INTERNATIONAL PREVIEWS, 2008
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INTERNATIONAL PREVIEWS, 2008 |
3rd May 2008
England U16 V Ireland U16
Birmingham NIA
The England U16 Squad has been working together since the open trials in September 2007. However before this date, the U15 development squad led by Rick Wooldridge had begun to prepare players for this level of competition.
The Coaching Staff have worked with this squad at training camps in October 07, December 07, February 08, March 08, as well as International Club Tournaments based at Barking, England and Palma, Mallorca. The squad has had experience playing against top U18 Junior Teams in the country in Manchester, Tasis, Sheffield and Reading, as well as top opposition from Spain, Badalona U16, Plus Pujol Lleida U16 and Estudiantas U18.
England has also had 2 Internationals against a fellow European 'B' division Team, Bulgaria. England won the first encounter 81-72 with contributions from Johnson 20, Blandford 19 & Loftman 12, however Bulgaria evened the series with a 79-70 overtime victory, England had contributions from Johnson 17, Blandford 13, Craige 12.
The future for this Team in terms of preparation is bright. Coach Fisher leads an England Team to Vienna, Austria, for a 4 Team International Tournament next weekend against Switzerland, Holland and hosts Austria. The team has been selected with GCSE examinations in mind, thus a School Year 10 Team has been chosen to represent the country, with 6 players from the current squad of 16 travelling, with the other players selected from the 1993 Squad (U15 Development Squad - 4 players) or 1992 players that the Coaching staff believe have long-term potential - 2 players. After this trip England U16’s will have given over 30 players an opportunity to be part of the U16 programme, with 26 players gaining some form of European experience (8 of which are 1993 born).
After the Austrian Trip, the England Coaching Staff will select the final 12 players (+ 3 reserves) for the 2008 FIBA U16 'B' Division Championships in August. Once selected the Team will attend Training sessions in July & August, with Internationals arranged for the end of July at Manchester against Holland U16's. The England Staff are also in discussions with further European Countries to secure another 2/3 Internationals during preparation. Once the preparation is complete England will compete in Group C, against Slovenia, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Romania and Cyprus.
England U16's today welcome Ireland U16's to Birmingham. Ireland is also part of the 2008 FIBA U16 'B' Division Championship; they are in Group D, against Sweden, Finland, Portugal and Macedonia.
The last time these countries met in an International was at last years U16 European 'B' Division Championships in Skopje, Macedonia. The game was part of the group phase, were Coach Fisher led England to a 88 - 48 victory in sweltering heat. The game was closer than the score suggested as both teams struggled with the 45+ degree heat. The game was relatively close until a 26-6 final quarter broke the backs of the Irish, as England’s depth and rotation on the day wore the Irish challenge down. The England scorers that day were Richards 15, Houghton 14, Noel 11 and Townley 11. Ireland went on to finish 16th with a 1 & 7 record, were as England continued to progress on finish 4th with a 4 & 3 record, losing the Bronze medal game in Overtime to Sweden 65-66.
The previous 3 U16 European Meetings and top scorers are shown below, it is interesting to note the England scorers, as the majority of them are know playing at EBL Div 1, or abroad in Spain / America, and also progressed into England U18 / GB U20 Teams:
2007 (Skopje, Macedonia): England 88 v 48 Ireland
Richards 15 Conroy 8
Houghton 14 Crowley 8
Noel 11 Foley 7
2005 (Botevgrad, Bulgaria): England 87 v 64 Ireland
McKay 24 Kilmorton 18
Williams 21 Anderson 15
Marshall 14 McKeon 11
2004: (Burgress Hill, England) England 65 v 36 Ireland
Clark 15 O’Sullivan 9
Williams 14 McVeigh 6
Ajumobi 13 Walsh 5
Coach Fisher comments "I am proud to be leading my country back to Birmingham. I have a tradition within Basketball within this area, as not only a player (of little talent!!), Coach and administrator (Regional Chair). Thus this opportunity allows me to achieve one of my ambitions to Coach an International in my home City, following in the footsteps of my father, who Coached England and Birmingham Bullets in the 80’s / 90’s.
This group of players are a talented group, who are committed to improving their game within the team concept. The programme we have put together has helped that, but it is primarily their clubs ‘up and down’ the country who deserve the credit for their hard work to identify and develop the talent they have. The England Coaching Staff believe in player detection, which means we are trying to detect players for the long-term, as well as balancing that with getting results now, that isn’t easy at times, but I have a great back-room staff who are determined to work together to get the best outcomes for English Basketball:
Matt Johnson (Lead assistant Coach) – Reading Rockets
Lloyd Gardener (Volunteer Assistant Coach) – London Leopards & Barking Abbey Academy
Samit Nuruzade (Volunteer Assistant Coach) – Manchester Magic
Nick Drane (Volunteer Assistant Coach) – Ipswich Tomcats
England Junior and Cadet Teams tend to play games abroad due to costs and logistics, so to get this game on the schedule as part of this event is a credit to all concerned, from England Basketball, British Basketball League and Basketball Ireland"