USA SELECT BASKETBALL – Riders USA Select 2.

USA SELECT BASKETBALL – Riders USA Select.

USA SELECT BASKETBALL – Joint Item 1.

Leicester Riders

September 4 – 4:26 PM

[MORE]

Essex Leopards edged out by Americans

5 September 2016

Jamie Hayes attacks the basket for Leopards

Pre-season friendly ends in narrow loss

Shaq Lewis attacks the basket for Essex Leopards against Team USA Select (pic: Paul Phillips)

Levett Essex Leopards were edged out by Team USA Select in a thriller at a packed-out Brentwood Centre last night.

Fiedling a mixture of bench players from last season and trialists, the Big Cats put up a brave fight before going down 81-77 against the touring side.

Veteran big man Errol Seaman returned after 10 years away, having helped the Big Cats win the National Cup in 2005-6, and there was a familiar face in guard Josh Johnson among the six trialists.

But it was youngster Shaq Lewis who stole the show on his Leopards’ debut with 25 points, nine rebounds and a couple of assists.

The visitors’ lack of size saw them outrebounded 49-39 by the Big Cats, but they used their quickness to cause 24 turnovers which proved crucial down the stretch.

There was little to choose between the teams in the early stages as they shared 20 points in the first five minutes, before Leopards looked set to take a lead into the first break only to see the visitors hit a late three-point play to tie the game at 21-21.

It was a two-point game in favour of the Americans heading into the final five minutes of the first half, before a crucial stage of the game saw Leopards outscored 15-7 to trail 45-35 at the interval.

Although Lewis made it a single-digit game with the opening score of the second half, it appeared to have got away from the hosts as Team USA opened up a 52-40 lead at the midway stage of the third period.

But free-throws from Brian Nguru and Lewis, together with a fast-break from Jamie Hayes, saw the hosts claw their way back into the game and Nguru cut the defict to 60-55 at the final break.

Scores from Fraser Glass and Dougie Bennett made it a three-point game early in the fourth period and Johnson set up a grandstand finish with a jump shot six seconds from time to make it a four-point deficit.

But with Leopards forced to foul to stop the clock, the visitors wrapped things up at the charity stripe.

Leopards will make their debut at Oaklands Academy on Friday when they continue their pre-season campaign with a second game against American opposition.

Steve Ogunjimi’s team will host touring side Ballers Heaven Beyond Select at 7.30pm at their new training venue and are working more closely with Oaklands this season, with the college’s elite players expected to be on the bench in Leopards’ Division One fixtures.

The American side are coached by former Coventry Crusaders play-caller Roger Payne and are a mixture of players who have just finished their college career, professionals who have experience in Europe and a couple of former NBA Development League players.

They are playing two other games, both against BBL teams, and are all hoping to gain pro contracts in the UK. Tickets are available on the door, priced £3.

Ogunjimi expects to be able to field a stronger side than the team which narrowly went down against Team USA Select on Sunday, with Tosin Oyelese and Justin Hitchman among those expected to return.

The Big Cats return to Brentwood in a fortnight, facing Hemel Storm in the National Trophy on Friday, September 16 (8pm), before London Lions are the visitors the following day, tip-off 7pm.

[MORE]

Pre-season loss but plenty of positives for Worthing Thunder ahead of new season

4 September, 2016 10:25 AM | Worthing Thunder

Worthing Thunder lost 81-74 to the USA Select side in a pre-season friendly at the Worthing Leisure Centre on Saturday night.

Despite the result, Thunder coach Daniel Hildreth was happy with how the team competed against a physical American outfit and he successfully gave everyone minutes, while trying out new plays ahead of the new season.

With player announcements coming this week, Hildreth still aims to sign one more player ahead of the arrival of American Lyonell Gaines and the first home game against Reading Rockets on September 17.

“Today went very well I regards to its purpose,” Hildreth said. “I wanted to get the guys out there and get the cobwebs away, I wanted to test a few sets, give everyone some time and most importantly play against a physical pressing team.

“We had some very solid performances and there are some glaring issues we need to work on. We still have to introduce Lyonell and hopefully another player that will both be huge additions.”

Tom Ward led Thunder with 22 points on the night, supported by 16 for Josh Brown. Brendan Okoronkwo added 12.

Thunder started the game shooting the ball well and holding a naturally quick USA Select side to just eight points in the first five minutes. The hosts would take a 23-19 lead after one.

But the touring Americans fought back and hit their stride in the second, taking a 38-36 advantage heading into the half-time break before pulling away in the third.

Worthing narrowed the gap to 69-67 half-way through the fourth quarter but the hosts, still showing signs of rust allowed the Select side to edge to victory.

[MORE]

Friendly: Giants 69-76 USA Select

4 Sep 2016

Friendly: Giants 69-76 USA Select

Yorick Williams ran the rule over a host of trialists and hopefuls against the touring USA Select side.

The Giants head coach used 17 players in the pre-season warm-up game which the visiting team won by seven points.

Fans got a first look at signings Harold Trobo, Rom Geffin and Dean Wanliss, while Williams gave playing time to a group of others.

Veteran guard Steve Gayle, who played for the Giants in their former incarnation as well as Manchester Magic and Lancashire Spinners more recently, showed he is still in good shape as he hit four points and dished out the same number of assists in 13 minutes.

Young former Magic guard Jordan Whelan had an impressive run-out. The Wigan-born ball handler has just returned from the US where he graduated from MNU (Mid-America Nazarene University) and scored a team-high 16 points in 27 minutes of action that showed composure and positivity.

Bulgarian Boris Matrakov took 12 rebounds and scored seven points.

The Giants led 30-22 after a quarter but were 47-39 down at the half. They closed the gap to 67-63 at the end of the third before the visitors finished the game 76-69 up as Williams rotated his players.

[MORE]

Giants ready for USA Select showdown on Sunday

3 Sep 2016

Giants ready for USA Select showdown on Sunday

The Giants face the touring USA Select side in a pre-season friendly at the Trafford Sportsdome on Sunday (5pm).

It is the first opportunity for fans to see new signings Rom Geffen, Harold Trobo and Dean Wanliss in action.

And an opportunity for head coach Yorick Williams to have a good look at some trialist players hoping to win a place in the Giants squad ahead of the new BBL season.

Last season’s clash with the American team provided a close and exciting tussle as a curtain-raiser for the new campaign.

Williams, whose men will play on the club’s new roll-out floor, is looking forward to the contest.

“We’ve still got some work to do and we’ll have a look at a few more players in the game,” he said.

Tickets for the game are available at the online price here until midnight on Saturday. Fans can pay on the door on Sunday.

Everyone who attends will receive a free commemorative T-shirt.

There is a free pre-game coaching session for under-16s.

Tickets

Online: Adult: £12; Junior (under-16): £8; Concession: £9; Family (2 adults and upto 3 juniors): £30.

On the door: Adult: £15; Junior (under-16): £11; Concession: £12; Family (2 adults and upto 3 juniors): £40.

Under-5s: free

[MORE]

The start of a new era on Saturday as Thunder prepare for USA Select friendly

1 September, 2016 12:50 PM | Worthing Thunder

It will be a new beginning on Saturday night as Worthing Thunder host USA Select in a pre-season friendly before their National Trophy opener against Reading Rockets on September 17.

After nearly 34 years of attending every home game and faithful service to Worthing Bears and Thunder – the baskets have been retired – and Saturday’s game gives Hildreth and his players the chance to get accustomed to the new buckets in the annual pre-season fixture against the Americans.

“So many unbelievable players have enjoyed the ‘friendly’ hoops from the likes of Herman Harried, Billy Hungrecker and who can forget the glory years with Alan Cunningham and Colin Irish,” Thunder coach Daniel Hildreth recalls. “It already feels strange in practice not having them rolled out but I’m hoping the new hoops bring us luck in the future.”

Saturday’s game will also see new scoreboards in place at the Leisure Centre due to the old one practically giving up last season, but the hard working volunteers installed a projector to the table officials’ scoreboard as a reasonable substitute.

But focusing matters on to the court and Hildreth has confirmed that there will be a full squad in time for the Trophy opener against the Rockets and that preparations for the new season are going well. The majority of this season’s team will be playing this Saturday against USA Select.

“From a playing perspective it’s a good opportunity to get some of the cobwebs out and try some of the new offences that have been put in over the summer,” said Hildreth. “We obviously don’t know the USA Select’s personnel but one thing for sure is that they always come very well prepared, hungry and physical.

“It’s a great test for the guys to play at an extremely fast pace, as notoriously the select team will full court press for the entire game. Preparations are falling into place with the team and we expect to be at full strength and ready for the first Trophy game against rivals Reading on the 17th September.”

Thunder’s pre-season fixture against USA Select tips at 7:30pm with tickets selling for just £5.00 for both children and adults.

[MORE]

The Americans are back

Sep 1, 2016 | Dave Ryan

The most familiar visitors to Britain over the last decade return thing week with Team USA Select bringing three squads of players for a series of pre-season games.

Sean Kilmartin and his fellow coaches will bring around 45 players to the UK, playing around 50 games over an 18-day period

The tourists arrive in London on September 1, and tip-off on Friday with Reds playing the first of two games in as many days against Leicester Riders, the Blues travelling to Southampton and the Whites scrimmaging against Levett Essex Leopards.

The Blues face Worthing on Saturday and Leopards at the Brentwood Centre on Sunday, while the Whites face Charnwood College and Loughborough Riders on Saturday before competing in a tournament in Cheshire the following day.

The Reds face Manchester Magic on Sunday and cross-town rivals Giants the following day, and also face BBL teams Bristol Flyers (Sept 8), Sheffield Sharks (Sept 9) Newcastle Eagles (Sept 12) and Glasgow Rocks on Saturday September 18th .

The Blues also take in a trip to Ireland to play in the Stuart Robins Memorial Tournament, while after a trip to Parliament for all three sides on Thursday September 15, the Reds will travel to Finland where they will play six games in three games in the Kongsberg Invitational, a series of games which also involves Leicester Riders.

[MORE]