Adam Bailey

Kyle Marsh moves to top of points standings in Spain while three GB athletes play in Italian Cup Final

Kyle Marsh ended the weekend as the top points scorer in Spain, while there were three GB athletes playing in the Italian Cup Final as well as in action for clubs across Europe and in the USA.

In Spain, it was another high-scoring weekend for Kyle Marsh as he moved to the top of the Division de Honor points standings with a game-leading 28 points for BSR Amiab Albacete in their 78:76 win against BSR ACE Gran Canaria.

March’s total was also the weekend’s joint-highest total in the league as GB athletes scored 71 of Albacete’s 78 points against Gran Canaria including 16 points for Gaz Choudhry and 15 points for Lee Manning, who collected a joint game-high of 12 rebounds.

Harry Brown and Ben Fox added eight and four points, respectively, as the GB five helped Albacete continue their 100 per cent winning start to the season, while ending Gran Canaria’s in the process.

Terry Bywater and Gregg Warburton complete an all-British top-three in the league’s standings for average points scored per game this season. Bywater scored 12 points in CD Ilunion’s latest win over Fundacion FDI Las Rozas, while Warburton added 22 points to the scoreboard with the final score 41:70 to Ilunion.

Warburton led the game’s assists charts with nine assists, one more than Bywater, with both players also in the top-10 for assists this season.

Lewis Edwards, Charlotte Moore and Phil Pratt all helped Mideba Extremadura extend their winning streak to five games with a 67:75 win at Bidaideak Bilabo BSR. Pratt was the game’s top points scorer, recording 26 points, along with eight assists and a game-high nine rebounds.

Edwards contributed six points towards Mideba’s winning total, while James MacSorley scored five points for Bilbao.

Abdi Jama posted his highest points tally of the season so far as he led the points scoring in Amivel’s 60:52 victory against Iberconsa Amfiv. Both Jama and Peter Cusack were part of the starting-five with Cusack scoring three points, while Tyler Baines came off the bench to play his part in Amivel’s third successive victory.

It was another weekend when Lee Fryer recorded over 20 points as he scored 23 points in Servigest Burgos’ 75:74 away defeat at UCAM Murcia BSR. Fryer is sixth in the league’s standings for both average points scored and assists per game, recording the highest number of assists and rebounds for Burgos. Callum Doherty was also part of the Burgos starting five, scoring four points.

In Italy, all eyes were on the conclusion of the Italian Cup which saw three GB athletes feature in Saturday’s Final. To reach the Final, first Sophie Carrigill and Ian Sagar played their part in helping UnipolSai Briantea84 Cantù secure victory in their semi-final with Sagar scoring 11 points as Cantu beat 3A Padova Millennium Basket.

Then Oliver Griffith-Salter ensured there would be British interest on both sides of the court as his Avis S. Stefano side won 55:49 against Deco Metalferro Amicacci Abruzzo.

In the Final, Sagar scored nine points but victory went the way of Griffith-Salter’s team as Stefano claimed the cup with a 57:62 win.

In Germany, Simon Brown was part of the RSV Lahn-Dill side that extended their winning start to the season to six games with Brown scoring one point for the league leaders in their 44:88 win at Doneck Dolphins Trier.

Jim Palmer was also part of a victorious team as he scored two points in Rhine River Rhinos Wiesbaden’s 58:51 victory against ING Skywheelers.

In BWB National League, Jack Perry and Maddie Thompson both top-scored in their respective games with Perry leading the scoring with 22 points as London Titans beat Thames Valley Kings 36:67 in the Premier Division.

Along with his game-high points total, Perry also collected the joint-highest number of rebounds (14). Jude Hamer was also in action for Titans, scoring four points.

20 points was a game-leading total for Maddie Thompson as the Tokyo 2020 Women’s co-captain continued her season for Sheffield Steelers in their 43:65 victory at Exeter Otters.

There was also a 20-point haul for Tom Smith as CWBA continued their perfect start to the season with a win against Glasgow Rollin’ Rocks. Jake Robinson and Sam Mack were also among the CWBA starters, scoring eight and four points, respectively.

Kayla Bell scored two points in CWBA’s 73:44 Premier Division win, before returning to the court in Division 1 South, scoring four points in CWBA 2’s 56:46 win against High Rollers.

Joy Haizelden continued her season in the USA with a 54:47 victory for the University of Alabama against ABC Medical, scoring two points.

CWBA the only unbeaten Premier Division team as six teams continue winning starts in BWB National League

CWBA maintained their winning start to the season as they remain the only unbeaten team in the Premier Division this season, while another five teams continued their winning starts to the season in other divisions. 

Premier Division 

After back-to-back wins to begin the season, CWBA made it three wins from three with a 73:44 victory against newly-promoted Glasgow Rollin’ Rocks, who were playing their first game back in the top Division on Sunday. 

Liam Hassell top-scored with 21 points for CWBA as the hosts won by 29 points to continue their 100 per cent winning record after their opening three games. 

London Titans ended Thames Valley King’s winning streak with a dominant opening quarter from Titans providing the foundation for their 37:67 away win. Jack Perry scored 22 points to top the game’s scoring charts with Charlie McIntyre’s 13 points leading the scoring for Kings. 

Mohawks are level on points with CWBA at the top of the table, but the team from the Middlesborough-based team have played a game more than Coventry, with Mohawks’ second win of the season coming against The Owls. 

Six points separated the two sides at half-time after The Owls cut their 10-point deficit following the opening quarter, but Mohawks went on to edge the final two quarters to secure a 68:57 win. David Ion posted his highest points total so far this season, scoring 26 points to end the match as the top points scorer. 

London Titans, Thames Valley Kings and Sheffield Steelers are all level on five points from third to fifth in the table having all played three games to date. Sheffield’s latest victory came in Exeter as Tokyo 2020 Women’s Co-Captain Maddie Thompson top-scored with 20 points to help Sheffield claim a 43:65 win over Exeter Otters.

Division 1 

It was a successful weekend for Mohawks with their second team continuing their perfect start to the season with a third win in as many games in Division 1 North. 31 points in a dominant opening quarter set Mohawks on their way to another impressive win as they led 41:6 at half-time. 

Their opponents Manchester Giants Mavericks fought to the end, taking the final quarter, but Mohawks had already built an advantage of over 50 points with the final score, 78:28. Seven players added to the score for Mohawks including a top-score of 28 points for Ciaran Carrigan. Lewis Craddock and Niamh Horan scored 10 points each for Mavericks. 

The only other game in Division 1 North saw North Wales Knights claim their first win of the season, thanks to a 60:53 win against Wakefield Whirlwinds. Three points was the advantage for Knights heading into the final quarter; a lead that was extended to seven by the time the final buzzer sounded. Anastasia Blease scored 18 points for Knights with the top scorer honours going to Whirlwinds’ Aaron Hirst (20 points). 

CWBA 2 won the only game in Division 1 South in the reverse fixture of their game against High Rollers from the weekend before. It was also a reverse of the result with CWBA avenging their 55:45 away defeat from the previous gameweek with a 56:46 win on their home court. 

Division 2 

The Division 2 North season got underway with Wakefield Whirlwinds 2 playing twice in two days. On Saturday they began their 2021/22 campaign with a 50:37 defeat against North Wales Knights 2, having pulled it back to a six-point game heading into the final quarter before Knights extended their advantage. 

On Sunday Wakefield were back in action but this time at home against Lothian Phoenix in what was the closet game of the weekend. Wakefield won 34:32 to end their opening weekend on a high. 

In Division 2 South, Blackhawks continued their excellent start with their third win of the season coming at Swansea Storm. Blackhawks led from minute one, winning 54:30 to maintain their 100 per cent record at the top of Division 2 South, along with the also unbeaten Sussex Bears. Macauley Tomlinson was the game’s top-scorer with 28 points. 

London Titans completed their weekend double over Thames Valley Kings, with victory in Division 2 as well as the Premier Division. The score was tied going into the final quarter, but London Titans came from behind in the final quarter to edge a close game, 36:40, to record their first win of the season.  

The Bears 2 were victorious against Cardiff Met Archers, securing a 43:57 win in South Wales. Harry Draper’s 25 points was a game-high for The Bears.  

Division 3 

It’s two wins from two games for Jaguars WBC 2 at the top of Division 3 Central with a 29:47 win at CWBA 3 their latest victory. Simon West scored 21 points for Jaguars as he led the game’s points scoring. 

There were two games in Division 3 South as Thames Valley Kings 3 and Brixton Ballers both maintained their winning starts to the season. 

Thames Valley Kings made it three wins from three with a 46:33 win at home to Windsor Monarchs, while Brixton Ballers secured back-to-back wins thanks to a 27:44 victory at Aces WBC 2. 

Squads announced for new British Wheelchair Basketball Women’s Premier League

British Wheelchair Basketball has today announced the line-up of the four teams competing in its inaugural Women’s Premier League.

The British Wheelchair Basketball Women’s Premier League will be the first of its kind for women’s wheelchair basketball, and the very first professional para-sport league in the UK.

The season will begin in January 2022, with Cardiff Met Archers, East London Phoenix, Loughborough Lightning and Worcester Wolves competing for the inaugural title.

The franchises are linked to four universities which will be centres of excellence for wheelchair basketball in the UK for both men and women. These High Performance Partnerships will develop and nurture wheelchair basketball talent, acting as hubs to incubate and develop future elite athletes and increase access to the Paralympic talent pathways across the UK.

The introduction of the league is a bold step forward for the sport in creating competitive domestic opportunities, increasing participation and challenging misconceptions of disability sport.

Lisa Pearce, British Wheelchair Basketball’s Chief Executive, said:

“We saw how the nation got behind the sport during the Paralympic Games, so I’m really excited to create more opportunities for people to watch wheelchair basketball in the UK. The teams include a range of leading players and up-and-coming talent, so it’s going to be a hugely interesting league to watch evolve.

“I am absolutely delighted to be working with our four High Performance Partnerships and creating more opportunities for elite female talent, both in the UK and internationally. Today is another important moment in achieving our big ambitions to raise the profile of the sport, build new audiences and create more opportunities for people to play across all levels.”

Three-time Paralympian and GB player Amy Conroy, who has been signed for the London side, added:

“I am genuinely so excited to be playing for East London Phoenix! The creation of the Women’s Premier League is absolutely huge for the sport and for us as players. To be able to compete in the UK and make our sport as accessible as possible – and get a feel for what a great game it is, is amazing! As cheesy as it sounds, wheelchair basketball changed my view of my disability and really helped my self-confidence, so if more awareness of the sport through the Premier League and Phoenix can do the same for others, then that’s a pretty game changing result!”

Cardiff Met Archers

Ella Beaumont

Katie Morrow

Leah Evans

Francesca Antoniazzi

Rebecca Ganley

Olivia Phillips

Anastasia Blease

Jade Atkin

Bethany Francis

Niamh Watson

Adele Atkin

Maddie Martin

East London Phoenix

Amy Conroy

Nicola Terrell

Fi Tillman

Bethany Wheeler

Evelyn Roberts

Freya Levy

Curran Brown

Charlotte Thornton White

Loughborough Lightning

Jude Hamer

Laurie Williams

Robyn Love

Lucy Robinson

Siobhan Fitzpatrick

Niamh Horan

Lynsey Speirs

Jessica Whyte

Ella Gilvarry

Holly Lounds

Worcester Wolves

Sarah Hope

Kayla Bell

Jess Atherley

Ellan Fraser

Jessica Dowdeswell

Amber-Leigh Loughlin

Catherine Yearron

Jade-Louise Loughlin

To find out more, visit www.britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk/womens-premier-league.

Cup action in Italy while league seasons continue for GB athletes across Europe

It’s cup action for Sophie Carrigill, Ian Sagar and Oliver Griffith-Salter in Italy, while there’s a full league fixture list in Spain, Germany and BWB’s Premier Division so there will be plenty of British interest across Europe and further afield with Joy Haizelden continuing her season in the USA.

Five of the six scheduled games in Spain are expected to feature GB athletes, including a head-to-head battle as James MacSorley lines up against Lewis Edwards, Charlotte Moore and Phil Pratt in the clash between Bidaideak Bilabo BSR and Mideba Extremadura.

Mideba are currently top of the Division de Honor table; one of three teams to have won all four of their opening games and Edwards, Moore and Pratt will be hoping they can help extend that streak to five when they travel to Bilbao on Saturday (18:30, all times listed as UK Time).

BSR Amiab Albacete also have a 100 per cent winning record with Harry Brown, Ben Fox, Lee Manning, Kyle Marsh and the returning Gaz Choudhry all playing their part in Albacete’s winning start to the season. Next-up for the GB five is a home game against fellow unbeaten side BSR ACE Gran Canaria on Sunday (10:00).

Terry Bywater and Gregg Warburton have both been influential for CD Ilunion this season and they’ll be looking to continue their excellent scoring form which sees them both in the league’s top-four for total and average points scored this season; two standings that Bywater leads. They play bottom-of-the-table Fundacion FDI Las Rozas on Saturday at 15:00.

It’s now back-to-back wins for Tyler Baines, Peter Cusack and Abdi Jama who are playing for Amivel Reyes Gutierrez this season. The GB trio and their Amivel teammates host Iberconsa Amfiv at 17:00 on Saturday. Also playing at 17:00 on Saturday is Lee Fryer and Callum Doherty who will travel south with Servigest Burgos to play UCAM Murcia BSR.

In Italy, the focus for Sophie Carrigill, Ian Sagar and Oliver Griffith-Salter switches to the Italian Cup; with the semi-finals and final of the 2020/21 cup competition taking place this weekend. The first semi-final on Friday (15:00) will see Carrigill and Sagar take to the court for Briantea84 Cantu as the seven-time champions play Studio 3A Millennium Basket.

That semi-final will be followed by Avis S. Stefano Sport versus Deco Metalferro Amicacci Abruzzo at 17:30 with Griffith-Salter playing for Stefano Sport this season. Should the two teams featuring British players win their semi-finals; they will be in action again on Saturday morning with the final scheduled for 10:30.

In Germany, Simon Brown and Jim Palmer will both be in action for their respective teams. Brown’s RSV Lahn-Dill maintained their 100 per cent winning record with victory over title rivals RSB Thuringia Bulls last weekend and on Saturday Lahn-Dill face Doneck Dolphins Trier (15:00).

Palmer will be in action on Sunday with Rhine River Rhinos Wiesbaden’s home game against ING Skywheelers scheduled for 15:00.

In the USA, Joy Haizelden will continue her season for the University of Alabama as they play another game against ABC Medical; a team Haizelden helped Alabama beat last weekend. This weekend’s meeting is on Friday evening at 23:30.

There will be plenty of British interest in BWB National League this weekend including senior and academy athletes with a full fixture list in the Premier Division.

Jack Perry and Jude Hamer are both part of the London Titans roster this season and they could feature this weekend for Titans when they play against Thames Valley Kings on Saturday (15:30) with both teams also featuring academy athletes.

There’s three games in the Premier Division on Sunday with Sheffield Steelers, who include GB senior squad members Maddie Thompson and Lucy Robinson, making the journey south to Exeter (12noon).

Glasgow Rollin’ Rocks will begin their season at CWBA, whose squad features Sam Mack, Jake Robinson and Tom Smith, as well as Tokyo 2020 Paralympians Kayla Bell and Siobhan Fitzpatrick, who played for CWBA 2 last weekend and could feature again in the reverse fixture against High Rollers in Division 1 South on Sunday.

The other fixture in BWB’s top-flight is Mohawks versus The Owls with Mohawks including Academy athletes while The Owls’ roster includes Robyn Love and Laurie Williams.

In France, Tom Barnes and his CVHG Gennevilliers return to league action with a home game against Hornets Le Cannet, while Fin Tonner’s Red Dragon’s Metz play Toulouse Iron Club.

Spain

Fundacion FDI Las Rozas v CD Ilunion

(15:00 – Saturday 6 November)  
Terry Bywater
Gregg Warburton    
Amivel Reyes Gutierrez v Iberconsa Amfiv

(17:00 – Saturday 6 November)  
Tyler Baines
Peter Cusack
Abdi Jama  
UCAM Murcia BSR v Servigest Burgos

(17:00 – Saturday 6 November)  
Callum Doherty
Lee Fryer  
Bidaideak Bilbao BSR v Mideba Extremadura

(18:30 – Saturday 6 November)  
James MacSorley (Bilbao)

Lewis Edwards (Mideba)
Charlotte Moore (Mideba)
Phil Pratt (Mideba)  
BSR Amiab Albacete v BSR ACE Gran Canaria

(10:00 – Sunday 7 November)
Harry Brown Gaz Choudhry
Ben Fox Lee Manning
Kyle Marsh  

Germany

Doneck Dolphins Trier vRSV Lahn-Dill

(15:00 – Saturday 6 November)  
Simon Brown
Rhine River Rhinos Wiesbaden v ING Skywheelers

(15:00 – Sunday 7 November)  
Jim Palmer

Italy

UnipolSai Briantea84 Cantu v Avis S. Stefano Sport

(10:30 – Saturday 6 November)  
Sophie Carrigill (Cantu)
Ian Sagar (Cantu)

Oliver Griffith-Salter (Stefano)

France

CVHG Gennevilliers v Hornets Le Cannet

(Saturday 6 November)  
Tom Barnes
Red Dragon’s Metz v Toulouse Iron Club

(16:00 – Saturday 6 November)  
Fin Tonner

USA

University of Alabama v ABC Medical

(23:30 – Friday 5 November)  
Joy Haizelden

Notification of the Ninth Annual General Meeting of the Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association Ltd.

The 2021 Annual General Meeting of the Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association Ltd. will be held virtually with a link shared with attendees ahead of the meeting on 4 December 2021 at 10am (please note attendees will need to login in to the meeting at 9.45am).

To register your interest in attending the 2021 Virtual AGM please use the following link: 2021 AGM Registration
 
The AGM will provide an overview of the 2020/21 season and this current year. All of the relevant papers will be placed on the British Wheelchair Basketball website in due course and all British Wheelchair Basketball Clubs and Members are invited to attend. Please note that voting and nominations is only available to current BWB members.

  • Motions – Motions must be submitted by Monday 15 November at 9am in writing c/o Chief Executive at the British Wheelchair Basketball Head Office. They may be sent by email to membership@britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk.
  • Special Resolution – There are no special resolutions to be presented at the 2021 AGM.
  • Form: Link to Motions Form
  • Deadline: Monday 15 November 2021 at 9am
  • Proxy Votes – On written request (email to membership@britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk) Proxy forms will be made available to current members who wish to vote on the business of the meeting. Please note that your proxy vote must be authenticated and as such we shall send one per person upon request. Proxy forms must be received back via email to membership@britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk by 4pm on Friday 3 December 2021. Photocopies of the proxy form will not be accepted as each will have a unique code of issue.
  • Deadline: Friday 3 December 2021 at 4pm

Glasgow Rollin’ Rocks to end wait as Scottish team returns to BWB’s top-flight

A wait of more than two decades will come to an end this weekend when the Glasgow Rollin’ Rocks begin their 2021/22 BWB National League season in the Premier Division – the first Scottish team to play in the top-flight since the 1990s.

The Rocks’ promotion to the Premier Division was earned after an impressive 2019/20 season, topping the Division 1 North table with a near perfect record, before the league was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The team has been coached over the last few seasons by Jen Scally, but club co-founder and 1984 Wheelchair Basketball Paralympian Gary Davidson has taken over the coaching duties ahead of the new season.

Davidson has been involved with the club since 1986, founding what was then known as West of Scotland Wheelchair Sports Club with Bobby Park and Peter Moore before the club joined forces with Glasgow Rocks in 2018.

“It means a lot to have the club back in the Premier Division,” Davidson said. “This is what we have all been working towards as we wanted to ensure the players were able to get the opportunity and a taste of playing at the top level in Britain.

“When wheelchair basketball was at a decline in Scotland, we tried to get it running again and make sure players had an opportunity. We’ve had some great times including taking the players to play in the Spitfire Tournament in Canada nine times, and playing over in Texas a couple of times to give the players an international feel.

“There’s been highs and lows and, after a bit of a decline, about five years ago we wanted to do all we could to get the team back up there again and get players from across Scotland to play together and here we are now.”

Returning to the top

The Rollin’ Rocks first team will be captained by 19-year-old Ben Leitch, who joined the Rocks ahead of the 2018/19 season after beginning his wheelchair basketball career at Lothian Phoenix. The GBR Academy athlete, who represented Great Britain at the 2018 U22 European Championships, says it is a “huge honour” to captain the team as they make their return to the UK’s top division.

Speaking ahead of their opening fixture against CWBA, Leitch said: “It’s a massive weekend for the club and wheelchair basketball in Scotland so to captain the team, especially with it being quite a monumental thing for a Scottish club to get back into the Prem after such a long time, is a huge honour for me.

“Just getting back on a court playing four quarters, having referees, scorers, shot clocks will be incredible as it’s felt like such a long time since we were able to play competitively with each other so I’m looking forward to getting back on court and seeing what this team can achieve.”

The 2021/22 Premier Division season – which got underway last month – will see Glasgow clock up more than 4,000 miles as they travel to play the top teams in the UK, including a trip to the Capital to play London Titans and the South Coast to play Exeter Otters.

But the opportunity to battle once again in the UK’s top division is a challenge the club are relishing – as Davidson explains:

“Every game you play in the Premier Division either team can win and we’re going into the league ready for the challenge and teams can certainly expect us to battle; we’ve got that Celtic mentality to fight to the end,” Davidson said. “We’re a young team but a lot of them have got old heads on them and they have been playing for quite a few years. We’re all looking forward to it.”

Davidson’s thoughts are echoed by Leitch: “I think as a team we grew a lot together from the start of the last season we played to when the season ended. It was amazing to be part of the squad that got this team back in the Prem and we have come together more in terms of understanding each other and being more of a collective team.

“Everyone has invested in it and pushing themselves to get better for each other and the determination we all have as a squad is massive and that pushes us through so I think teams should expect a fight on court this season.”

Player opportunity at the the club’s core

The club’s second team will play in Division 2 North with teams also representing the club in both BWB’s Junior and Women’s Leagues, along with a team in the Scotland league.

“There’s always lots going on throughout the season,” Davidson said. “Our approach to the second team is to be a stepping-stone up to the first team and it’s up to the players in the second team to continue pushing the players named in the first-team for a place in the first-team squad.

“The Junior and Women’s Leagues are always fantastic competitions to be a part of so we’re looking forward to playing in them again this season.”

Glasgow Rollin’ Rocks has created links in Georgia with the club helping to support and develop the provision of wheelchair basketball in the country.

“One of our players was born there and, due to his medical needs, he came to Scotland for an operation and started wheelchair basketball,” Davidson said. “We went to Georgia to try and set-up wheelchair basketball. It was very successful, we trained and coached what will become the Georgian national squad, we did a couple of training sessions with some of the players and gave them tips on how to play.

“With IWBF’s help, we did a week’s training with them covering social inclusion, talking with their families about wheelchair basketball and also advice on nutrition and things like that. We’re really proud as a club that we were able to do that, and we are planning to go back out there again.”

Game-high points and rebounds for Lee Manning as GB athletes impress for clubs

It was another successful weekend for GB athletes continuing their club seasons in Europe and further afield including game-high points and rebound totals for Lee Manning as BSR Amiab Albacete – featuring five GB athletes –  continued their winning start to the season in Spain.

There was also a win for Simon Brown in a top of the table clash in Germany, while there was also British representation in Italy as four athletes began their seasons, with athletes also in action in the USA, France and in BWB’s National League.

In Spain, Harry Brown, Gaz Choudhry, Ben Fox, Lee Manning and Kyle Marsh all helped BSR Amiab Albacete continue their 100 per cent winning start to the season with their latest victory coming courtesy of a 83:47 win against UCAM Murcia BSR.

Manning was the game’s leading points scorer scoring 27 points and also collected a game-high 18 rebounds, the most in the league. Marsh recorded a game-high 14 assists along with 22 points, keeping him inside the top-three for average points per game scored this season and in the top-five for assists.

Harry Brown scored seven points and Ben Fox four points as they both played their part in Albacete’s fourth win of the season, as did Gaz Choudhry, who returned to competitive action for the first time since the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, scoring five points during his first appearance of the season.

Albacete are still one of three teams to have four wins from their opening four games including Mideba Extremadura with Lewis Edwards, Charlotte Moore and Phil Pratt all part of the starting five in Mideba’s win against Fundacion FDI Las Rozas.

Pratt has the best assists per game record in the league so far this season, adding another 11 to his total against Las Rozas, along with nine points. Edwards added 10 points towards Mideba’s total in their 71:41 victory.

Terry Bywater and Gregg Warburton once again shone for CD Ilunion as they scored a combined 49 points in Ilunion’s 84:46 win over Fundacion Vital Zuzenak.

Bywater led the game’s scoring with 26 points to take his season’s tally past 100 points at an average of 25.5 points per game, the highest total and average in the league. Warburton scored 23 points along with a game-leading eight assists.

Tyler Baines, Peter Cusack and Abdi Jama were part of the Amivel team that made it back-to-back wins; following-up their victory against CD Ilunion last weekend with a win at Fundacion Aliados.

Jama has recently been named as one of the team’s vice-captains and again showed leadership on and off the court, scoring 12 points in Amivel’s 44:73 win. Baines and Cusack both scored four points.

It wasn’t a winning return for James MacSorley when he returned to his former club BSR ACE Gran Canaria. MacSorley scored four points for Bidaideak Bilbao BSR in a close game but it was Gran Canaria who claimed a 68:60 win.

Lee Fryer scored 15 points and recorded the most assists (five) and rebounds (eight) for Servigest Burgos but they lost 83:46 at Iberconsa Amfiv. Callum Doherty was also in action, scoring two points for Burgos.

In Germany, Simon Brown was part of a thrilling game between the top-two in RBBL1, scoring two points as his RSV Lahn-Dill secured a 71:69 victory against RSB Thuringia Bulls in what is always a big battle in the Germany Championship.

There was also a win for Jim Palmer in Germany as Palmer helped Rhine River Rhinos Wiesbaden return to winning ways with a 69:37 win against BBC Munsterland.

In Italy, it was a winning start to the season for Sophie Carrigill, Ian Sagar and Oliver Griffith-Salter. Sagar and Carrigill were both part of the Briantea84 Cantù team that began their Serie A season with a 37:77 win at PDM Treviso. Sagar scored eight points and collected six rebounds.

Griffith-Salter also made a winning start to his first season in Italy, coming off the bench to help Avis S. Stefano Sport to a 36:77 victory against Special Bergamo Sport Montello. Martin Edwards scored eight points and collected a game-high 15 rebounds for Bergamo.

Joy Haizelden was back in action in the USA as the University of Alabama took part in the Hollister Invitational. It was a mixed weekend for Haizelden with Alabama starting their weekend with a 51:66 defeat to Fort Lauderdale, before Haizelden scored eight points the following day as Alabama beat ABC Medical 58:47.

Kayla Bell and Siobhan Fitzpatrick both played for CWBA 2 in the only BWB National League fixture of the weekend which saw victory go to High Rollers in Division 2 South (55:45).

In France, Fin Tonner played as his Red Dragon’s Metz team beat Club Sportif de Meaux Basket Fauteuil 63:83 in Nationale A.

Sophie Carrigill, Ian Sagar and Oliver Griffith-Salter to begin club seasons in Italy

Three more GB athletes will return to club action this weekend as Sophie Carrigill, Ian Sagar and Oliver Griffith-Salter all begin their seasons for clubs in Italy, while there will also be British representation in Spain, Germany, France and the USA.

Carrigill and Sagar have both signed for Italian champions Briantea84 Cantù which sees Sagar return to the club after two seasons away at fellow Italian club Special Sport Bergamo Montello and Germany’s RSV Lahn-Dill.

Sagar is joined in Cantù by Sophie Carrigill who has made the to move to Italy and will play for a club outside of the UK for the first time. Their opening game is on Saturday against PDM Treviso (14:00, all times listed as UK Time).

Brintea84 have been placed in Group A in Italy’s Serie A – with the Italian top-flight divided into two groups of five with the top-two from each group advancing through to the semi-finals.

Oliver Griffith-Salter has also made the move abroad, joining Santo Stefano Avis who begin their 2021/22 campaign in Group B with a game at Special Sport Bergamo Montello on Sunday (15:30).

Billy Bridge will also be playing in Italy this season and will make his return to action in November for Dinamo Lab Banco Di Sardegna.

In Spain, it’s a full fixture list on Saturday and all six Division de Honor games could feature British interest. Lewis Edwards, Charlotte Moore and Phil Pratt start the weekend at the top of the table with Mideba Extremadura after three opening wins and they host bottom of the table Fundacion FDI Las Rozas (17:00).

BSR Amiab Albacete also have a 100 per cent winning record so far this season and this weekend the team featuring Harry Brown, Ben Fox, Lee Manning and Kyle Marsh will play UCAM Murcia BSR at 18:00.

Tyler Baines, Peter Cusack and Abdi Jama will also be in action in Spain as their Amivel Reyes Gutierrez team travel to Valladolid to take on Fundacion Aliados (17:00). Amivel recorded their first win of the season last time out against CD Ilunion with Terry Bywater and Gregg Warburton looking to help Ilunion bounce back this weekend when their team welcomes Fundacion Vital Zuzenak to Madrid (17:30).

James MacSorley will play against his former club BSR ACE Gran Canaria when Bidaideak Bilbao BSR make the 2,500-mile round-trip to play Gran Canaria at 18:00. There’s also an away trip for Lee Fryer and Callum Doherty as Servigest Burgos travel west to play Iberconsa Amfiv (17:00).

In Germany, Simon Brown and Jim Palmer will both be in action including a top of the table clash for Brown as RSV Lahn-Dill take on reigning RBBL1 champions RSB Thuringia Bulls. Both Lahn-Dill and Thuringia Bulls have a 100 per cent winning record so far this season and they will go head-to-head at 18:30 on Saturday.

Jim Palmer will be hoping his Rhine River Rhinos Wiesbaden can get back on track after back-to-back defeats followed their opening two wins. Their next game is at home to BBC Münsterland at 16:00 on Saturday.

Joy Hazielden will be back on court in the USA representing University of Alabama in the Hollister Invitational. It’s another double header for the two-time Paralympian with the first fixture of the weekend on Friday (23:00) against Fort Lauderdale before a game against ABC Medical on Saturday at 19:00.

In France, there’s no game for Tom Barnes’ Gennevillers, but it will be a gameday for Fin Tonner as Red Dragon’s Metz have an away trip at the unbeaten Club Sportif de Meaux Basket Fauteuil on Saturday (17:00).

Spain (all times listed as UK Time)

Mideba Extremadura v Fundacion FDI Las Rozas

(17:00 – Saturday 30 October)  
Lewis Edwards
Charlotte Moore
Phil Pratt    
Fundacion Aliados v Amivel Reyes Gutierrez

(17:00 – Saturday 30 October)  
Tyler Baines
Peter Cusack
Abdi Jama  
Iberconsa Amfiv v Servigest Burgos

(17:00 – Saturday 30 October)  
Callum Doherty
Lee Fryer  
CD Ilunion v Fundacion Vital Zuzenak

(17:30 – Saturday 30 October)  
Terry Bywater
Gregg Warburton
BSR ACE Gran Canaria v Bidaideak Bilbao BSR

(18:00 – Saturday 30 October)  
James MacSorley    
BSR Amiab Albacete v UCAM Murcia BSR

(18:00 – Saturday 30 October)
Harry Brown Ben Fox
Lee Manning Kyle Marsh  

Germany

Rhine River Rhinos Wiesbaden v BBC Münsterland

(16:00 – Saturday 30 October)  
Jim Palmer
RSV Lahn-Dill v RSB Thuringia Bulls

(18:30 – Saturday 30 October)  
Simon Brown

Italy

PDM Treviso v UnipolSai Briantea84

(14:30 – Saturday 30 October)  
Sophie Carrigill
Ian Sagar
SBS Montello v Avis S. Stefano

(15:30 – Sunday 31 October)  
Oliver Griffith-Salter

France

Club Sportif de Meaux Basket Fauteuil v Red Dragon’s Metz

(17:00 – Saturday 16 October)  
Fin Tonner

USA

University of Alabama v Fort Lauderdale
(23:00 – Friday 29 October)

University of Alabama v ABC Medical
(19:00 – Saturday 30 October)  
Joy Haizelden