Myerscough grabbed three wins over the weekend, highlighted by Emma Cheetham’s 29-point performance in the Under-18 Women’s victory over Charnwood.
Chima’s free throw sinks Charnwood
LOUGHBOROUGH — Daniel Chima sank the go-ahead free throw with 1.3 seconds remaining to lift the Myerscough Under-18 Men past Charnwood 76-75 on Saturday.
Jamie Gray scored 17 points to lead Myerscough, which shot just 34 percent. Chima added 16 to go with nine rebounds, and Demi Adenuga and Callan Low combined for 25 points in the win.
Myerscough (11-1, 8-1) continued to struggle from 3-point range, shooting just 22 percent, but got to the free throw line and converted 19-of-30 attempts, including to decide the game.
Gregorie Durand had 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead Charnwood (9-3, 6-3), which shot 36 percent and outrebounded Myerscough 55-50.
Myerscough, however, won the turnover battle by a margin of seven and scored 16 points off miscues, and outscored Charnwood 19-13 on second chance points.
“Credit to the guys for finding a way to grind out a tough road win,” said Myerscough coach Troy Culley. “Charnwood led for large parts of the game, but we stayed focused, looked after the ball and executed when it counted.”
Charnwood led for just under 28 minutes, however, its advantage never grew larger than six in a game with 19 lead changes and 13 ties.
Myerscough, which had held a one-point halftime lead, took its largest of the game at 61-56 following a 7-0 run to start the fourth quarter led by Harrison Bell and Demi Adenuga.
The Student Riders hit back with consecutive 3-pointers and eventually took a 70-67 lead on the heels of a 14-6 run. Lewis McGlasson tied it at 72 before Charnwood broke the deadlock to go ahead by three.
Low, who finished 8-of-10 at the line, answered with a pair of free throws to bring Myerscough within one. Charnwood then missed a chance to take a four point lead when it rimmed out a 3-pointer.
At the first offering to take the lead, Harrison Bell dribbled into a double team resulting in a held ball that initially favoured Charnwood. The call, however, was overturned and Myerscough was given possession with seven seconds.
Low managed to make the front end of two freebies to tie the game, and Adenuga grabbed the rebound before shifting the ball to Chima, who was fouled along the baseline.
Chima got the first free throw to fall with time expiring on the rebound off the second.
BIG PICTURE
Myerscough has rattled off six-straight league wins since its first defeat of the season at Birmingham Elite on Oct. 22 to stay atop the U18 Premier North.
NEXT UP
Myerscough hosts Cheshire Wire at the Pure Leisure High Performance Centre on Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. … Myerscough defeated Cheshire 72-45 on the opening day of the season.
Cheetham’s 29 carry Sco by Charnwood
PRESTON — Emma Cheetham scored a career-high 29 points and the Myerscough Under-18 Women defeated Charnwood College 67-49 on Sunday.
Shauna Harrison added 15 points and Milly Knowles scored 12 for Myerscough, which extended its league winning streak to three games and stay within striking distance of U18 North Division leaders Sheffield.
“Our team defence really helped push our offence — we made the game faster so that created more chances for steals and opportunities to score,” said Cheetham.
Myerscough recovered from 13-2 Charnwood run in the second quarter that cut a 30-14 lead to just five with 2:02 left until halftime.
Cheetham, who scored 16 of her game-high 29 in the first half, recorded her own 4-0 run and Myerscough took a 36-27 lead into the break — and the guard was just getting started.
Myerscough’s first points of the second half came off one of the many forced turnovers, which Cheetham was able to convert into easy layups in transition.
Charnwood would close within seven of Myerscough, but Harrison knocked down a 3-pointer and Cheetham followed that up with a steal and layup to extend the lead to 52-38.
Myerscough withstood a final push from the Riders, who were short-benched, before outscoring their opponent 12-1 over the final six minutes.
NEXT UP
Myerscough travels to City of Leeds on Dec. 9 for a 3 p.m. tipoff at LBU Arena.
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