Category: Magic

Manchester Magic

MVP Michael Anumba

MVP Anumba ready for the play-offs after Cherbourg win

Michael Anumba is targeting more silverware after Manchester Magic’s victory in Cherbourg’s annual Easter tournament.

The Loreto Sixth Form College pupil was named MVP in France as Magic U18s claimed the title with a 57-47 victory over the City of London Academy in Sunday’s final.

“It was an honour to be named MVP but thanks to my team-mates and coaches for making it happen,” said Anumba.

“It was very important for me to play my part because it is my last year with the Magic. Now it’s all about the play-offs.”

Voted the top junior in Britain at the prestigious Deng Camp, Anumba is destined for the United States this summer after securing at least one full scholarship offer.

In the meantime, the 18-year-old’s attentions now turn to Magic’s NBL Division One play-off at Loughborough Student Riders on Saturday.

It will be a tough task for Paul Middleton’s side, who go up against a Riders team who have beaten them twice in the last two weeks.

Both games were close contests, but Riders will be favourites after finishing top of the table at the end of the regular season.

Anumba is also looking forward to joining up with his U18 team-mates again before the season is out.

The U18s have also made the play-offs after finishing third in the Premier North table.

“We’ve shown what we can do in Cherbourg,” added Anumba. “If we stick together, support each other and play good defence, then anything is possible.”

Magic U18 Cherbourg 2018

Magic U18 success at Cherbourg Tournament

The Manchester Magic U18s headed to Cherbourg, France, for the Annual Easter Tournament, after tough competition over three days the Magic U18s side came home as Tournament Champions.

Results:

Friday 30th March

Magic U18 beat Guadeloupe 58-41

Saturday 31st March

Magic U18 lost to Tunisia 47-45

Magic U18 beat hosts Cherbourg 64-35

Sunday 1st April

Magic U18 beat Vilnius 59-52 in the Semi Final

Magic U18 beat City of London Basketball Academy 57-47 in the Final

Magic U18’s Samni Fajana made it through to the Spalding Dunk Contest Final

Michael Anumba was named the Final’s MVP and a member of the All-Star 5.

Basketball England

Magic’s Hanson and Cavli and Mystics’ Forster selected in England U15 squads

Manchester Magic’s Ceejay Hanson and Zeki Cavli and Manchester Mystics’ Olivia Forster have been selected in the England U15 Development squads.

Basketball England announced the list of players selected for consideration for the England Under 15 girls and boys squads.

The National Camps will take place on 15 April and 20 May 2018, with the boys divided into two groups for sessions in Manchester, Lancashire and Wokingham, Berkshire and all Under 15 girls will be training together in Cranleigh, Surrey.

Sessions will take place at the same time as the Regional Performance Centre (RPC) programmes, an approach that will allow Basketball England the opportunity to test innovative ways of integrating different levels of the player pathway. Moving forward this will become a key consideration across all programmes within the Talent System.

US College Update

US College Update 2018

It’s March so it’s the time of year when US Colleges are in play-off action and with a number of our former Manchester Magic and Mystics junior players currently out in the USA playing at various Colleges we thought it would be nice to give everyone an update as to how they’ve got on this season.

Aaron Menzies (Redshirt Junior) at Seattle University (NCAA Division 1 – WAC) record 20-13

Season stats: Played 33 games, 32 starts, 26.6 minutes per game, 11.1 points per game, 8.6 rebounds per game, 2.2 blocks per game.

WAC Championship

Seattle U beat UTRGV 77-60 in the Quarter Finals on Thursday 8th March in Las Vegas, Nev at 8:30pm (PT), Aaron played 31 minutes had 12 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks.

Seattle U lost 84-79 to New Mexico State in the Semi Finals on Friday 9th March in Las Vegas, Nev at 8:30pm (PT), Aaron played 34 minutes had 5 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 4 blocks.

Aaron earned Second Team All-WAC Honours and was also named to the All-Defensive Team.

From team’s website: Menzies averaged a double-double of 10.6 points and 10.6 rebounds during the 14-game WAC slate. The 7-3 center shot 55.6 percent from the field and 66.1 percent from the charity stripe, leading the Redhawks in made free throws during league action. His rebound average ranked second among all WAC players and his field goal percentage was fifth. His 34 blocks (2.4 per game) ranked first in the WAC, as did his 3.7 offensive boards per game.

Patrick Whelan (Senior) and Pharroh Gordon (Redshirt Junior) at William Jewell College (NCAA Division 2 – GLVC) record 20-9

Patrick’s season stats: Played 29 games, 29 starts, 31.9 minutes per game, 17.9 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, 2.0 assists per game.

Pharroh’s season stats: Played 29 games, 28 starts, 34.5 minutes per game, 14.8 points per game, 10.6 rebounds per game, 2.8 assists per game.

William Jewell lost 70-65 to top seed Bellarmine University in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship Tournament.

Pharroh played 39 minutes had 22 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steal (his 14th double-double of the season). Patrick played 30 minutes had 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.

Patrick and Pharroh picked up All-Great Lakes Valley Conference team selections, with Patrick one of ten athletes listed on the first team, while Pharroh earned second team and All-Defensive team honours.

From team’s website: Whelan, who will go down as one of the best players to ever wear the Cardinal uniform, earns his second career postseason honor after making the All-GLVC second team and All-Defensive team last season. In his final go around he averaged 18.2 points per game, which was fourth in the GLVC, to go along with 5.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. He leads the league with 2.9 three point field goals per game and was seventh with a 38.5 percent clip from behind the arc. The senior will also graduate ranked in the top 25 in career scoring average (12th), three point field goals made (fourth), three point field goals attempted (fourth), three point field goal percentage (11th), free throws made (25th), free throw percentage (17th), starts (eighth), minutes played and averaged (eighth), field goals made (18th), field goals attempted (14th). 

Despite being just 6’4 and a guard, Gordon erupted into a double-double machine posting 13 on the season which is third in the GLVC and 16th nationally. In total he pulled down 296 rebounds during the regular season which is 12th in division II, including 256 on the defensive end (9.2 per game) which is second in the nation and second all-time in a single season at Jewell, trailing only Kirk Chastain’s 281 set back in the 1978-79 season. Gordon closed the regular season with a double-double in five of his final six games and pulled down 20, 13, 13, 17, and 13 rebounds during that stretch. His 20 rebound game versus Truman State was only four shy of a 62 year old record. On the season Gordon averaged 14.5 points and 10.6 rebounds, making him one of only three players to average a double-double in the GLVC, while also dishing out 2.8 assists, and leading the team with 50 steals. 

Kingsley Nwagboso (Junior) at Francis Marion University (NCAA Division 2 – PBC) record 20-10

Season stats: Played 30 games, 3 starts, 10.4 minutes per game, 2.8 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game.

Francis Marion beat North Georgia 83-54 in the Quarter-Finals of the PBC Tournament, Kingsley played 7 minutes had 2 points, 1 steal, and lost to UNC Pembroke 94-75 in the Semi-Finals, Kingsley played 6 minutes had 2 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist.

Francis Marion lost 75-72 to UNC Pembroke in the NCAA II Southeast Regional (first round) on Saturday 10th March at Harrogate, TN at 12:00noon. Kingsley played 4 minutes had 1 rebound.

Gina Brierley (Sophomore) at Saint Leo University (NCAA Division 2 – SSC) record 13-16

Season stats: Played 27 games, 26 starts, 31.3 minutes per game, 8.0 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game, 3.5 assists per game

Saint Leo lost 78-47 to Florida Southern in the SSC Tournament Quarter-Finals. Gina played 28 minutes had 9 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal.

Leah McDerment (Senior) at University of Massachusetts (NCAA Division 1 – A10) record 14-16

Season stats: Played 29 games, 19 starts, 28.8 minutes per game, 4.3 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game, 3.2 assists per game

UMass lost 70-64 Saint Louis in the A10 Tournament. Leah played 33 minutes had 4 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.

Leah holds the record for all-time most appearances for the programme (120) and made 101 starts.

Harriet Swindells (Freshman) at Barry University (NCAA Division 2 – SSC) record 19-11

Season stats: Played 30 games, 0 starts, 18.7 minutes per game, 6.8 points per game, 1.4 rebounds per game, 0.7 assists per game.

Sunshine State Conference Tournament 

Barry U beat Tampa 71-68 in the Quarter Finals on Wednesday 28th February, Harriet played 15 minutes had 1 assist.

Barry U lost 72-57 to Fla. Southern in the Semi Finals on Saturday 3rd March, Harriet played 29 minutes had 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block.

Jessica Eadsforth-Yates (Freshman) at Cochise College (NJCAA – ACCAC) record 29-2

Season stats: Played 27 games, 0 starts, 5.1 points per game, 1.2 rebounds per game, 1.3 assists per game.

Regional 1 Championship

Cochise College beat Central Arizona 78-63 on Thursday 9th March to be crowned District A champions.

National Championship

Wednesday 21st March Game 14 at 3:00pm (CDT) 5th seed Cochise College 54-57 Walters State, Jessica played 5 minutes, had 1 steal.

Kaiyem Cleary is at Redemption Christian Academy (Prep School – New York Section 2 Freelance)

Season Stats: 20.4 points per game, 7.6 rebounds per game, 2.0 assists per game

Kaiyem ranked #58 in New England top 100 list and #19 in the Massachusetts Class of 2018 top 40 list.

(data accurate on 22/03/2018)

Manchester Magic and Mystics Respect for Referees

GMCB calling for more respect for referees

Greater Manchester Community Basketball will launch its inaugural ‘Respect Referees Fortnight’ on Monday, 12 March.

We will be urging players, coaches, parents and spectators to create a positive environment for match officials when they take charge of games – Community and National League – at the Manchester Basketball Centre.

It is the latest move in GMCB’s drive to increase the number of referees in Greater Manchester and beyond.

“We’ve chosen mid-March to launch the campaign because it’s the time of year when tensions heighten because the National League season is coming to an end,” said GMCB chief executive Phil Gordos.

“We have numerous teams battling for places in the play-offs and there is a lot at stake.

“Being a referee is a rewarding but sometimes very demanding and I think we need to be mindful of that. The last thing we want to do is add to the pressure or make it so difficult for referees that they chose to stop.”

GMCB has made it a priority to increase the number and quality of referees in Greater Manchester.

In 2017, 26 recruits, many in their teens, achieved their Level 1 qualification after attending courses put on at the ABC by GMCB referees manager Rick Dell.

GMCB has already held one Level 2 course in 2018 and plans to run a Level 1 course some time in May.

“With the support of GMCB, we have managed to drive refereeing standards up,” said Dell. “But with all young referees, it is a long-term investment and they need our support, encouragement and respect.”

GMCB’s work to recruit and train more referees has won the backing of Basketball England.

“Referees are an essential element of any competitive game,” said Simon Unsworth, who leads the national governing body’s officiating programme.

“Rick and GMCB pride themselves in following a professional approach for new recruits, making sure they are well equipped with a uniform but also nurtured so they are eased into the role comfortably.

“We can only commend them for the development work they are doing.”

During the Respect Referees Fortnight, we will also be telling you how you can get into officiating, either through one of our courses here at the ABC or at other venues across the North West.

We will also be profiling a number of referees, some of whom came through our courses here at the ABC.

We Need Your Vote - Tesco Bags of Help

Great Manchester Community Basketball calls out for votes to bag a share of Tesco’s bag fund

Greater Manchester Community Basketball is bidding to bag a massive cash boost from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative.

Tesco teamed up with Groundwork to launch its community funding scheme, which sees grants of £4,000, £2,000 and £1,000 raised from carrier bag sales in Tesco stores awarded to local community projects.

Three groups in every Tesco region have been shortlisted to receive the cash award and shoppers are being invited to head along to Tesco stores to vote for who they think should take away the top grant.

Greater Manchester Community Basketball is one of the groups on the shortlist.

Greater Manchester Community Basketball, aka the Manchester Magic and Mystics, will be running a number of 3×3 leagues and competitions at its base in Whalley Range from May onwards. These will be for adults and children, men, women, boys and girls. All ages and abilities will be welcome to sign up.

“Here at GMCB, we’re big on participation and giving people of ages and backgrounds the chance to play basketball. We believe the growing popularity of the 3×3 game will help us reach even more men, women, boys and girls. So our plan is to run leagues and tournaments from May through to July – and to do that we need your support to help us secure the funds we need to make them a success.” said Phil Gordos, CEO of GMCB.

Voting is open in participating Tesco stores throughout March and April. See the list below to find out where you can vote. Customers will cast their vote using a token given to them at the check-out in store each time they shop.

Tesco’s Bags of Help project has already delivered over £43 million to more than 10,000 projects up and down the UK. Tesco customers get the chance to vote for three different groups every time they shop. Every other month, when votes are collected, three groups in each of Tesco’s regions will be awarded funding.

Alec Brown, Head of Community at Tesco, said:

“We are absolutely delighted to open the voting for March and April. There are some fantastic projects on the shortlists and we can’t wait to see these come to life in hundreds of communities.”

Groundwork’s National Chief Executive, Graham Duxbury, said:

“We’ve been thrilled to see the diversity of projects that have applied for funding, ranging from outdoor classrooms, sports facilities, community gardens, play areas and everything in between.

“We’re looking forward to learning the results of the customer vote and then supporting each group to bring their project to life.”

Funding is available to community groups and charities looking to fund local projects that bring benefits to communities. Anyone can nominate a project and organisations can apply online. To find out more visit www.tesco.com/bagsofhelp.

You can vote at the following stores:

ARDWICK GREEN EXP M13 9XF Express

Burnage (D) M19 1TF Superstores

CHURCH MANCHESTER EXP M4 1PN Express

CITY TOWERS MANCH EXP M1 4AH Express

DEANSGATE EXP M3 2EG Express

DIDSBURY EXPRESS M20 1JQ Express

DIDSBURY WMSLW RD EXP M20 6QZ Express

East Didsbury (B) M20 5NP Superstores

FALLOWFIELD MANCH EXP M14 6JR Express

FIRSWOOD MANCH EXP M16 7RN Express

LEVENSHULME METRO M19 3NN Metro

MANCHESTER BAILEY EXP M3 5EU Express

MANCHESTER METRO M1 1PW Metro

MANCHESTR OXFORD ST EXP M1 6EQ Express

OXFORD HOUSE EXP M1 7ED Express

OXFORD ROAD EXPRESS M13 0JN Express

PICCADILLY MANCH EXP M1 3BE Express

PRINCESS ST MANCH EXP M2 4EW Express

QUAY ST MNCHESTER EXP M3 3BB Express

WHALLEY RANGE EXP M16 8EE Express

To check the location of any of the above stores, please go to the Tesco website here: http://www.tesco.com/store-locator/uk/

Loreto 3x3 2018

Loreto Magic claim third in EABL 3×3 Finals

Loreto Magic claimed an impressive third spot at the EABL 3×3 National Finals in Leicester on Wednesday.

The squad of Michael Anumba, Arinze Emeka-Anyakwo, Wesley Oba and Hassan Ramic opened with a 14-12 win over Pool B rivals Copleston before slipping to a 21-17 defeat to Oaklands.

Loreto EABL 3x3 2018

Their record was still good enough to book them a place in the semi-finals, where they came up against a Charnwood College Riders outfit featuring Sesan Russell, voted MVP at the recent Haris Charalambous Memorial Basketball Tournament.

Loreto were beaten 21-10 by the tournament hosts, who went on to claim the title with a 19-14 victory over Myerscough College.

Loreto, who qualified for the six-team showpiece by finishing second in their regional event, then claimed an impressive 21-9 victory over Oaklands in the battle for third.

EABL WEABL 3x3 2018
Richard Bell

Magic land power forward Bell after Giants release

Manchester Magic have signed British power forward Richard Bell following his release by BBL side Manchester Giants.

The 6ft 9in player, 26, joins a Magic squad that is already through to the final of the National Cup later this month as well as the National Trophy semi-finals.

“We have been looking to add some extra size in the squad for some time and Richard just seems like the perfect fit for us,” said Magic head coach Paul Middleton.

“He is a real inside presence and extremely versatile on the perimeter. He poses an outside threat that will make him a difficult match-up for opponents.”

Bell, who played NCAA Division 1 basketball for Nevada University, is currently studying a Masters degree at Manchester Metropolitan University, a key partner of the Magic.

“I’m excited about joining the Magic and I’m very grateful for the opportunity,” he said.

“I know they are a great club that has enjoyed a lot of success over the years and I’m looking forward to helping that continue.”

Magic’s next outing is an away trip to NBL Division One rivals Kent Crusaders on Saturday.

Bell’s debut is likely to be the following weekend, against Hemel Storm in the final of the National Cup.

That game takes place at the University of East London on Sunday, 21 January.

Basketball England

Three Mystics and two Magic juniors selected in England squads

After two successful December camps at the National Basketball Performance Centre in Manchester, Basketball England has announced the list of players selected for further consideration for the Great Britain Under 18 and Under 16 teams.

Selected for the Under 18 squads are Manchester Magic’s Arinze Emeka-Anyakwo and Mystics’ Chloe Andrew, while Magic’s Saul May and Mystics’ Jade Mbam and Rebecca Harwood-Bellis have been selected in the Under 16 squads.

The December camps took place on 21 and 22 December for all Men’s squads, and 27 and 28 December for all Women’s squads. 131 players attended across the two camps and 77 players have now been chosen to move forward with the preparations for the FIBA European Championships in the summer of 2018.

Battle in the Capital

Magic U14s shine in London tournament

Manchester Magic’s U14 Premier team will go into 2018 with a spring in their step following an impressive showing at the Battle in the Capital 2017.

Up against seven other teams from the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands, they finished fourth thanks to some top individual and team performances.

Magic opened with a 38-27 defeat to Richmond Knights but hit back with a 26-24 OT win over Brentwood Fire at the University of East London.

They then booked their place in the semi-finals with a 37-17 success against FC Barcelona.

They faced Baltic Stars in the last four, losing 47-34, and were then beaten 46-41 by Dutch side Apollo Amsterdam in the fight for third place.

Magic coach Sergio Lara-Bercial said he was proud of his players and added that the tournament had been a great learning experience for his squad.

Baltic Star claimed victory in the final, beating Richmond Knights.

Final positions: Baltic Stars, Richmond knights, Apollo Amsterdam, Manchester Magic, Brentwood Fire, London Youngblood Lions, FC Barcelona and Sussex Storm.

Magic U14 at Battle in the Capital