Category: Mystics

Manchester Mystics

US College Update

US College update 2019

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.

Michael Anumba (Freshman) at Winthrop University (NCAA Division 1 – Big South) Record: 18-12

Season stats: Played 30 games, 29 starts, 23.8 minutes per game, 6.9 points per game, 3.8 rebounds per game, 1.6 assists per game, 0.4 steals per game, 0.1 blocks per game.

Winthrop University lost 77-63 to CSU in the Big South Championship Quarter-Finals. Michael, started and played 29 minutes, had 10 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists and 1 steal.

Gina Brierley (Junior) Saint Leo University (NCAA Division 2 – SSC) Record: 10-18

Season stats: Played 28 games, 28 starts, 34.5 minutes per game, 9.7 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game, 3.5 assists per game, 1.1 steal per game.

Kaiyem Cleary (Freshman) at Florida Southern University (NCAA Division 2 – SSC) Record: 25-8

Season stats: Played 32 games, 4 starts, 14.6 minutes per game, 5.0 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game, 0.3 assists per game, 0.5 steals per game, 0.4 blocks per game.

Florida Southern University won 80-78 against Saint Leo University in the SSC Tournament Quarter-Finals. Kaiyem played 10 minutes, had 1 point and 4 rebounds.

Florida Southern University won 74-65 against Lynn University in the SSC Tournament Semi-Finals. Kaiyem played 8 minutes, had 1 rebound.

Florida Southern University won 92-84 against Nova Southeastern University in the SSC Tournament Final. Kaiyem played 7 minutes, had 2 points, 4 rebounds and 1 steal.

Florida Southern University crowned SSC Champions 2019.

(#2) Florida Southern University won 78-72 against (#7) Delta State University in the NCAA D2 South Regional Tournament First Round. Kaiyem played 3 minutes.

(#2) Florida Southern University lost 88-78 to (#3) Lynn University in the NCAA D2 South Regional Tournament Semi-Finals. Kaiyem played 8 minutes, had 1 rebound and 1 assist.

Jessica Eadsforth-Yates (Sophomore) at Georgia Highlands College (NJCAA Division 1 – GCAA) Record: 20-13

Season stats: Played 29 games, 29 starts, 22.4 minutes per game, 9.6 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game, 4.6 assists per game, 2.4 steals per game, 0.1 blocks per game.

Georgia Highlands College won 86-54 against Southern Crescent Technical College in the GCAA Quarter-finals. Jessica started, played 33 minutes, had 9 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal.

Georgia Highlands College won 80-78 against Central Georgia Technical Collegein the GCAA Semi-finals. No stats available.

Georgia Highlands College lost 75-57 against South Georgia Technical College in the GCAA final. No stats available.

Georgia Highlands College finished runner-ups in the GCAA / Region 17 Championship.

Pharroh Gordon (Redshirt Senior) at William Jewell College (NCAA Division 2 – GLVC) Record: 12-18

Season stats: Played 20 games, 20 starts, 30.8 minutes per game, 14.7 points per game, 7.2 rebounds per game, 3.2 assists per game, 1.1 steals per game, 0.4 blocks per game.

Career Honours & Awards 2018 All-GLVC Second Team  2018 GLVC All-Defensive Team 2018 Men’s Basketball Newcomer of the Year 2018 Men’s Basketball Most Valuable Player 2018 William Jewell Men’s Newcomer of the Year 2018 William Jewell Cecil Martin Award – Male Athlete of the Year

Aaron Menzies (Redshirt Senior) Saint Mary’s College – CA (NCAA Division 1 – WCC) Record: 22-12

Aaron transferred from Seattle University as a Post-Grad, and has sat out the season after surgery on a hand injury.

Saint Mary’s College won 69-62 against University of San Diego in the WCC Championship Semi-Finals.

Saint Mary’s College won 60-47 against Gonzaga University in the WCC Championship Final.

Saint Mary’s College crowned WCC Champions 2019.

(#11) Saint Mary’s College lost 61-57 against (#6) Villanova University in the NCAA D1 Tournament South Region First Round.

Harriet Swindells (Sophomore) Barry University (NCAA Division 2 – SSC) Record: 10-19

Season stats: Played 29 games, 6 starts, 23.7 minutes per game, 9.5 points per game, 2.2 rebounds per game, 1.5 assists per game, 0.9 steals per game, 0.1 blocks per game.

Barry University lost 89-71 to Florida Southern University in the SSC Tournament Quarter-Finals. Harriet played 15 minutes had 6 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist and 1 steal.

Did we miss someone off this list? Let us know by contacting us at newsletter@manchestermagicandmystics.co.uk

Basketball England

Magic and Mystics dominate initial England Talent Programme Squads

Congratulations to Manchester Magic’s Ben Brown, Lucas Ricketts, Bradley May and Toby Akinlade and Manchester Mystics’ Charli Wroe, Kizzy Spence, Olivia Forster, Esha Rani Naya and Eleni Vourliotis, who have all been selected in the initial U14/15 England Talent Programme Squads.

Players have been selected primarily through their involvement in the Aspire Programme or England Development Programme levels of the Basketball England Talent Pathway.

In each of the 10 basketball regions across the country, Basketball England have a Regional Talent Manager whose role it is to support, track and refer players for selection to England Talent Programmes. Their input has also been used during this initial selection process.

The England Talent Programmes (ETP) are designed to provide players and coaches with opportunities to come together, train and compete against other nations with the basic aim of exposing English talent to as many different playing styles and conditions as possible prior to potential Great Britain selection.

The schedule of activity for 2019 is as below:

Easter Training Camp (Under 15 & Under 14 Boys & Girls)  Monday 8 April – Wednesday 10 April National Basketball Performance Centre, Manchester

Nottingham Tournament (Under 15 Girls) Thursday 18 – Friday 19 April Nottingham Wildcat Arena, Nottingham

Lions Cup (Under 15 Boys) Friday 19 April – Monday 22 April Paris, France

May Half Term Training Camp (Under 15 & Under 14 Boys & Girls) Tuesday 28 May – Thursday 30 May National Basketball Performance Centre, Manchester

Copenhagen Invitational Tournament (Under 14 & Under 15 Boys & Girls) Thursday 20 June – Sunday 23 June Copenhagen, Denmark.

August Camp (Under 14 Boys & Girls) Tuesday 6 August – Thursday 8 August National Basketball Performance Centre, Manchester

Valencia Tournament (Under 14 Boys & Girls) Wednesday 14 August – Sunday 18 August Valencia, Spain

Community Session Cheadle Hulme 2019

Magic and Mystics establish primary school hub in Cheadle Hulme

Manchester Magic and Manchester Mystics are launching a new training session in Cheadle Hulme for boys and girls at primary school.

Led by our experienced and qualified coaching team, it will take place at Laurus Cheadle Hulme (SK8 5GB) on Tuesdays from 5.30-7pm and cost £4.

Places will be limited, so contact the Magic and Mystics on 0161 881 0090 to pre-register. The first session is on 30 April and is open to children in Years 1-6.

The Laurus Cheadle Hulme initiative is part of the club’s drive to deliver top-quality coaching to more and more children of primary school age.

The Magic and Mystics are one of the top junior basketball programmes in the country.

Since 2000, they have won 67 national titles and developed dozens of junior internationals.

Commonwealth Games silver medallist Georgia Jones came through the club’s junior programme, as did Andrew Lovedale, who went on to play college basketball in the United States with NBA star Steph Curry.

Manchester Magic and Mystics Community

New development sessions for Primary School Players

From 8 February, our Friday sessions at the Manchester Basketball Centre will change.

The current drop-in league for players at primary school will replaced by a 90-minute development session for Years 1-6.

It will start with some coaching to develop a player’s knowledge and understanding of basketball fundamentals. Then it will move into games, giving players the chance to put their new-found skills into practice.

We’ve decided to make this change in order to enhance the work we do with our younger players and following requests from players and parents for a session such as this.

Paul Cantwell will be overseeing the new development sessions. A former Manchester Magic player who came through the junior ranks here, Paul is a Level 2 coach who has worked with young players in the UK and the USA.

The new sessions will run from 5.30-7pm and cost £4. The drop-in league for Years 7-9 will now run from 7-8pm.

Mystics' Evelyn Ovner Player of the Month November 2018

Mystics’ Ovner Molten Player of the Month

It’s a November awards double for Manchester Mystics after Evelyn Ovner scooped the Molten WBBL Player of the Month accolade.

The recognition for Ovner came hot on the heels of play-caller Jeff Jones being handed the monthly coaching gong.

During a period that was shortened by the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2019 Qualifiers, Ovner caught fire either side of the international break for Mystics.

She enjoyed a hugely productive month after averaging a sparkling 22.7 points per game, her scoring haul helped by a fantastic 54% shooting average from the field.

Ovner also made it a November double-double by going to work on the glass and returning an eye-catching 10.3 rebounds per outing.

She had to fend off challenges from a glut of Hatters personnel to take the honour, with October’s winner Ali Gorrell, Sarah Toeaina, Luiana Livulo and Helen Naylor all in the mix after a great month for their team.

Source: WBBL

Manchester Magic and Mystics Primary Schools Basketball Festival

Manchester Magic and Mystics Primary Schools Basketball Festival December

Manchester Magic and Mystics welcome all children in school years 3, 4, 5 and 6 to attend our Primary Schools Basketball Festival at the Manchester Basketball Centre (Wilbram Road, Whalley Range, Manchester, M16 8GW), on Saturday 15th December at 1:00pm until 3:30pm.

Our professional and friendly coaching staff will be on court with you teaching you a variety of skills before organising you into teams and letting you play with and against your friends.

Primary Schools and community league clubs/teams are welcome to bring their own teams along, or teams can be formed within friendship groups once you arrive at the Basketball Festival.

The event is free for ALL kids to attend; you just need to bring suitable kit for an indoor sport.

If anyone is interested in coming along, please register your interest in attending by contacting Joe at j.forber@btinternet.com or on 07709 686 496.

Primary Basketball Festival December 2018
Mystics' Jeff Jones Coach of the Month November 2018

Mystics’ Jones Molten Coach of the Month

Jeff Jones has been handed the Molten WBBL Coach of the Month award for November after guiding Manchester Mystics to a pair of WBBL Championship wins and also propelling his side into the last four of the WBBL Cup.

The veteran play-caller had to beat off stiff competition from the likes of Vanessa Ellis of Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters and Jesper Sundberg of Leicester Riders.

The duo also achieved unbeaten records and progress to the BBL Cup Semi-Finals with their respective teams, but Jones was given the nod after Mystics knocked out Cup holders, Nottingham.

Manchester came up with arguably the most eye-catching success of the period after sealing a 73-81 road win at Wildcats. They will now go up against Hatters in the Semi-Finals next month.

As well as progress in the Cup, Jones masterminded victories over Essex Rebels and Caledonia Pride.

While it was a tight squeeze at Rebels as Mystics escaped with an 84-87 overtime success, it was more convincing against Pride as they registered a 59-76 triumph earlier in November.

Source: WBBL

Jones selected in GB Squad November 2018

Jones selected in Great Britain squad for November EuroBasket Qualifiers

Manchester Mystics’ Georgia Jones has been selected in the Great Britain Women’s Squad for the upcoming vital EuroBasket Qualifiers in Manchester later this month.

She is joined by former Mystics’ Dominique Allen (currently playing for Sepsi soc in Romania), Hannah Shaw (currently playing for AD Cortegada in Spain), Mollie Campbell (currently playing for fellow WBBL-side Leicester Riders) and Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee (currently playing for Ferrol in Spain).

The Great Britain Women will meet in Manchester for training camp on the 11th November before playing Greece on Saturday 17th November and Portugal on Wednesday 21st November both at the Mystics’ base at the National Basketball Performance Centre, tip-off for both games is 7:00pm.

The Men then roll into Town for their EuroBasket Qualifier against Austria on Thursday 29th November at 7:00pm at the National Basketball Performance Centre.

Tickets are still available and you can get yours here

Full Squad here

Manchester Magic and Mystics Primary Schools Basketball Festival

Manchester Magic and Mystics Primary Schools Basketball Festival

Manchester Magic and Mystics welcome all children in school years 3, 4, 5 and 6 to attend our Primary Schools Basketball Festival at the Manchester Basketball Centre (Wilbram Road, Whalley Range, Manchester, M16 8GW), on Saturday 17th November at 1:00pm until 4:00pm.

Our professional and friendly coaching staff will be on court with you teaching you a variety of skills before organising you into teams and letting you play with and against your friends.

Primary Schools and community league clubs/teams are welcome to bring their own teams along, or teams can be formed within friendship groups once you arrive at the Basketball Festival.

The event is free for ALL kids to attend; you just need to bring suitable kit for an indoor sport.

If anyone is interested in coming along, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Joe at j.forber@btinternet.com or on 07709 686 496.

Tom Stansfield appointed North West regional chair

Magic and Mystics’ Tom Stansfield appointed North West regional chair

Basketball England has announced the 10 Regional Chairs and Regional Talent Managers, with Magic and Mystics’ Tom Stansfield appointed as the North West Regional Chair, joined by Nick Ibberson of Lancashire Spinners who has been appointed as North West Regional Talent Manager.

Basketball England’s new Operating Model for Regions has been taking shape for some time in an effort to help support the sport’s grassroots. The Model focuses on improved collaboration, a single unified approach and better two-way communication between Basketball England and the 10 Regions.

A more defined role for regions with clearly established responsibilities should enable the sport to have a more joined up approach across key activities with consistent communication across the country. In turn, each region will act as an arm of Basketball England, delivering the same objectives and shared goals.

Basketball England’s Senior Relationship and Coordination Manager Jon Stonebridge said, “The new and existing chairs offer a wealth of basketball experience that will help shape and implement Basketball England’s strategies and programmes at a local level. The roles will also provide valuable insight from within their Regions that will help to frame future basketball initiatives.  We are very pleased to be working with all the Chairpersons enabling Basketball England to helping drive the sport forwards with together.”

Basketball England’s Programme & Pathway Integration Manager Charlie Ford said, “The Regional Talent Managers have an important role in landing the soon to be launched ‘Player Development Framework’. They will primarily be involved in mentoring coaches within the Talent Pathway and clubs but also coordinating all local Talent programme activity and integrating with the existing England Development Programmes.”

With the ten Chairs helping to pull together the efforts of clubs, coaches and volunteers in each region, Talent Managers will primarily support Basketball England talent plans on a local level. This will involve helping with the implementation of the Player Development Framework and the programmes within the Talent Pathway.

For the full list of appointees read the announcement here