Great Britain clinch bronze medal at European Championships
Great Britain won a well deserved bronze medal at the European Championships by defeating a gritty Poland team 73 - 65 in Adana, Turkey.
The game was of a high standard with both teams shooting the ball at an impressive rate. Great Britain shot the ball at 51% and Poland at 62%.
The game started evenly before Great Britain went on a 7-0 run to lead 12 - 4 before Poland closed the quarter with a 6 - 0 run to narrow the lead to just 14-12 at quarter time.
The second quarter continued at the high standard set in the first quarter with help from Jon Pollock, who scored 22 points in the first half, GB won the quarter 23-21 to lead 37 - 33 at half time.
In the third quarter, Great Britain extended their lead to 8 points by scoring the first two baskets before Poland responded with 6 unanswered points. Poland won this quarter 18 -17 to narrow Great Britain’s lead to 54-51.
At the start of the last quarter Terry Bywater was inserted into the game and his 8 last quarter points along with Pollock’s 9 last quarter points saw Great Britain draw away. The relentless full court pressure of Brown, Finbow and Pollock eventually wore down the Polish teams.
Great Britain's Head Coach, Murray Treseder said “I am pleased with the team’s performance during the Championships. We are disappointed that we were not in the final but we are making pleasing progress as the team heads towards the 2010 World Championships in Birmingham.”
Great Britain's leading scorers were
- Jon Pollock 34 points and 5 assists,
- Simon Munn 16 points and 6 rebounds
- Terry Bywater 8 points and 5 rebounds
- Ian Sagar 7 points and 9 rebounds
Poland's two principle scorers Luszynski and Flipski were held to 13 and 12 points respectively.
