With over 2,000 minutes of basketball action and over 1,000 players seen from all over the country – the Midnight Madness Chosen Few finally emerged to represent the UK against legendary competition in the mecca of all summer basketball…New York City.

After a tense Finals night, which saw one qualifier (Pappa Dembe-Kasse) ruled ineligible because of his inability to travel to America the following week, the final team travelling to NYC was:

Point Guards: Junior Williams, Perry Lawson
Shooting Guards: Steven Gayle, Marcus Knight, Wayne Robinson
Small Forwards: Mansour Mbye, Damion Modeste
Power Forwards: Mike Martin, Keith Jarrett
Centre: Darius Defoe, Matthew Bryan

The team were to be coached by Brixton TopCats legend, Jimmy Rogers.

The 3 games lined up for the Midnight Madness team were against United Brooklyn (the champions of the West 4^th Summer League), Domincan Power (number 1 team in NYC) and Team Roc/Kindgome All-Stars, from Harlem (Damon Dash's team).  The teams were supposed to be a mix of their best players and some of their younger high school/college players, which would have been a fair match against the age range of the Midnight Madness team. However, it was clear upon arriving at West 4^th for the first game, that in the competitive world of New York City summer basketball, anything goes when you step inside the lines of a NYC playground.

There would be no high school or college players in the first couple of games, strictly vets and pro’s.

GAME ONE:
MIDNIGHT MADNESS Vs. UNITED BROOKLYN
[WEST 4^TH PLAYGROUND, AKA ‘THE CAGE’]

As the Midnight Madness team warmed up inside the intense atmosphere of West 4^th (the original ‘Cage’), a swelling crowd of NYC hecklers beginning to tear into them about anything and everything (why is it every time you say you’re from England in America, somebody has to bring up the ‘cup of tea’ thing?!!). The Cage on West 4^th is one of the most historically significant streetball courts in the world, known for it’s small size, fenced in court and always heavy ‘talkative’ crowds – it is an intimidating place to play even for pro players.

Game one, for the Midnight Madness team, would be trial by fire.

United Brooklyn went undefeated all summer against the cream of NYC competition and featured some of the true legends of NYC playground basketball. John ‘Franchise’ Strickland (ask about him), ‘Speedy’ Williams, Darren ‘Primal Fear’ Phillips (for those who don’t know – it doesn’t get any better than DP) – all suited up against the relatively small Midnight Madness squad. ‘Franchise’ in particular (who has played in the NBA, for the New York Knicks) posed major problems – at 6’8” and 270lbs, his size was too much for the 200lbs (soaking wet) Darius Defoe inside the paint. Franchise was joined inside by a 6’11 long armed leaper, who didn’t end up doing much – but his presence was enough to keep the entire MM team shooting jumpers for most of the first half. The only players who seemed to be on their game early on were Junior Williams, Michael Martin and Mansour M’bye – who was giving back as much talk as he was getting, while taking the ball strong to the basket.

Junior Williams got locked into a battle with NYC legend Speedy Williams, which involved Speedy coming down the court, hesitating, driving the lane then pulling back to draw the foul…plus basket – the crowd went nuts. Junior, never one to back down from the challenge, came straight back at him calling him out, hitting him off with a sharp crossover to shake him then draining a looong 3 pointer. The crowd was silenced. Speedy then came down again, spun in the lane and whipped the ball across the lane to Franchise for a nice 2. Crowd goes crazy. Junior comes down, beats the double team at half court and hits another long 3! Crowd starts to get excited. Speedy comes down on the third trip, puts up a jumper and misses. Junior comes down, fakes the 3, leaving speedy behind him, spins in the lane and hits Mansour off with a no look for a lay up. By now, the crowd truly embrace Junior calling him out as a ‘player’.

Mike Martin picks up 2 early fouls as the entire team struggle with United Brooklyn’s size, which in the cage is even more beneficial to them as the court is too small to run on, it’s literally half court basketball all game. The other problem was adapting to the NBA rules on defense – which are completely different to the rules played in England. Time and time again United Brooklyn are awarded technical foul free throws for Midnight Madness illegal defense. Players were getting frustrated.

At the half Midnight Madness are down by 18 and it looks like it might be a blowout.

However, in the second half Mike Martin comes back into the game and starts showing his range, draining 3 3 pointers. Junior Williams adds to his rep by serving up dish after dish, although Keith Jarrett, Perry and Mansour all fail to convert uncontested lay ups. The crowd get into them. Matthew Bryan, the 17 year old youngster, makes a strong show in the second half, catching a dunk off the pass from Junior, hitting a 3 and getting several tough put backs. Between Junior, Mike and Matthew Midnight Madness surprise the crowd and bring the score back to within 5 with just 4 minutes left. Play of the game comes from Junior again…trapped on the sideline, he wraps the ball through his defenders legs, jumps over the legs of the 2 defenders and breaks free for an uncontested lay up. By this stage, the crowd have a new found respect for Junior Williams, who they say can play with anybody, anytime – high praise for an out of town guard to come into the heart of NYC and earn respect going against a NYC legend.

United Brooklyn are not undefeated by chance. Their combination of veteran play and size are too much for the wide eyed Midnight Madness team in the closing minutes and United Brooklyn end up winning 80-68. Though Midnight Madness are frustrated they lost their first game, going against a team of United Brooklyn’s calibre, and trying to defend ‘Franchise’, they have done extremely well and earn the respect of the crowd at West 4^th.

Special shout out to Marsha Ambrosius of Floetry, who flew in from Philly specially to support the team at West 4^th! Marsha is an original Brixton TopCat, and showed much love in making the effort to get over to NYC – her support was much appreciated. Floetry are back in London later this month (17^th September – Hammersmith Apollo), make sure you get your tickets!

Top scorers for Midnight Madness: Junior Williams 21 points, Mike Martin 14 points, Matthew Bryan 13 points.