After dropping its first Elite Academy Basketball League game of the season, Myerscough looks to bounce back against West Conference rivals and unbeaten Charnwood on Wednesday.
The overtime loss to Derby College on Nov. 15 was the earliest defeat suffered by Myerscough (3-1) in league play since its debut season in 2013-14. Myerscough is 5-1 when coming off a loss, however, Charnwood handed it its only losing streak in the competition.
Myerscough and Charnwood have met six times, which is third most of any opponent since 2013 behind Loreto College (8) and Derby College (7). Myerscough leads the all-time series 4-2, with wins coming by an average margin of 12.8 points.
Last time out
Myerscough dropped a 79-76 overtime decision at Derby College on Nov. 15. The Trailblazers overturned an 11-point deficit in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter after withstanding a 14-0 Myerscough run early in the second half. Konrad Kantorski scored a game-high 23 points and Edoardo Del Cadia added 22 and 20 rebounds, but fouled out with 52 seconds left in regulation.
Charnwood (4-0), meanwhile, raced past James Watt College 92-49 behind 18 points from Sesan Russell to stay undefeated.
Last meeting
Kantorski poured in an EABL career-high 26 points in a 79-62 win on Mar. 8 to help Myerscough bounce back from its defeat to Derby College. The victory meant the two teams split meetings in the 2016-17 season, with Charnwood going on to be crowned Western Conference Champions.
What to watch
Regaining focus
It was an uncharacteristic ending to the game for Myerscough, which led 68-59 with 2:43 left in regulation at Derby. An 11-0 run pushed the match into overtime where Myerscough was outscored 11-8, and 22-8 over 7:43 including the tail end of the fourth quarter.
The week prior at James Watt College, Myerscough used a 5-0 run at the start of the final period to see of a hot-shooting Daniel Penkov. Derby, meanwhile, came back from deficits of seven, six and 11 points in the second half.
Fast start (again)
Despite trailing by just three points halftime, it was not the start Myerscough coach Neal Hopkins would have wanted. Myerscough had led at the break in each of its first three games, but missed the first five shots of the game against Derby and had to wait 3:12 for its first points.
Who to watch
Myerscough: Victor Papa
Papa is coming off a season best 14-point and eight-rebound performance, and provided a surprising spark off the bench. If the Italian, who finished well above his averages entering the game, can provide that production consistently it would add yet another threat to a deep roster that is still looking to click on all facets.
Charnwood: Sesan Russell
Russell ranks in the top 10 in the EABL in scoring, assists and steals, including leading in the latter two categories.
Line up notes
Myerscough has named the same starting line up in three out of four games … Jamie Gray could potentially return to the line up having missed the game at Derby College. The forward played 13 minutes for the Under-18 Men on Saturday. Martell Elly, however, is continuing to recover from a knee injury.
Game notes
Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. at the Pure Leisure High Performance Centre on the Myerscough College campus.
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