SO CLOSE
Qualification for Eurobasket 2011 women was an unexpected achievement in itself but when they managed to secure a second round spot, a lot of jaws hit the floor. Next order of business, see if they can finish in the top four of Group E despite starting with an 0-2 handicap. The first challege of their extended stay in Bydgsozcz was a Lithuania team that started this round with a 2-0 boost and a long history in this tournament - including lifting the trophy in 1997! GB's biggest problem? Jo Leedham still not being given a starting spot due to her knee injury. Yet so far this was simply allowing other players to shine. Would they now get a reality check?
The initial plays of the match did not look good for GB as it took over two minutes for our girls to get a bucket but it was still too early to really lose the game. In fact a three pointer saw us take a 5-4 lead with 6:57 left in the opening quarter but the Lithuanians soon retook the lead and surged ahead. GB hadn't quite shut down but it certainly looked as though we weren't fully functioning, yet the Lithuanians weren't quite blowing us away either. In fact a couple of free throws just before the buzzer confirmed that we weren't going away any time soon. Still, Asura Bimbaite was leading the girls in green with 5 points. GB were losing 16-15 at the end of one.
GB wasted little time in the 2nd quarter, retaking the lead sharply before Lithuania replied with a strong display to counter everything we had to throw at them in those early stages. They went on to lead 28-23 with 6:14 left in the half but GB replied with a comeback charge to tie the game again. The next couple of minutes were seriously messy offensively but it was the Lithuanians that got their act together first, retaking a slight lead going into those closing stages. Those closing stages through contained a brilliant display from Team GB, as our defence shut down the Lithuanians allowing the offence to take their time in picking them off! Julie Page was our main girl here, grabbing eight points. GB were leading a Eurobasket second round match 32-30 at half time!
In the early stages of the 3rd, well, our girls were forcing their opposite numbers from one of European basketball's traditional powers into treading water. Brilliant! Our girls went on to hold the Lithuanians scoreless for well over two minutes. Unbelievable! The Lithuanians managed to come back though and led 42-40 with 4:07 left in the period but GB quickly turned the game back around and we were back into dreamland! Lithuania weren't done yet though and the two sides did wind up duelling for the lead before the end but even a bad turnover couldn't quite take the smile off my face. Page was now on 14 points, Jo backing her up with 13. 49-48 GB, a quarter to go. Hold on tight.
Like in the 3rd, GB were in no mood to hang around in the final period and we looked set to be cruising into the distance. In fact the girls in green looked as though they were running out of ideas, cutting into our lead briefly before a three pointer allowed us to lead 61-55 with 5:45 left in the match. Then however came the opening stages on the Lithuanian comeback but still, we kept the scoreboard ticking over, so far so good. Then it tensed up and we lost out ability to put the ball in the basket. Now our defence had to hold out. No scores on either side for the best part of two minutes. We just had to keep going. Then came a late foul, two free throws sunnk and we had no response. Bimbaite finished with 16 points, backed up by Sandra Linkeviciene on 14. GB lost 64-63 in the most gutting way possible.
Elsewhere, Belarus beat Russia 62-51 with Natalia Marchanka leading the winning effort with 11 points. Russia was leading at half time but Belarus just exploded in the 3rd quarter and Russia were unable to recover in the 4th. The Czech Republic beat Turkey 56-51 with the Czechs being led by Katerina Elhotova with 19 points. The Czechs were never able to really bury the Turks who even led the game at the end of the 3rd only to get turned around in the final period. So, GB remains 6th in group E, now on an 0-3 record and a -31 points difference deficit. The target is Russia in 4th place, currently on a 1-2 record. This is not over.
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