Team takes on Europe
All Up — The Flames men’s basketball team make sure that Christ is at the center of their play. Over the summer the team took the message overseas.
Not just the NBA went overseas this summer
The Liberty men’s basketball team was able to take an exciting trip overseas this summer to play against six European teams and finished with a 4-2 record.
The team spent nine days total in Europe, visiting parts of Belgium, Switzerland and France. In between games, the team was able to experience European culture with the help of Dr. Samuel C. Smith, a history professor at Liberty, who accompanied the team in order to provide a historical perspective.
On Aug. 8, the team arrived in Brussels, Belgium to begin their European campaign.
After a sight-seeing tour, the team played their first exhibition game, defeating Excelsior in the Omnisport Gymnasium 81-53. Jesse Sanders finished with 16 points, David Minaya recorded 14 rebounds and John Brown finished with a double-double.
The team left Brussels to travel to Bruges, Belgium and toured historic landmarks in the city. After assisting Coach Layer with a basketball clinic, the team prepared for its second game, in which they defeated Ookstamp 86-58. Sanders led the team in scoring once again with 22 points, while brother John Caleb Sanders scored 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting from behind the three-point line. Minaya also turned in a 14-point performance.
After a 2-0 start, the team rested before heading to Ghent, where they visited three historical buildings. Later that evening, the Flames faced their toughest test thus far, defeating Zwevezele 79-66 to run their record to 3-0. Zwevezele pulled within one possession of the Flames with 7:30 remaining in the game, but impressive shooting and tough defense led the Flames to the win.
Day five saw the team resting after their early strenuous schedule. The Flames exhibition that evening was special for the people of Brussels, who were holding the game in tribute to Frederic Mucole, a young Belgian basketball player who had died one year earlier in a tragic car accident. In honor of Frederic, the Flames took on the Brussels All-Stars, losing 77-76. Brown finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds in the impressive effort, while Jesse Sanders finished with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists.
Following four consecutive days of basketball, the team took a day to travel from Brussels, Belgium to France.
After spending time in the Riquewhir shops and the Chateau de Haut in Konisberg, France, the Flames prepared for another game. Soce, a former player for Layer in the mid-1980s, organized the game that evening.
Soce, who was born in Senegal, Africa, partnered with Madame Keller, the proprietor of the hotel in which the Flames were staying, to raise money for a school in Senegal. All proceeds from the game went to providing utilities for the school. As for the game itself, Liberty picked up its fourth win, defeating Kayserberg 79-64. Five flames players finished with double digit scoring, including Minaya who lead the team with 18 points, while Sanders finished with 14 points 10 rebounds and seven assists.
On day eight, the Flames traveled from Kayserberg to Mulhouse, France. The team spent the majority of the afternoon preparing for the final game of their trip. Playing its sixth game in seven days, Liberty battled despite losing 88-79 to Mulhouse. Once again, Minaya led the team with 16 points. Antwan Burress and J.C. Sanders each posted 11 points, while Sanders put up 10 points of his own, concluding the European tour with a 4-2 record.