Myerscough basketballers book national final place

Myerscough booked their place in the showpiece National Basketball League final as they eliminated the East London All Stars with an 86-81 win at the weekend.

Konrad Kantorski scored a man of the match 26 points in the first half to lead Myerscough into the finals, while Mate Okros added 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Callan Low chipped in 14 points, including a trio of 3-pointers.

The final will take place at University of Worcester Arena on Sunday, February 25^th.

Neal Hopkins, Head Coach at Myerscough Basketball Academy, said: ‘’As a programme we strive to be playing for titles each year and there’s a certain pressure that comes with that, and that you have to play through and absorb.

“For a majority of the game we did what we had to, but at the end of the day the win is the most important thing.”

During the semi-final Myerscough opened up a 23-16 advantage, before the teams traded the lead seven times before Myerscough grabbed a 40-36 advantage. The hosts then extended the gap to match its largest of seven at the break.

East London used a 7-1 run to peg back a 60-53 deficit to within one and then tied the game at 64.

The lead would exchange hands five times over a five-minute stretch before Edvards Sirmbardis and Kantorski combined to score the next six points for Myerscough to build an 83-77 lead.

East London pulled to within two with less than two minutes to go, but Myerscough hit 3-of-4 free throws to close the game out.

Myerscough guard Konrad Kantorski, said: “We really showed some toughness and maturity when we fell behind by two or three and it was a great response from the guys.”