Coach Mark Rangeley Boosts Island Teams Preparations

This week also saw Myerscough Basketball Coach Mark Rangeley on-island to run training sessions for the Island’s U18s and Men’s team as part of their preparations for the 2025 Yns Mon Basketball Tournament. Coach Rangeley started his basketball career in Hodgson School under the well-respected Coach Roy Blake before graduating to Blackpool Basketball Academy and further honing his skills on the Isle of Man at the NBC Basketball Camp, which formerly ran in King William’s College. After a stint playing college ball in Iowa, Rangeley returned to the UK signing contracts with Manchester Giants and Chesire Phoenix, where he plays today.

The 6ft 6 Guard brought a wealth of experience and insight for the Island Teams, focussing on finishing at the hoop and individual offence in two training camps that ran in the NSC and The Roundhouse. “The key to the modern game is transition offence.” Said Coach Rangeley “Teams must push the ball forward and get the defence to commit so it opens up teammates for easy buckets. With quick pace the transition 3 can be the most open shot an offence will create and opens up good chances for rebounds before the defence can get set.”

Both the U18s and Mens Island Teams will be venturing to Myerscough College, where Rangeley  coaches, to test their skills against the local teams in the New Year. The 2025 hosts of the Island Games were unable to accommodate basketball and so the Island Mens and Ladies Teams are building up to a Basketball Tournament that Yns Mons is hosting in its place. Meanwhile the U18s have been working hard with their sights firmly set on the future and the Island Games on the Isle of Man in 2029. Another session of open try-outs for the Island Teams will be held in January with further details to be announced in the coming weeks.