Perfect record in EYBL
London United U20’s have emulated the feat of their U14 younger colleagues and returned from Stage I of EYBL competition in Hungary with a perfect 4:0 record. United started their European campaign with a fairly routinely win against Djurgarden Basket. Sweden 104 -56. The game was decided in the third quarter which United won by 22 points. Saturday has provided by far the sternest test for United with two games in the day from high calibre competition. Straight after breakfast United faced a tricky encounter against USK Prague, Czech Republic. From the very start Khalil, Poorman and Adan provided very steady leadership and effectively fed Butrimas who led United scorers with 15 points and perhaps even more importantly clearing an incredible 18 boards. Butrimas was very effectively supported by Khalil scoring 13 points and dishing 8 assists, while Golovcenko and Adan scored 12 apiece. United was able to maintain their lead through the game and sailed to a 75-61 win.
All worries about United being fatigued against Ratgeber Academy from Hungary were quickly dispelled in the first quarter when our young Londoners built a 13 point lead. Again, Butrimas stole the show with a series of spectacular dunks on his way to 18 points and 14 rebounds. United greatly benefited from a very well spread offense with Poorman scoring 15 points and 6 assists and Bentley helping himself to an impressive 16 points from the paint.
United secured an unblemished record by beating Independence Basketball France 79-55. The French team started quite brightly taking an early 4 points lead but their enthusiasm was quickly extinguished by Adan who connected a perfect 4 out of 4 triples in the first quarter. United established a double digit lead in the middle of the second quarter and was very much untroubled to the end of proceedings. The French team had absolutely no answer to United’s balanced offence with Butrimas, Adan, Murray and Khalil all scoring over 20 points each.
Alongside a perfect record, United players also bring home some individual awards with Khalil named Player of the Team and Butrimas who led the entire tournament in efficiency with an incredible 30.75 average alongside 14.5rpg was voted to All Star Player of the tournament.
Coach Szatkowski was understandably delighted with results stating: “It’s a very testing period for us as he have an incredibly intense schedule. However, the boys are responding fantastically well. This tournament proved that we have a deep squad with a high number of players which are able to change the course of the game at this level. Tomas was our All Star but it was an incredible team performance. We are in a very good position before the second stage of the competition in January.”
10.11.18