Category: Mystics

Manchester Mystics

Manchester Mystics

Manchester Mystics at Wythenshaw Games ‘This Girl Can’ Day

The annual Wythenshawe Games took place this week at Wythenshawe Park. The Manchester Mystics were represented by Women’s Academy Head Coach Mbongeni Greg Mpofu and junior players Chloe Andrew, Holly Bryan and Darcey Gordon.

Friday at the event was earmarked by the organisers as ‘This Girl Can’ day, aimed at engaging young women and girls to come and try sessions and the Mystics were on hand to deliver basketball sessions on behalf of Basketball England.

Mpofu was pleased with the turn-out, “I was quite impressed to see so many people roll up and pick up a ball with a smile on their face, the vast majority of whom had never even tried basketball before.

“The ‘This Girl Can’ campaign is one that has great significance for me, and it was an honour for Basketball England to invite us over to be a part of it.”

“I was happy to have 3 junior players from our programme giving up their time to share their love and passion for the game with the community at large.”

Manchester Mystics’ Commonwealth Games silver medal winning guard Georgia Jones was also present, inspiring youngsters with her medal and tales of her journey.

“Georgia’s a local kid like most of these girls, and she has worked hard and earned great opportunities via the sport.

“We’re always aiming to spark a dream in young people, and no better role models exist than the ones from where you’re from, that you can relate to. That’s what makes Georgia such an inspiration.” Mpofu said.

Barney Blake joins Manchester Basketball Programme

Barney Blake joins Manchester Basketball Programme

Barney Blake has joined the club, where he will be performing performance analysis duties for the Division 1 men’s team, in addition to becoming a member of the junior girls’ coaching programme.

Barney has previously worked with Great Britain & England national teams as a performance analyst and spent the previous season coaching with Myerscough College’s women’s programme.

He recently led the North West Under 13 Girls to second at the Regional Development Tournament in Manchester.

“Barney will bring a skill set to the club that will make a positive impact on the performance analysis side,” said club chief executive Phil Gordos.

“His coaching knowledge will also be a key factor in moving the club forward.”

Mystics U18 head coach Mbongeni Greg Mpofu said: “Adding Barney to our coaching team with the girls’ programme is another step forward in what we’re trying to build. He fits in with the ethos of the club, and we’re all happy to have him on board.”

Barney Blake 2018
Quintet enjoying Chus Mateo Camp 2018

Quintet enjoying the challenge of Chus Mateo Academy Camp

Magic coaches Aurimas Verbukas and Tom Paraskeva, along with club juniors Josh Grant, Nathan Conaty and Courtney Kenyon-Betts, are currently enjoying the challenge of the highly prestigious Chus Mateo Academy Camp in Spain.

Coach Verbukas is enjoying the high level of competition and explained why he feels the camp is the perfect opportunity for young players to get better.

“It is a great camp to learn from the one of the best European coaches from over the Europe, EuroLeague champions, etc,” he said.

“Tom and I are enjoying the high level of players and coaches at the camp. It is a good opportunity for us and the Magic and Mystics players.

“We both thank Chus Mateo and his staff for the opportunity. It is a privilege for me to be a part of the Chus Mateo Academy Camp for fourth year.

“I would advise every kid from England to attend this camp and become a better player.”

Courtney added: “This is my second year on camp and the training on camp has really improved my skills and help me to become a better player.”

Josh and Nathan are both attending the camp for the first time.

“The camp is very intense and I feel like I am improving each day.” said Josh.

Nathan added: “The camp has been good so far and I hope to come back in the future.”

Chus Mateo Academy Basketball Camp 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

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.”

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

Manchester Mystics U11 Northants Tournament 2018

Mystics Triumph at Northants Invitational

Yet another journey to Northants led to a resounding success for our Under 11 (Primary School only) Mystics team on Saturday 21st April.

With five teams competing, we had a Round Robin Tournament with each team playing the other four.

Mystics U11 results:

Manchester 35 – 21 Ipswich

Manchester 51 – 1 Bucks

Manchester 26 – 13 Northants

Manchester 45 – 24 Sheffield

The young girls were a credit to the Club, playing very hard and fair and winning all games comfortably with spirited performances.

The future looks bright for the Mystics programme if these girls continue to perform like this. Well done to them and to the parents for their continued support and encouragement.

Team

Kady Bamford, Maria Bianco, Ciara Collier, Tallulah Connolly, Carina Costa, Elizandra Costa, Molly Finn, Ruby Gillespie, Rae Hughes and Maisie Keyes.

Manchester Mystics U11 at Northants

Image Credit: Ben Hughes

Mystics U11 at WBBL Trophy Final

Mystics U11 take part in Festival of Basketball at WBBL Trophy Final

The Manchester Mystics Under 11 girls were invited to a Festival of Basketball as part of the WBBL Trophy Final event between at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday.

The Mystics were one of four WBBL Clubs invited, alongside Nottingham Wildcats, Sevenoaks Suns and Sheffield Hatters.

The Girls were taught some basic basketball skills followed by scrimmage games between the four teams; it was greatly enjoyed by all.

After the Festival, all the girls and parents were guests at the WBBL Trophy Final which was played in front of a packed house. In a very tight game between Sevenoaks Suns and Leicester Riders, it was won by the Riders, 68 – 53.

The main objective of the festival was to encourage the young girls to watch top level British women’s basketball, to inspire them to want to play at that level in the future.

For the Mystics girls it was certainly a great success, the girls were coached by Mystics’ WBBL players Rheanne Bailey and Sam Roscoe, who did an outstanding job.

The girls go on to an U11 Tournament on 21 April and an U12 Tournament on 28 April, both in Northants.

Mystics U14 WBBL team photo
England Commonwealth Games 2018

Team England Commonwealth Games schedule and results

Manchester Mystics’ Dominique Allen and Georgia Jones are representing Team England at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in Australia. The squads also include a number of former Magic and Mystics players, Hannah Shaw, Mollie Campbell and Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee join Dom and Georgia in the women’s squad, while Andrew Thomson, Callum Jones (Georgia’s brother) and Orlan Jackman have been selected in the men’s squad. Full Squad lists

Schedule/Results:

Watch games live (when available) via the BBC online here or here

Thursday 5th April Men 08:30 (UK) Group B England 65 – 78 Scotland (Boxscore) (Video)

Callum Jones 22 minutes, 6 points, 4 assists, 1 block, Orlan Jackman 24 minutes, 5 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, Andrew Thomson 21 minutes, 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist.

Friday 6th April Women 09:30 (UK) Group A Canada 80 – 54 England (Boxscore)

Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee 13 minutes, 2 assists, 1 steal, Georgia Jones 25 minutes, 11 points (top scorer), 1 rebound, 4 assists, Hannah Shaw 18 minutes, 7 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block, Mollie Campbell 13 minutes, 3 points, 3 rebounds, Dominique Allen 15 minutes, 4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist. 

Saturday 7th April Men 08:30 (UK) Group B England 100 – 54 India (Boxscore)

Callum Jones 24 minutes, 4 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, Orlan Jackman 14 minutes, 8 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 2 steals, Andrew Thomson did not play.

Sunday 8th April Women 02:30 (UK) Group A Mozambique 51 – 78 England (Boxscore)

Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee 2 minutes, Georgia Jones 23 minutes, 9 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, Hannah Shaw 9 minutes, 1 rebound, Mollie Campbell 11 minutes, 2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, Dominique Allen 12 minutes, 4 points, 1 rebound. 

Sunday 8th April Men 05:00 (UK) Group B Cameroon 54 – 81 England (Boxscore)

Callum Jones 22 minutes, 4 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, Orlan Jackman 24 minutes, 5 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, Andrew Thomson did not play.

Monday 9th April Women 08:30 (UK) Group A England 55 – 118 Australia (Boxscore)

Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee 22 minutes, 9 points, 4 assists, Georgia Jones 13 minutes, 1 point, 1 assist, Hannah Shaw 18 minutes, 9 points, 2 assists, Mollie Campbell 14 minutes, 3 points, 2 rebounds, Dominique Allen 23 minutes, 7 rebounds, 1 assists, 1 steal. 

Tuesday 10th April Qualifing Finals Men 08:30 (UK) Canada 97 – 79 England (Boxscore) (Video)

Callum Jones 18 minutes, 2 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, Orlan Jackman 18 minutes, 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, Andrew Thomson did not play.

Tuesday 10th April Qualifiing Finals Women 12:00 (UK) England 62 – 40 Jamaica (Boxscore) (Video)

Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee 12 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, Georgia Jones 12 minutes, 3 points, 2 rebounds 1 assist, 1 block, Hannah Shaw 12 minutes, 2 points, 3 rebounds, Mollie Campbell 3 minutes, Dominique Allen 14 minutes, 2 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals.

Friday 13th April Women Semi Final 09:30 (UK) Canada 53 – 65 England (Boxscore) (Video)

Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee 2 minutes, 1 steal, Georgia Jones 22 minutes, 7 points, 3 rebounds 2 assists, Hannah Shaw 4 minutes, 1 rebound, Mollie Campbell 14 minutes, 5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, Dominique Allen 15 minutes, 1 steal.

Saturday 14th April Women Gold Medal Game 11:30 (UK) Australia 99 – 55 England (Boxscore) (Video)

Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee 8 minutes, 2 points, 1 rebound, Georgia Jones 16 minutes, 2 points, 3 rebounds 1 assists, Hannah Shaw 12 minutes, 1 assist, 1 block, Mollie Campbell 11 minutes, 3 points, 1 rebounds, 1 assist, Dominique Allen 15 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds.

England Commonwealth Games 2018 Silver

Shock Silver for Team England Women’s Basketball at Commonwealth Games

Team England’s Women’s Basketball Team won a shock silver medal at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, after losing, 99-55 , to strong favourites Australia in the Gold medal game on Saturday.

The England team booked their place in the final after a shock 65-53 victory over Canada, who beat England 80-54 in the group stages. A strong defensive performance in the semi-final was the key to securing at least the silver medal for the English team.

Australia proved a step too far for the England squad, a team who have battered all in front of them throughout the Tournament and were strong favourites for the gold medal, and it proved to be. In the group stages England lost by 63 points to the host nation side, so there was improvement in the final having lost by 44, but it wasn’t enough to stop a dominate Australia side.

There was a strong Manchester Mystics presence in the side with current Mystics’ Dominique Allen and Georgia Jones and former Mystics’ Hannah Shaw, Mollie Campbell and Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee all making valuable contributions throughout the Tournament, who all come home with their silver medals, while Georgia Jones also comes home with extra bling as long-time boyfriend Jamell Anderson proposed after the Men’s sides victory over Cameroon on 8th April (Georgia said ‘yes’).

Full results and stats:

Friday 6th April 09:30 (UK) Group A Canada 80 – 54 England (Boxscore)

Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee 13 minutes, 2 assists, 1 steal, Georgia Jones 25 minutes, 11 points (top scorer), 1 rebound, 4 assists, Hannah Shaw 18 minutes, 7 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block, Mollie Campbell 13 minutes, 3 points, 3 rebounds, Dominique Allen 15 minutes, 4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist. 

Sunday 8th April 02:30 (UK) Group A Mozambique 51 – 78 England (Boxscore)

Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee 2 minutes, Georgia Jones 23 minutes, 9 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, Hannah Shaw 9 minutes, 1 rebound, Mollie Campbell 11 minutes, 2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, Dominique Allen 12 minutes, 4 points, 1 rebound. 

Monday 9th April 08:30 (UK) Group A England 55 – 118 Australia (Boxscore)

Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee 22 minutes, 9 points, 4 assists, Georgia Jones 13 minutes, 1 point, 1 assist, Hannah Shaw 18 minutes, 9 points, 2 assists, Mollie Campbell 14 minutes, 3 points, 2 rebounds, Dominique Allen 23 minutes, 7 rebounds, 1 assists, 1 steal. 

Tuesday 10th April Qualifiing Finals 12:00 (UK) England 62 – 40 Jamaica (Boxscore) (Video)

Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee 12 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, Georgia Jones 12 minutes, 3 points, 2 rebounds 1 assist, 1 block, Hannah Shaw 12 minutes, 2 points, 3 rebounds, Mollie Campbell 3 minutes, Dominique Allen 14 minutes, 2 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals.

Friday 13th April Semi Final 09:30 (UK) Canada 53 – 65 England (Boxscore) (Video)

Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee 2 minutes, 1 steal, Georgia Jones 22 minutes, 7 points, 3 rebounds 2 assists, Hannah Shaw 4 minutes, 1 rebound, Mollie Campbell 14 minutes, 5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, Dominique Allen 15 minutes, 1 steal.

Saturday 14th April Women Gold Medal Game 11:30 (UK) Australia 99 – 55 England (Boxscore) (Video)

Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee 8 minutes, 2 points, 1 rebound, Georgia Jones 16 minutes, 2 points, 3 rebounds 1 assists, Hannah Shaw 12 minutes, 1 assist, 1 block, Mollie Campbell 11 minutes, 3 points, 1 rebounds, 1 assist, Dominique Allen 15 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds.

Team England Silver Commonwealth Games 2018

Image Credit: Basketball England