Team USA Select wins 3 out of 4 games in one night!

The touring club run by Sean Kilmartin sent eight-man sides to Rockets and Leopards, winning 86-84 and 74-56 respectively, while a 16-man squad traveled to the Leicester to play the midlands teams.

Derby were the first in action, and despite a good performance from the Division One champions – who included new American signing Chris Page from Taunton Tigers – they went down 82-72.

With the USA side having arrived in London at lunchtime, there was probably an element of tiredness in their performance against Riders as they trailed by 24 at the final break before Riders wrapped up the win with a dominant fourth period.

Meanwhile in Reading, the Rockets went agonizingly close to winning the game as Matt Guymon saw a buzzer-beating three-point attempt rim out. Guymon was snatched from under the noses of BBL Plymouth Raiders, while another player that appeared to be joining another team (Manchester Magic), Niko Scott top scored for the Rockets with 36 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

And finally, in Brentwood the Select team collected their biggest win of the night. With 20-year-old Leigh Greenan the Big Cats’ second oldest player, it was a youthful home side who took to the floor, but with two senior players still to join up with Mark Clark’s team there were plenty of positives for the Leopards.

Greenan finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 19 points, while Marlan Henry added 13 points, four rebounds and two steals with Josh Johnson chipping in with eight points, seven rebounds and six assists Eddie Marrs led the visitors with 17 points, five boards and four steals, with Jarvis Hill and Devon Carter each adding 13 points, and the latter pulling down five rebounds.

The Big Cats out-rebounded the Select team 39-30, but struggled offensively and also turned the ball over 23 times. Greenan opened the scoring with a three-point play, and a tight first period saw the visitors go into the second quarter with a 23-21 lead.

They never gave up that advantage as a 13-0 run saw USA take control of the game, and they went into locker room with a 42-28 lead. A low scoring third period saw the visitors shade it 10-8 to lead by 16 at the final break, and they wrapped things up with a 22-20 fourth stanza. The tour continues over the weekend for the Team USA sides with three more games. The side that defeated Leopards move to play Worcester Wolves on Saturday before facing MK Lions the following day.

The side who faced Reading Rockets make the long trip to Glasgow Rocks before moving on to Sheffield to complete in the Arrows tournament, while the squad who face Riders and Trailblazers remain in Leicester to play Lions on Saturday and then travel down to Plymouth to face the Raiders.

Filed under British Basketball League (BBL), EBL By Dave Ryan
Picture courtesy www.essexsportsagency.com