Clean sweep for Great Britain Men in the Pool Stages
In a top of the table clash between two basketball heavyweights, Great Britain and USA, the lead changed hands 24 times ensuring a tense final pool A stage game.
The game got off to a ferocious start with a 3 pointer for USA’s Jason Nelms opening the scoring. Ian Sagar continued his fine form from the rest of the tournament adding 4 points.
It was a close first quarter with three pointers coming from USA’s Matt Scott and Great Britain’s Jon Pollock. USA then got into foul trouble with 5 team fouls and Terry Bywater converted from the free throw line but USA still finished the quarter with a 2 point lead.
The match was fairly even in the second quarter as the teams exchanged baskets to tie the game at 28 all. It was Gaz Choudhry’s two free throws that put GB ahead for the first time in the match. GB outscored USA 19 -15 in this quarter turning the tables to give them the two point advantage.
The third quarter went in much the same fashion with USA and GB both cancelling each other out. Gaz Choudhry took his tally to double figures to tie the game and the two sides went into the final quarter level on 51 points each.
At the start of the final quarter, Simon Munn shot four points to edge GB ahead. Although it was not a dirty game, several players found themselves in foul trouble including Jon Pollock, Simon Munn and Simon Brown for GB and Matthew Scott for USA. GB were boosted by a three point play from Ian Sagar and USA started to lose their grip on the game and their discipline with the coach receiving a technical foul. GB scored one of their free throws and the rebound to stretch their lead and ensured that they got the win needed to set up a favourable quarter final draw.
Great Britain’s Head Coach, Murray Treseder said after the match “I’m happy with the way we played, it’s the best we have played so far this tournament and hopefully we can take this performance and build on it going into the quarter finals.”
Pictures courtesy of BasketballViews
.jpg)
