only 10 days earlier Chris was working at the YMCA gym in Atlanta helping people appreciate the powers of basketball on and off the court then he heard of the opportunity to do something similar in another country with the Arrows he gathered his stuff booked and paid for a flight that was scheduled to land some 9 hours before the flight. However because of engine problems and weather it landed some 6 hours late.

He arrived in Sheffield 4 hours before the game but armed with his kit and great love for the game he laced up his boots and accepted the number 10 shirt for the Arrows. Chris opened his account with 2 free throws and a clever finish in the first quarter then iced the game from the line some 60 minutes later to make it a winning debut in his first game overseas.

Chris Dixon returned 20 points in the game a tremendous effort considering he had never met his team – mates before the warm up. He linked well with Captain James Kelly who appeared to enjoy the extra space the arrival of Chris Dixon will give him.

James Kelly stated “It was an impressive effort on debut from Chris, his pedigree is great and I look forward to learning from him on and off the court. He is a most welcomed addition to 2016 and will help us face the tough challenges ahead with greater confidence.”

At the end of the game Chris was pleased but clearly trying to take in an extraordinary 24 hours in his basketball life as he reflected and commented.

“I’m just grateful and excited for the opportunity to help this team win games. I know and have worked with former USA Select and Arrow Noah Brown who told me what a great experience he had enjoyed and how he continues to feel part of the family. I would like to thanks the management and coaches for allowing me to become a part of this same Arrows family. It was fun today however I can and will play better”

Another product of the Team USA Select organisation under coach Sean Kilmartin Chris Dixon will have the chance to experience life and basketball in another country.

Valley Forge basketball standout Ryan Patton

Some guys will go to great lengths to extend their basketball playing days.
Former Valley Forge and Youngstown State star Ryan Patton went farther than most. He went all the way to England, with a brief stint in Qatar.
Patton, who led Forge to a Division I regional final in 1997 and scored more than 800 points in just two high school seasons, is in his sixth year as a European professional and his playing career is not much different than it was in the United States.

He still is a terrific shooter and scorer. “I always thought he would end up playing professionally somewhere,” said John Stavole, who coached Patton for two seasons after he transferred from Holy Name to Valley Forge. “If ‘gym-rat’ was in the dictionary, his picture would be there. He just loved to play. He was the kind of kid you loved to coach.”
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USA Select win the Stuart Robbins Tournament!

For the 2nd year in a row the USA Select team (number 1) were victorious in the annual Stuart Robbins Memorial tournament at the University of Limerick. They overcame UCC Demons in a competitive final game that capped a great weekend of men’s basketball in Limerick.
This is the 4th year of the tournament and the President of Basketball Ireland, Mr Gerry Kelly, was on hand to present the memorial cup to the winning team, and to present the MVP of the final to Raymond McElroy, the captain of the USA team. The President also paid tribute to UL, to the organisers of the event, the referees and table officials for their work on the tournament.

Thunder win an over-time thriller against US

In an entertaining match played in front of a decent-sized crowd at Worthing Leisure Centre, Ziffit-sponsored Thunder edged out their American counterparts 101-97 with an impressive display that leaves them in good shape ahead of their first competitive match of the season – at Reading Rockets in the National Trophy on Saturday.
New signing Tom Ward was the star of the show, top-scoring with 28 points and seven rebounds on debut, and Bud Johnston also chipped in with 25 points.
Thunder coach Daniel Hildreth said: “We knew that they would come with a big squad and that they wouldn’t get fatigued, so I was impressed with the way we kept going, even in over-time.
“We’ve done a lot of work off the court in pre-season and we carried on our good form on the court, which I’m happy with.
“I cannot say enough about the crowd. I thought as it was a friendly only 100 or so would turn up but they were loud throughout the whole game and they were great. I was very impressed with the way we approached the game in general and how we played. It was a good test for us.”
Terrence Bridgeman was the pick of the USA Select team, scoring 18 points, along with Elijah Wilson, who netted 14 points and claimed three rebounds.
The hosts led 21-20 at the end of the first quarter and had extended their lead to five points by half-time.
Consecutive three-pointers from Clay Wilson and then Antonio Bethea took the USA side ahead and the game remained close throughout as Donald Qualls’ three-pointer levelled the game for the USA and sent it to over-time.
Despite falling behind early on, Thunder held their nerve and they took the lead for the first time in the added period with a minute-and-a-half remaining.
Two converted free throws from Max Richardson in the dying stages then sealed victory for Thunder.

Hoop Dreams

Bristol Academy Flyers Basketball Club, currently among England’s best, will soon be among Britain’s best, says Simon Fry.
These are exceedingly exciting times for the Flyers.
Based at the WISE Basketball Arena at South Gloucestershire & Stroud College, Stoke Gifford, the Flyers have come a long way since the then Filton College started its basketball programme in 2003.
The club has recently been brought into the stable of Bristol Sport Ltd, the sporting organisation backed by Bristol City’s majority shareholder Stephen Lansdown. While Bristols footballing Reds remain some way off appearing in the Premiership, their basketball-playing equivalents are looking forward to taking their place in the British Basketball League, the sports elite level, from the start of the 2014/15 season.
Before then, hopes are high for a successful 2013/14 campaign in the National Trophy, National Cup and Vcars.co.uk Division One, English basketballs top flight.
Flyers new season starts on Thursday September 12, with their traditional curtain-raiser against Team USA Select from Charlotte, North Carolina.
The visitors bring with them many fascinating back stories. Team USA Select is the brainchild of general manager Sean Kilmartin and fellow former Appalachian State University team-mate David Lawrence. The pair played in Europe in the 1980s, and made a beer buddy promise while drinking beside the Thames, in sight of Big Ben, to give others a similar opportunity by organising exposure tours for unsigned players.
One such beneficiary was seven-foot-tall Adam Simons, who signed for the Flyers in 2007 and was interviewed for Venue shortly after. Davis Bowne similarly impressed for the Select outfit and played for the Flyers between 2009-2012.
Last year Coach Kilmartin and charges took in nine European countries in one month and this September promises to be every bit as barnstorming, with players leaving the touring squad once they sign with their new club.
Rookies from establishments such as Furman University South Carolina, Tuskegee University Alabama and West Virginia Wesleyan College hope to avoid being on the plane home by impressing scouts in places such as Paris, Prague and Helsinki.
For their part the Flyers will be keen to chart their young guns progress. 17-year-olds Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye and Tamas Okros have returned from a successful European Championship with the England U18s, while the USA game will also see the debut of the Flyers new Lithuanian signing Aistis Keliauskas, a UWE student coming to Bristol after playing professionally in Italy.

USA Select Players lead teams to Finals!

It is not unusual for alumni of USA Select Basketball to lead their teams to Championships. However it is very exciting when USA Select players run into each other during their playing careers as we have a lot of players in Europe. However, it is always very exciting when we see USA Select players competing with each other for Championships! In the most resent example, USA Select Alum R. B. Clyburn has lead his Killamarsh Derbyshire Arrows , coached by long time friend, Pete Kelly to the Championship round of England’s prestigious Patron’s Cup. They will face off against the Bristol Fliers and USA Select players; Doug McLaughlin-Williams and Davis Bowne!
To reach the semi finals, Killamarsh Derbyshire Arrows host London Westside for the second time this season and Sunday’s game will see the loser eliminated from the Patrons Cup. RB Clyburn poured in an 34 points and 14 rebounds.
The duo of Bowne and McLaughlin-Williams pose a serious threat, as these two highly skilled players are former Appalachian State University (NCAA Division 1) stars who are both 6’8″!
In any case, USA Select basketball will be well represented, good luck guys!

USA Select European Exposure Tour player Jimmy Langhurst is one of the BBL Scoring leaders!

Congratulations to Jimmy Langhurst (USA Select Exposure Tour 12011), Jimmy is now among the top scorers in the British Basketball League. Jimmy, a former Robert Morris University standout, is a multitalented point guard who was picked up during the European Exposure Tour by the Sheffield Sharks of the top league in England. Jimmy is averaging a respectable 17.5 points per game!

Former USA Select player, now coach, signs USA Select player!

Ryan Patton, a long time professional and perennial All Star, just signed with Sheffield Sharks of the BBL. He was signed by former USA Select player, now turned coach, Atiba Lyons!

According to Eurobasket: ” One Health Sharks Sheffield have announced a change in their roster with the release of big man Justin Dobbins and replacing him with the signing of former Sharks guard Ryan Patton.

The decision to release Dobbins was a difficult one for Head Coach Atiba Lyons, but under the circumstances and based on overall recent performances it was felt that the guard position needed to be addressed.

Patton, the 6’0′ former sharks general has agreed to come back to the club that he enjoyed back to back BBL Cup successes with in his previous tenure. Despite a hiatus for the first part of the season the club and player remained on good terms, and Patton became the natural choice.

‘I am pleased to have Ryan back in the squad, he brings so much to a team on and off the court, obviously it would have been better to have had him in from the start but we can only look forward now,’ said Lyons. ‘I think with everyone playing and healthy we have a good look for the playoffs but we will continue to take it game by game.’

USA Select Players lighting up the stats!

A quick review of the top players in two countries (England Division 2 and Wales) shows USA Select European Exposure Tour 2011 products dominating! Way to go guys!

Also listed in the stats leaders are the sons of USA Select friend Steve Williams, Rhys Williams and Owen Williams are averaging league leading 4.33 assists per game each for the Glamorgan Gladiators!