STOKE GIFFORD, Bristol — Myerscough first-year Mate Okros has been poised for a breakout performance and Wednesday’s 26-point effort, a season-high, was the result of patience.
Okros scored the first four points of the game in which Myerscough never trailed, and chipped in 11 points in the opening quarter alone en route to a 102-51 thrashing of SGS College.
“The mindset was to just get after it,” said Myerscough guard Okros. “The coaches told me I needed to be more aggressive, and I felt I had my defence rolling and that gave me confidence to step up at the other end of the floor.”
Myerscough was in control from the start as a 22-1 burst — highlighted by a 3-point play from Okros — helped build a 26-6 advantage. The lead was never threatened.
Rayon Brown added 11 points for an offensive-minded Myerscough (6-1 EABL) that had 11 different players record at least two points, with the bench contributing 36.
“We weren’t reliant on any one player or a particular five — as a group we brought it,” said Myerscough coach Neal Hopkins.
AJ Edu had 20 points to go with 13 rebounds and Corey Samuels scored 10 for SGS College (3-6) in the loss.
DEFENCE FIRST
Not only has Myerscough been forcing teams into turnovers at a rate of 20.8 per game, but it has capitalised on those errors averaging 21 points off miscues. Myerscough’s staunch press caused problems from the start creating 28 turnovers, which led to 25 points. Both tied season-highs.
Myerscough also shut down the effectiveness of Edu, who entered as the league’s leading scorer. Despite reaching his averages, the forward was held scoreless in the opening quarter before tallying 13 points before halftime, with the game already out of reach.
“He’s [Edu] is one of the best players in this league without a doubt,” said Myerscough forward Callan Low, who was tasked with limiting Edu’s production. “I was up to the challenge and showed I could guard bigger guys and am more than capable at the defensive end.”
Edu finished 7-of-15 from the field and had a team-high five turnovers whilst SGS College shot just 33 percent as a team.
STILL HOT
Myerscough has been winning games with timely 3-pointers, but the deep ball served as exclamation points on Wednesday. Konrad Kantorski went back-to-back late in the first half — the team’s first threes of the game — to extend the lead to 42-19.
Myerscough finished hitting 7-of-18 from distance.
UP NEXT
Myerscough welcomes James Watt College to the High Performance Centre on Wednesday, Feb. 7.
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