PRESTON, Lancs. — Edoardo Del Cadia provided the necessary lift No. 1 Myerscough needed to dispatch Canterbury and advance to the EABL Finals for the third time in five years.
Del Cadia scored a game-high 29 points — 17 coming in the first half — to go with 12 rebounds and knocked down six crucial 3-pointers in a 75-64 win on Wednesday to set up a final against the East No. 1 seed Barking Abbey on Thursday at Leicester Arena.
“I had to step up, and when the first shot went in the rest followed,” said Del Cadia. “Players want to show that they can perform in big games and I wanted to be in the finals — as a team that’s where we wanted to be.”
Points were at a premium for Myerscough, which shot just 31 percent from the field, but top-seeded Sco found ways to generate offence, including 16 points off turnovers, in a game that saw long stretches without any.
Konrad Kantorski added 16 points on a tough 3-of-15 shooting, but his free throws salted the game away. Callan Low added 11 and seven boards.
Myerscough has a 1-2 record in EABL Finals with its lone crown coming in 2015.
“We did enough to win and that’s what takes you to the finals,” said Myerscough head coach Neal Hopkins. “We have to take heart and confidence in the fact the we continue to win even when things aren’t going our way.”
Elliot Bailey had 21 points for second-seeded Canterbury, which was looking to reach its first finals in the competition.
Canterbury’s leading scorer Jonathan Brown, averaging over 18 points, added 16 on 7-of-12 shooting but was held to just a point during the run that blew the game open.
“We trusted what we were doing,” Canterbury coach Jesse Sazant said. “We had some momentum late and were making a run and just hoping Myerscough wouldn’t come up with an answer but they did and that’s life.”
Myerscough used a 13-5 run to start the third quarter to build a 49-34 lead, which grew to as many 16 after halftime. Three consecutive 3-pointers capped off the offensive burst and Canterbury wouldn’t get closer than seven.
Kantorski, who contributed hit back-to-back threes in the run to take control of the game, ensured the win as he went 4-of-5 at the line to close it out.
THE CHEF IS COOKING
Outside of Del Cadia, Myerscough’s starting five combined for nine made field goals on 32 attempts. The Italian forward finished 9-of-18 from the field and hit two big 3-pointers to erase his team’s largest deficit in a six-point swing.
“Edoardo has has two solid performances back-to-back and today he was the best player on the court,” said Myerscough coach Neal Hopkins. “He’s come a long way and is a tough cover inside and out and he proved a handful with the diversity of his game.”
When Canterbury closed within 27-25 two minutes before the half, Del Cadia again answered from deep and Myerscough ended on a 9-4 run to take a six point lead into the break.
After five straight games scoring below his average, the Italian has turned in four consecutive double-doubles and set a season-high in points.
UP NEXT
Myerscough will face Barking Abbey at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday at Leicester Arena in the EABL Finals.
“It’s the pinnacle of junior basketball in the country,” said Hopkins. “We want to be up there competing for these titles year in and year out. This is a demonstration of all the hard work we’ve put in across the year and we’re rewarded with another appearance in the final, which we’re going to savour and enjoy.”
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