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Brave GB and Mighty Mensah fall short to the Slovenians
September 7, 2009 at 1:32 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Thankfully, the BBC realised that the achievements of the Great Britain basketball team in reaching Eurobasket were so phenomenal that they felt they must broadcast the history being made by Gb being at Eurobasket. Albeit, it was only on the bbc website or on the red button. Nevertheless it is a chance to promote the game and Great Britain didn’t dissapoint as they played 3 and a half quarters of very entertaining basketball.
GB did get off to a very slow defensive start, as Slovenia opened up an 8-2 lead following two open threes and a very open layup. This open layup was followed by 2 more, and it seemed to be a woeful start to Eurobasket. On the offensive end, Pops Mensah-Bonsu was trying desperatly to assert himself in his first compe ive game for GB over summer due to difficulties with securing his insurance. However, maybe a little to desperatly, as his first three shots were unadvisable difficult shots to make and unsurprisingly he missed all three, one missing the rim entirely.
Half way through the first quarter it was Andy Betts who showed the way for his team mates, with a delightful spin move off his defender to lay it in. for 2 points. Pops seemed to learn from his team mate and mimicked the move shortly after. GB were starting to play a hand in the game, but shocking defense and sizzling offense saw Slovenia close the quarter shooting 90% from the field and out-rebounding GB 8-3. The first quarter ended with the score 27-15 in Slovenia’s favour.
Finch sprinkled some coaching magic at the quarter interval and GB game out all guns blazing. Archibald – perhaps luckily – began procedures with an edgy 3 point shot banking in off the backboard. Pops would then show his worth, scoring a super layup followed by another, but this time converting plus the foul. Completing the three point play he flew up high to unleash a mighty block on Lorbeck. Who then vengefully hit a beautiful jumper along the baseline to lead by 4.
Mike Lenzley drove to the hoop getting the foul and converting from the foul stripe, a habit that was becoming very regular from GB, who finished 11-13 from the foul line. This also meant Jagodnik was in foul trouble with 2 fouls, whos old legs could not keep up with those of Mike Lenzley. GB took their first lead off Lenzley at 34-33. Jurij Zdovc decided a timeout needed to be called and as the Slovenian players walked sulkingly off, the cheerleaders charged on dressed in black and white to entertain the fans. The second quarter ended with Bonsu being blocked in the paint but it was a good quarter for GB and Slovenia had racked up a shocking 12 fouls in comparison to GB’s 3. On a positive side they were still shooting a massive 81% and lead the game 37-35.
Nachbar had so far been slow and so must have been looking to light up in the 2nd half, but as the half began it was Nate Reiking who did the lighting up with a deep 3 in the corner. However, Nachbar repaid the favour with a 3 of his ownto make the scoe line 40-28 to Slovenia. Bonsu showed his explosiveness with another block, this one even mightier than the last. However, Slovenia continued to shoot well despite a bad spell, and led by 7 points midway in the third. Lorbek was than forced to the bench with 3 fouls.
Boyd perhaps felt the game was starting to run away from GB, and so turned it on with a 3 ffollowed by a magical runner. Sadly, this was the end of the good for GB, and from here on out the start of the sloppy play, which had so far been good (with only 5 turnovers) began. With the shot clock turned off GB were gifted with the last shot, but they coughed this up and with 3 seconds remaining the ball was in the hands of Archibald on the 3 point line, not the man people would immediately associate with 3 point buzzer beaters. And rightly so, Arch showed us why by throwing up an airball. Nonetheless, the game was still very much in touch for GB, and the fans knew it as some Slovenians began to get a little restless.
Entering the fourth quarter Slovenia were shooting 80% from the field and Lakovic decided to contribute with a precise 3 pointer from the corner. Samo Udrih then began what would be the fall of the underdogs with a nice jumper inside the 3 point line. Slovenia went on a 10-0 run who now lead 62-53 and it took a 3 from Flinder Boyd to put an end to the rot. Robert Archibald showed the last nice play with a shot off the dribble but it seemed a little to late.with the scoreline at 69-55. Bonsu added the last of his 18 points with a swift steal and a coast to coast layup. The obvious fatigue that had begun to plague the GB roster was proven as Archibald badly mishandled a pass on the run to the basket leaving 4 seconds on the clock. The final result 69-57. However GB showed some promise and will be deeply sad to leave with a loss. Pops Mensah-Bonsu lead all scorers and showed the explosiveness and the reason he is many fans favourites.
One thing can be said for certain, we haven’t seen the last of the GB basketball team. Tune in tomorrow to watch the tough encounter with Spain.
Sammy Nanneh
http://badaball-boards.com/gbbasketball/?p=1437
