Levice, Slovakia – Myerscough’s third season in the European Youth Basketball League came to an end this past weekend as the Preston-based academy faced off against teams from Slovakia, Czech Republic and Italy.
Myerscough’s sole victory of the weekend was against USK Prague whilst losses against SVK Selection, College Basket and SBK Junior Levice saw Myerscough drop to 6th place out of the 9 teams that were invited to the 2023 SuperFinal and the 46 teams that competed across both EYBL North and South Leagues.
Across the three seasons Myerscough has competed overseas it has successfully made the post-season SuperFinal by securing three-straight top four finishes including becoming the first British basketball at any level to win a season-long European competition when it was crowned 2019-20 regular season champions.
Myerscough has amassed an impressive 37-9 regular season record with a 38-12 mark overall since its EYBL debut back in 2018.
Thursday 18th May
Game 1 | Myerscough BA 64 – 73 SVK Selection (Slovakia)
(12-20, 18-15, 19-22, 15-16)
Myerscough struggled to overcome a slow start as they slipped to an opening day loss at the EYBL SuperFinal. Trailing by as many as 13 at one point, Myerscough cut it back to a single possession game twice down the stretch but ultimately came up short. Despite winning the rebounding battle, SVK were able to capitalise on Myerscough’s 24 turnovers and outscored them in second chance points to claim the win.
Top Scorers: Euan Birch had a team-high 16 points as he connected on four three-pointers. Dayvantia Campbell-Deeble supported with 12 points on 4-9 FG to go with 8 rebounds. Peter Asante did a little bit of everything as he finished with 8 points, 11 assists and 9 rebounds.
SVK were led by Daniel Koller’s game-high 19 points whilst Richard Ondrus and Maros Simko joined in double figures with 11 and 10 points respectively.
Friday 19th May
Game 2 | Myerscough BA 74 – 60 USK Prague (Czech Republic)
(22-12, 15-17, 13-16, 24-15)
Myerscough bounced back in dramatic fashion to tie their record on day 2 of the SuperFinal. Leading by as many as 14 points in the third quarter, Myerscough saw their lead evaporate as USK flew back to tie the game on a long range three-pointer. However, strong defense in the final quarter combined with some big-time plays fuelled a 17-6 run which saw Myerscough rebuild their double-digit lead, control the game and secure the victory.
Myerscough shot 45% from the field (27/60 FG) including 37% from three-point range (10/27) whilst holding their opponents to just 32% (22/67 FG) and 18% from three-point range (3/16).
Top Scorers: Peter Asante led four Myerscough players in double figures on a perfect 8-8 FG as he had a game-high 19 points. Stephen Asante and Euan Birch closely followed with 14 points each whilst Dayvantia Campbell-Deeble controlled the paint with an efficient double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds
USK Prague were led by Matyas Jezek and Lukas Dejmek who both contributed with 16 points each.
Myerscough’s 1-1 record across the opening two days would see them drop out of contention to play for the championship crown and instead battle the other two teams with the same records for a chance to finish inside the top-4 out of the 46 teams that have competed across the EYBL North and South divisions this season.
Myerscough will match-up with two more new opponents in the form of College Basket from Italy and hometown SBK Junior Levice, the junior arm of the club current academy coach Mike Bernard won a European Championship with back in 2011.
Sunday 21st May
Game 3 | Myerscough College 68 – 82 Basket (Italy)
(22-21, 14-12, 18-23, 14-26)
Despite leading by double digits in the third quarter, Myerscough would struggle defensively in the second half as they conceded 49 points which ultimately cost them from securing their second win of the SuperFinal. Whilst Myerscough would struggle from the field (26/77 FG), College Basket found advantages on the glass and capitalised on second chance points.
Top Scorers: Peter Asante led the way for Myerscough with 18 points (8-11 FG) alongside 7 assists and 6 rebounds. Dayvantia Campbell-Deeble added 12 points whilst Stephen Asante was the only other player to reach double figures with 11.
William Holmstrom had a game-high 31 points whilst Mikkel Grych and Oskar Guziak added 17 and 14 points.
Game 4 | Myerscough BA 51 – 60 SBK Junior Levice (Slovakia)
(18-28, 17-10, 15-21, 15-21)
Myerscough would slide to a consecutive defeat as they were unable to overcome the host team in their final game of the SuperFinal. Despite falling into an early 14-0 deficit, Myerscough fought back to tie the game but were unable to go that final step. Despite shooting an improved 51% from two-point range (25/49), it would be perimeter shooting (3/30) and turnovers that would once again prove to be the Achilles heel.
Top Scorers: Peter Asante and Euan Birch were the only players in double figures for Myerscough with 14 and 12 points. Stephen Asante showcased his versatility again with 8 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists.
Matej Toncik would pace Levice with 23 points whilst Samuel Solcansky and Lukas Kulcar added 21 and 17 points respectively.
SuperFinal Awards
TOURNAMENT MVP
#8 Nordin Kapic – Vienna United (AUT)
ALL STARs
#31 Samuel Solčánsky – ŠBK Junior Levice (SVK)
#10 Peter Kováčik – SVK SELECTION (SVK)
#10 Balazs Markus – Honved Budapest (HUN)
#4 William Linus Einar Holmstrom Riddervold – College Basket (ITA)
#16 Rashaan Mbemba – Vienna United (AUT)
TEAM MVPs
#8 David Patru – Dinamo Bucharest (ROU)
#17 Matej Tončík – ŠBK Junior Levice (SVK)
#4 Peter Asante – Myerscough Academy (GBR)
#7 Maroš Šimko – SVK SELECTION (SVK)
#14 Benedek Peter Kiss – Honved Budapest (HUN)
#13 Mikkel Grych – College Basket (ITA)
#9 Matyas Jezek – USK Praha (CZE)
#4 Oscar Striuga – London Elite (GBR)
#4 Felix Angerbauer – Vienna United (AUT)
Myerscough BA Team MVP – Peter Asante
2023 SuperFinal Standings
- Vienna United (Austria)
- SVK Selection (Slovakia)
- Budapesti Honved (Hungary)
- SBK Junior Levice (Slovakia)
- College Basket (Italy)
- Myerscough BA (United Kingdom)
- USK Prague (Czech Republic)
- London Elite (United Kingdom)
- CS Dinamo Bucharest (Hungary)
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