As the Home Countries from around the UK became one for the first time at FIBA recognised age group Championships this summer, basketballscotland are taking a look back at a successful summer of International Basketball for the players, coaches and officials involved.
July 2017
Commissioner Robert Bald was the first Scottish representative in action where he was involved with the U20 Women’s European Championships Division A.
Eddie McKinley was also involved as Commissioner at the U16 Men European Championships Division C.
Chris Dodds was in Slovakia to referee the U18 Men’s European Championships in his first of two appointments to Division A tournaments this summer.
August 2017
Alex Henderson and Megan Jones made history as the first Scottish youth players to represent GB at a European Championships. The duo were part of the very successful GB U18 Women’s team who competed in Dublin at the U18 Women European Championships Division B. GB finished in fourth place after losing to Poland in the Bronze Medal game.
Henderson averaged 6 points per game at the tournament while Jones averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds per game for GB.
Mariann Dodds-Miklosik was also in Dublin throughout the U18 Women European Championships Division B and was awarded for her performances with an appointment to the officiating crew for the 2017 Final between hosts Ireland and Germany.
Scotland’s Callan Low and Shawnisay Miller were also part of the historic summer for British Basketball. Both youngsters represented GB in the first ever FIBA 3×3 tournament that GB have played in.
Christopher Feeney represented the GB U16 Men in Sofia while Scotland’s Craig Nicol joined James Vear’s Coaching Staff as Assistant Coach. In a heart-breaking Bronze Medal game, GB narrowly missed out on promotion to Division A with a last-second loss to Georgia.
Graham Shaw was also in Sofia as an official at the U16 Men’s European Championships Divison B.
Feeney finished the tournament with an average of 8 points per game while also leading the team in assists, averaging 3 per game.
Chris Dodds was also back in refereeing action in August following his appointment to the U16 Men’s European Championships Division A in Montenegro where he officiated the top youth national teams from around Europe.
Pollyanna Storie was selected to represent the GB U16 Women’s team at this year’s European Championships Division B in Macedonia. Storie, who still has another year at U16 level impressed with an average of 4 points and 4 rebounds per game despite picking up an injury that left her side-lined for some of the tournament.
Iain Macdonald received his first appointment as a FIBA licenced official when GB took on Greece at the Copper Box Arena in London as part of their EuroBasket 2017 preparation.
September 2017
Scotland’s Kieron Achara and Gareth Murray both flew the flag for Scotland as part of Joe Prunty’s 12-man GB squad at the EuroBasket 2017 Finals in Istanbul. Though winless in the group stages, GB played with heart and determination throughout the tournament putting up close fights against the likes of Turkey, Russia and Latvia.
Achara finished the tournament with 6 points per game. Murray ended his EuroBasket campaign with the same average as his fellow Rocks and Scotland team-mate.
Following on from his success at the U20 Women’s European Championships Division A, Scottish Commissioner, Robert Bald, was also appointment as Crew Chief Commissioner at Europe’s most elite Finals event, EuroBasket 2017. Bald was in charge for the tournament Final between Slovenia and Serbia.
basketballscotland would also like to congratulate the GB U18 and GB U20 Men’s teams on securing promotion to Division A for GB Basketball next year.
