22/08/07 Team Great Britain started their Eurobasket Division B qualification campaign with a resounding 77-52 victory over Slovakia at the NIA on Tuesday night, and Newcastle Eagles' point guard Richard Midgley (14 points) was second only to Luol Deng (22 points) in scoring and won a ringing endorsement from Tony Garbelotto. Midgley took control from the point guard spot very early in the contest, and his 5 points during the first quarter, combined with a 6-0 run that was capped by a thunderous dunk from Robert Archibald, helped Team GB to an early 13-6 lead on their way to winning the first quarter 19-14. "I felt that Richard was spectacular on the night," said GB Assistant and London United Head Coach Tony Garbelotto, "he really did play well. I think that there is absolutely no question that he was one of our better players and we are very happy with him in that respect." The lead reached double-figures in the second quarter as Midgley, with a three-pointer, and Deng combined for five consecutive points. The pair combined again shortly afterwards as Deng fed Midgley for a lay-up, before the NBA star took over heading into the half with 6 further points as GB went in 37-20 to the good. The third quarter belonged to Robert Archibald as he suppressed a mini-revival from the Slovaks by scoring 8 points in a row and the lead swelled to 51-30. Midgley made two successful drives to the basket to contribute to a 10-3 opening to the fourth period and triples from Nate Reinking and Luol Deng extended the lead to its peak at 32 points midway through the quarter. Team GB eased home despite a late flurry of scores from the visitors. "We're very happy," Garbelotto added, "it's the first of six stages, we have to win six games in a row and there is no question that a performance like that leaves us very happy, especially on the defensive end. We hope to step up in the future, and keep improving, because there is much more to come." Prospective BBL player Chris Haslam, who Garbelotto has insisted is on his way back to the BBL, also featured off the bench, sharing minutes with the dominant inside force of Leicester born Andy Betts and Scotsman Archibald. Eight-year BBL star Nate Reinking, who spent six of those years with the Sheffield Sharks, sank a pair of three-pointers on his way to 10 points for the night. Julius Joseph, who is in negotiations for a third year at the Scottish Rocks, did not feature in the game courtesy of being in London attending to a family matter. From here, GB head to Holland for a crucial tie with the Dutch next Wednesday, before welcoming Albania to Meadowbank in Edinburgh on 1st September.
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