Preston, England – Myerscough College hosted a series of games this past weekend as the academy continues its preparations for the upcoming 2022/23 season. Liverpool Basketball Club and Renfrew Rocks (Scotland) both made the journey, with the later spending the weekend in Lancashire as they prepare for their opening game when they host Falkirk Fury in the Scottish Cup.
Saturday 17th September
Game 1 | Myerscough D2 v Liverpool Basketball Club
(19-14, 18-13, 17-18, 25-8)
A back-and-forth affair was blown wide open when Myerscough College’s Denilson Caschili exploded for three straight three pointers in the fourth quarter and Daniel Azancot hit another as the hosts broke open a single-figure game (54-45) with a commanding 25-8 final period to give Myerscough’s the first win of the weekend.
Result: Myerscough 79 – 53 Liverpool Basketball
Top Scorers: Denilson Caschili and Aaron Bile led the way for Myerscough with 13pts each, whereas Daniel Nwauzu provided 11pts and Campbell-Deeble and Azancot contributed 8pts respectively. Walsh and Deveney top scored for Liverpool with 11pts each and Kildisas and Molly both added 9pts.
Game 2 | Liverpool Basketball Club v Renfrew Rocks
(23-29, 17-23, 19-17, 25-15, 6-7)
Renfrew Rocks would claim their first win of the day in a game that could not have been any closer. Finding themselves ahead by double digits on multiple occasions, they were pushed all the way by a resilient Liverpool team that never backed down and managed to claw back and force overtime before coming agonizingly short.
Result: Liverpool Basketball 90 – 91 Renfrew Rocks (Overtime Result)
Top Scorers: Liverpool’s backcourt duo of former Myerscough student Arnas Kildisas (31pts) and Welsh international Daniel Walsh (20pts) combined for 51pts to lead Liverpool and Smith added a further 14pts. However, it was slightly edged out as Renfrew were powered by Alexander’s game-high 33pts and the combined 27pts from Keegan (14pts) and McGoran (13pts).
Game 3| Myerscough D2 v Renfrew Rocks
(24-20, 24-23, 29-11, 18-10)
Despite coming straight off the back of their overtime win over Liverpool, Renfrew showed no signs of fatigue and traded blows with Myerscough in what would be the highest scoring half of the weekend (48-43). However, Myerscough would find their stride when play resumed as Caschili and Azancot combined for 17pts out of Myerscough’s third quarter 29 and the visitors were held to just 11pts. Renfrew never threatened again as Sco’ claimed their second win of the day.
Result: Myerscough 95 – 64 Renfrew Rocks
Top Scorers: Emmanuel Yeboah set the tone for Myerscough with 19pts personal whereas returning senior player Euan Birch added 12pts. Campbell-Deeble and Azancot were consistent again as both broke into double figures to contribute 10pts each. Alexander led the way for Renfrew with 21pts and was supported by Keegan and McGoran’s combined 18pts.
Sunday 18th September
Game 4| Myerscough D3 v Renfrew Rocks
(17-16, 18-20, 24-20, 25-14)
Myerscough College’s Division 3 side used a strong second half in its first game together as a group to overcome the Scottish based-outfit Renfrew, who were coming off the back of two games the day before. Lazhovski and Gilmour hit back-back threes as Sco’ opened their biggest lead of the game at 15 deep in the fourth quarter and that was enough to see them close the weekend on the win.
Result: Myerscough 80 – 70 Renfrew Rocks
Top Scorers: Robbie Gilmour and Ben Prince led the way with 18pts and 14pts respectively whilst Kamarni Steadman and Durrel Foster supported with 10pts each. Lockhart provided 15pts for Renfrew Rocks and was aided by Pettit’s 13pts and McGoran’s 11pts.
Myerscough now looks ahead to its return to the European Youth Basketball League (EYBL) as it travels to Valmeira, Latvia on Thursday (22nd) in a bid to retain the championship crown they captured in 2019, when they became the first-ever British team to win a season-long competition in Europe.
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