Unbeaten Myerscough heads to Derby

derby

Myerscough puts its unbeaten start on the line when it heads to Derby College on Wednesday afternoon. Myerscough, which sits at the top of the Elite Academy Basketball League’s West Conference, can improve to 4-0 for a fourth-consecutive season with a win. Derby (1-2) is in fifth place.

Last outing

Callan Low’s 23 points powered Myerscough to a 77-62 win at BMET James Watt College last week. Edoardo Del Cadia had 15 points and Konrad Kantorski added 14.

Derby College routed winless City of Leeds 119-51 behind 41 points from Leighton Elliott-Sewell. Sewell also grabbed 11 rebounds in the win, which was the College’s first of the season.

Last meeting

Myerscough olds a 5-2 record overall against Derby College, but the two teams split their meetings in 2016-17. Myerscough opened up the year with a five-point win at Derby with James Banton scoring 16 points.

Derby College, meanwhile, ended Myerscough’s three-game winning streak on Feb. 22, as it edged a 59-58 victory at the High Performance Centre. It was the first lost to Derby since February 2015.

What to watch

Maintaining confidence behind the arc

Despite hitting under its average of 12 made 3-pointers per game, Myerscough still shot 40 percent from 3-point range and knocked down eight in the win over James Watt College.

“The confidence we have on offence comes from our defensive efforts,” said guard Kantorski. “We get stops and force turnovers, which gives us the freedom at the other end. There’s no pressure to get baskets because we’re managing to get consistent stops.”

Fast start

Myerscough grabbed a quick lead thanks to the return of Rayon Brown, whose effort on the full-court press helped turn 18 James Watt turnovers into 18 points. For a second-straight game, Myerscough will look to start on time and to control the tempo.

Who to watch

Myerscough: Callan Low

Low was named the EABL Player of the Week for his double-double performance against James Watt — he had 12 rebounds to go with his 23 points. He had entered the game averaging just 6.5 points, but saw a dramatic increase in production.

Derby: Leighton Elliott-Sewell

Myerscough will be tasked with limiting Elliott-Sewell, who has averaged 25. 7 points per game, scoring a season-high 41 in the blowout win against Allerton. Elliott-Sewell has scored at least 22 points in two out of three games this year, and is currently ranked No. 9 in the Deng Top 50.

Notables

Myerscough is averaging 23 points off opponent turnovers … Myerscough is 2-0 on the road this season.