Month: July 2018

Manchester Mystics

Eight Mystics selected for U13 regional tournament – results

Eight Mystics have been selected to represent the North West at the Under 13 Girls Regional Development Tournament on 7th-8th July at the National Basketball Performance Centre.

Mystics’ Daisy Bryan, Eleni Vourliotis, Josephine Vourliotis, Emily Taylor, Esha Nayar, Ndey Mahmoud, Olivia Forster, and new recruit Holly Stones will be joined at the Tournament by Mystics’ Joe Andrew as Assistant Coach and Samantha Forster as Team Manager.

Results:

Saturday 7th July

11:00 North West vs South East – North West Win

13:00 North West vs East Midlands – North West Win

15:00 North West vs South – North West Win

Sunday 8th July

11:30 North West vs South West (Semi-Final) – North West Win

15:00 Final North West vs East – East Win

North West Finish 2nd

Manchester Magic logo

Seven Magic players selected for U13 regional tournament – results

Seven Magic players have been selected to represent the North West at the Under 13 Boys Regional Development Tournament on 7th-8th July at the National Basketball Performance Centre.

Magic’s Sam Andrew, Matthew Goodwin, Lucas Ricketts, Moroni Manuel, Robbie Wild, Toby Akinlade and Thomas Kelly will be joined at the Tournament by Magic’s Gary Williams as Head Coach and Suzanne Wild as Team Manager.

Results:

Saturday 7th July

10:00 North West vs Yorkshire – Yorkshire Win

14:00 North West vs South West – North West Win

16:00 North West vs East – East Win

18:00 North West vs West Midlands – North West Win

Sunday 8th July

9:00 North West vs North East – North West Win

11:00 North West vs East Midlands – North West Win

13:30 North West vs South East – North West Win

North West finish 5th

Greg Mpofu Mystics U18 Head Coach 2018-19

Mpofu appointed as full-time Mystics U18 Head Coach

Mbongeni Greg Mpofu has been appointed as head coach of the Manchester Mystics Under 18 National League and WEABL teams for the 2018/19 season.

The 30-year-old has been an integral part of the Mystics coaching team for the past two years.

He now gets the chance to lead the U18 programme on and off the floor.

In another key move for the club, Joe Forber becomes acting director of the Mystics junior programme.

“I’m excited about the project and the opportunity to lead the programme in a new direction, especially in the middle of a crucial period for our sport and the women’s game in particular,” said Mpofu.

“It’s certainly a sizeable challenge, but one I feel I’m suited to.

“Implementing a greater use of performance analysis methods, establishing an enhanced pastoral set-up, and encouraging players to have greater ownership of their development and progression pathways will be crucial to the success of the project.”

The Mystics U18s reached last season’s NBL Final Fours under the guidance of Joe Andrew, Natalie Feurtado and Mpofu.

Guiding Mpofu in his new role and overseeing the entire Mystics junior programme is the club’s co-founder Forber.

He has spent the past 18 months re-energising the girls’ set-up from the bottom up and is behind a new U12 league for teams in the north of England.

“We are now building a deep and good quality coaching staff and Greg will be a very important member of the group,” said Forber.

“We are in the very early stages of building a top girls’ programme from Under 12 to Under 18 and WEABL.

“The coaches are very much together and their passion and enthusiasm will begin to pay dividends as we move forward.

“I am happy to help the programme in any way I can and look forward to seeing all our coaches further their basketball careers.”

Kayin Darbey returns 2018-19

Manchester Magic starting to build for the 2018-19 season

The Manchester Magic are delighted to announce that our first signing of the summer is British point guard Kayin Darbey. The long serving play-maker will be suiting up for the team once again.

Darbey is known for his lighting quick guard play, has committed to continue with the club once again. The 6 foot ball-handler has been a loyal and much valued club member since his junior years.

Head coach Verbukas is happy to see Kayin continue with the club.

“Kayin is a loyal member of the programme and has great character. I am delighted to see with us again next season.

“He has a lot of experience in this league and that will help us massively as we look to build a team ready for the challenge NBL Division One basketball brings.

“He is a player we always value, as he is not just a good player, but also has great character that fits with our club ethos.”

Darbey commented, “Playing for the Manchester Magic provides intense training and a great team atmosphere both off and on the court – whilst maintaining a high standard of basketball.

“Coach Ollie has a huge passion for basketball and knows a lot about the sport, I feel he can teach me a lot this season.”

We will have more announcements in the coming weeks.

Maggie Forber Tournament 2019

Maggie Forber Invitational Basketball Tournament Schedule

Maggie Forber Invitational Basketball Tournament Schedule (4×7-minute quarters)

The top two teams in Pool A and Pool B will move forward to the semi-finals on Sunday. The teams finishing 3rd in Pool A and 3rd and 4th in Pool B will play a round robin schedule on Sunday to decide who finishes 5th, 6th and 7th.

Pools

Pool APool B
MyerscoughMystics U18
Mystics U16Sevenoaks
SheffieldSouthend
Vixens

Tournament Schedule

Saturday 30th June
10:00   
C1 (G1)Mystics U1653-33Sheffield
C3 
11:20   
C1 (G2)Sevenoaks60-35Southend
C3 (G3)Myerscough52-42Sheffield
12:40   
C1 (G4)Mystic U1857-19Vixens
C3 
14:00   
C1 (G5)Myerscough48-41Mystics U16
C3 (G6)Sevenoaks57-26Vixens
15:20   
C1 (G7)Southend37-51Mystics U18
16:40   
C1 (G8)Mystics U1839-44Sevenoaks
C3 (G9)Southend49-43Vixens
Sunday 1st July
10:00   
C1 5th-7th (G10)Sheffield62-24Vixens
C3   
11:15   
C1 Semi-Final (G11)Myerscough48-39Mystics U18
C3 5th-7th (G12)Southend44-40Vixens
12:30   
C1 Semi-Final (G13)Sevenoaks43-26Mystics U16
13:45   
C1 3rd-4th (G14)Mystics U1858-36Mystics U16
C3 5th-7th (G15)Sheffield59-49Southend
15:00   
C1 Final (G16)Myerscough36-43Sevenoaks
16:15Presentations
17:00Finish

Final Table

1. Sevenoaks

2. Myerscough

3. Mystics U18

4. Mystics U16

5. Sheffield

6. Southend

7. Vixens

Sevenoaks Suns 2018

Tournament Champions: Sevenoaks Suns

Sevenoaks Katie Richards MVP

Georgia Jones MVP Sevenoaks’s Katie Richards