Myerscough basketballers are five star

Last week Myerscough played in the AoC (Association of Colleges) National U19 Finals Day, winning both the Premier AoC Cup, with a 75 - 54 victory against Leyton Sixth Form, and also claiming the AoC National Knockout Cup crown with a 67-61 overtime victory over Stoke-on-Trent College.

Titles number four and five came following further success earlier this year.

There was double success for Myerscough in the 2017 Basketball England National Schools Finals, as both the U17 girls and U19 men won their finals against Barking Abbey (73-52) & Greig City Academy (70-64), respectively. The girl’s title came at the end of fantastic first year for the programme, which has only run since last September.

Before that, the Academy’s silverware laden season began by Myerscough winning the National Basketball League (NBL) Under-18 Cup. Myerscough came through five tough rounds to get to the final, before defeating London Thunder Lewisham 68-55 to take the title. 128 sides entered from across the country, with Myerscough playing as Myerscough College Spinners, as part of the educational partnership between the College’s Academy and Lancashire Spinners, who compete in the English Basketball League.

Myerscough coach, Troy Culley, said: “It has been a very good season and it’s a testament to the kids’ hard work.

“They’re the ones putting the time in every single day. I can only put them in a position to go and play. They’re the ones on the floor who actually have to go and execute it.

“We just put them in a position to go and do that. The students have really represented our programme well and I’m very proud of them all.”

Myerscough head coach, Mike Bernard, said: ‘’We’ve got some very talented guys.

‘’I’ve won championships as a player but this is my biggest accomplishment as a coach. I’ve only been at Myerscough for two years and this is a great feeling.

Neal Hopkins, Head of the Myerscough College Basketball Academy, said: ‘’I’m so immensely proud of the students and our coaches, Mike Bernard, Julie Page and Troy Culley. They’ve done such a great job.’’

Since forming in September 2013, Myerscough College Basketball Academy has won a string of titles, including being the EABL Champions in 2015, AoC National Cup Champions and EABL West Conference Champions for three consecutive years between 2014 & 2016.