Hoop Stories: Sean Kilmartin/USA Select (ep2)

SENIOR MEN TO TAKE ON TEAM USA SELECT!

SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 | Garreth Lodge

City of Edinburgh Kings, one of the country’s premier basketball teams are set to face off against a team of touring players from across the United States in a pre-season friendly at Portobello High School on Sunday 18th September.

The United States touring team will feature players who have recently graduated from playing college basketball in the States and who are hoping to possibly secure themselves a professional contract in Europe for next season.

The Kings have strengthened in the off-season with many former players returning to the team this year, and they will be coached by Craig Nicol who has stepped up from his role as assistant coach for the previous two seasons.

Alistair MacKay is returning after a brief professional spell in Italy. Prior to that Ali spent five years at Davidson College. Many will recognise Davidson as the basketball powerhouse who produced Steph Curry the reigning two-time NBA MVP.

Scottish International Calum Nicol, who played his junior basketball with Kings returns after captaining the Glasgow University side for the past few seasons.

Ali and Calum will suit up alongside Simon Flockhart, the Kings stalwart who returns after one year playing for his father in law at Falkirk Fury.

This will add significant size to the Kings squad who are looking to get back to the top of the Scottish game this year.

New Senior Men Head Coach Craig Nicol said:

“We are delighted to welcome this team from the USA to Edinburgh; they will provide a real test to our team ahead of the season starting in a few weeks.

“Welcoming back Ali, Callum and Simon is a huge boost for us going into this season where we will be looking to win all three competitions.

“We have lost two of the country’s top juniors from last year in Kyle Jimenez and Konrad Kantorski as they head of to academies in England but they go with our best wishes and we have a wealth of experience in the backcourt with Craig Reilly, Paddy Campbell and Garreth Lodge.”

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Summer Shakedown crown

September 17, 2016 | cheshirebrewers

Team USA Select made their way to Ellesmere Port Catholic High for the first ever Cheshire Brewers Summer Shakedown tournament and left victorious.

The eight-team tournament pitted the best of Cheshire and North Wales’ amateur players against each other and the Transatlantic visitors.

Caernarfon Celts, Chester University, Mold Magic, Deeside Dragons, Oswestry Wizards, two Cheshire Brewers teams (Spartans and Vikings) and the assembled US college players went head to head in a packed Catholic High gym.

Both Brewers teams, Team USA and Chester University fought their way to the semi-finals where unfortunately for the hosts, both the Spartans – reigning Wirral League champions – and the Vikings were eliminated.

Eventually a hard-fought final saw Team USA write their names into history as the inaugural Brewers Summer Shakedown champions 2016.

The tournament will return in 2017 so keep visiting this site for all the details.

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USA Select clinical versus Spinners

14 Sept 2016

Watch highlights from last week’s 74-69 victory here:

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View our photographer’s collection of images from Bristol Flyers’ 65-78 defeat at the SGS WISE Arena.

September 9th, 2016 | JMPUK

[CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE BRISTOAL FLYERS COLLECTION OF PHOTOS]

USA Select Coach Sean Kilmartin On Flyers Exhibition Game

USA Select clinical versus Spinners

September 9th 2016

There were signs in the third quarter – but the Lancashire Spinners couldn’t overcome a slow start against USA Select, falling 85-64 in the Annual SuperJosh Charity game at Castle Leisure Centre on Friday.

“We understood the occasion,” said head coach Neal Hopkins. “And that was always going to be more important than the result. But we will keep building on tonight and if we can add to that one solid quarter on Monday [against Cheshire] I’ll be happy with where we are.”

It was the second-ever meeting between the Spinners and USA Select with the former having won a narrow contest during last season’s charity event.

Connor Murtagh had a team-high 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting, and was just one of two Spinners to reach double-figures scoring. Point guard Jack Hudson finished with 10, including three 3-pointers, but he also had seven turnovers.

The Spinners — playing their first game of the 2016-17 pre-season — held a narrow 5-4 lead following Hudson’s 3-pointer midway through the opening quarter. But a quick 5-0 burst propelled USA Select back in front and they never trailed again with the Spinners down 23-13 after 10 minutes.

USA Select carried a 46-26 advantaged into halftime before a spry third quarter from helped the Spinners battled back.

“We figured out as a team where we were struggling, locked in and played a great quarter of basketball,” said guard David Walsh, who was making his Spinners debut. “The first half was nerves more than anything, but it was great to gain experience against a well-drilled team.”

The hosts, who outscored the visitors 26-17 in the third quarter, turned the momentum in their favour early in the second half when Mark Rangeley scooped in a layup with 6:48 on the clock.

Lancashire then rattled off an 11-2 run over two-and-a-half minute stretch to climb within nine points.

Though still trailing 63-52 heading into the final period, the Spinners’ shooting struggles returned as they were limited to just two points during the first five minutes.

USA Select also had its own share of difficulties finding the basket, but they were able to pour in at least 22 points in three quarters in the win.

The Lancashire Spinners continue its season preparations against the British Basketball League’s Cheshire Phoenix at Myerscough College on Monday, Sept. 12. Entry is £3 with tip-off set for 7:30pm.

PRESS NOTES: Lancashire was just 24-of-71 from the floor … 5-of-30 from 3-point range … But 11-of-16 at the free throw line … The Spinners out rebounded USA Select 45-39 … Ayo Nuwe and David Ulph each had four offensive rebounds … They were two of the four players with six rebounds … Lancashire was 11-of-18 in the third quarter … Zion Tordoff led the team with four assists whilst Aitor Estrada and Hudson each had three.

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Bristol Flyers will be streaming their game against the USA Select LIVE from the SGS WISE Arena this evening.

September 8th, 2016

Build up and pre-match interviews will begin from 7pm on this page. Look out for the link on this page from 6.30pm.
Get involved by using the hash tag #FlyersLIVE on Twitter!

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MORE INTERNATIONAL PRE-SEASON

27th August, 2016

A week to go until some of the best European club teams come to the UK to take us on in our MKM Euro Invitational 2016 tournament and we’re pleased to announce more international pre-season basketball for the Eagles.

On Monday 12th September the Esh Group Eagles Newcastle will take on this year’s USA Select team at Walbottle Campus, the same venue for last year’s clash where the Eagles were triumphant.
Tip off will be at 7:00pm with doors opening at 6:30pm.
Tickets are just £7 per person and can be purchased on the door or in advance by calling the Eagles Office on 0191 245 3880.

For further information contact the club on 0191 245 3880 or e-mail [email protected].

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Bristol Flyers v USA Select – Pre-season exhibition game

Wednesday, September 7th, 2016

Bristol Flyers v USA Select
Pre-season exhibition game
Thursday, September 9th (7.30pm)
Tickets available on the door, avoid disappointment by buying in advance online

Supporters have the chance to see Flyers’ new signings in action for the first time this Thursday (7.30pm) as USA Select are the visitors to the WISE Arena.

A brief guide to the travelling team from the USA can be found below.

USA SELECT
USA Select are regular visitors to Bristol, having faced Flyers in several pre-season exhibition games over the past few years. USA will offer Flyers a highly competitive game as 45 players from stateside aim to earn a contract in Europe. Sean Kilmartin and his fellow coaches will be presiding over three separate sides as their squad face the tricky task of playing around 50 games in the space of an 18-day period.

FORM
Current BBL League Champions Leicester Riders proved too strong for Select this weekend, claiming a pair of comfortable victories over the side from the USA, 94-55 and 98-74. Tiredness appeared to be a factor in these games for USA – the opening quarters being tight affairs before Riders pulled away in the second-half of each game. There were no such issues however when the team from the States faced Manchester Giants, the visiting side running out 69-76 winners at the Trafford Sportsdome.

TICKETS
Tickets will be available on the door on Thursday night, but to be sure of a seat and avoid disappointment book online now.
COURTSIDE UPGRADE – USA SELECT SPECIAL OFFER
Courtside tickets for USA Select cost just £7 for under-19s and £13 for adults – to get closer to the action and upgrade to courtside seats, contact Steve Devereux on 0117 963 0645 or email [email protected]. VIP tickets with food, drink and guaranteed parking are also available.

FIRST TIME AT THE SGS WISE ARENA?
This game will be played at the home of Bristol Flyers; the WISE Arena at SGS College in Filton:
SGS WISE Arena,
New Road,
Stoke Gifford,
Bristol BS34 8LP
SGS WISE Arena is in a convenient location just off junction one of the M32, and a short ten minute walk from Abbeywood and Bristol Parkway train stations.

Parking
Please note that there is limited car parking availability at SGS Wise campus offered on a first come first served basis – the post code for SatNavs is: BS34 8LP.
VIP customers will have spaces reserved at SGS WISE campus car park.
Parking is also available a short two minute walk from the arena – see map below for details:

Food and drink
Food and drink is available at the WISE Arena – there is a cashpoint on site but we would advise bringing cash with you if you plan on purchasing food and drink.

Ticket collections
Tickets can be collected from the ticket collections desk located just inside the main foyer of the WISE Arena – we advise arriving early if you are collecting tickets for this game.

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