Duco van Oostrum: One Game at a Time

Duco van Oostrum checks in from Romania with his sixth blog of the Great Britain Under 20s’ 2013 campaign, looking at Group A clinching win over Hungary!
U20 European Championship B, Pitesti, Romania

Great Britain 65 (13, 35, 56)

Hungary 60 (20, 28, 46)

The game against Hungary was always going to be a serious challenge. GB had beaten them in warm ups in Portugal, but three of their starters and main scorers did not play that game. Big name players Roscoe Allen (6’10 driver) plays for Stanford, Laszlo Dobos (7’3 giant, the tallest player here) entered the draft but then withdrew and then there is more height, physicality, and professional pedigree all over their roster.

While the remarkable win v Poland certainly made GB favourites, the group was actually still all to play for. If Hungary won, it would mean three teams at 4-1 and because of points difference, Poland would then be first, GB second, and Hungary third. Only a GB win would allow them to clinch top spot in the group.

Signs weren’t good. For the first time for GB, they had to play in the small University gym, an unworthy venue for a FIBA European championship. Spectator seating is only available behind the baskets and we have to view the game through giant fishnets. There’s seating on the gallery, but we are told this is only for VIP badge holders—the chairs are empty.

There’s a complete disdain for supporters who have actually come to this nice country to support their team at significant expense and give something to Romania’s economy. The court itself is small and the baskets are from the Bill Russell era with soft backboards. Hurl the ball against it, and it might just drop. It’s also hot and the referees look grumpy that they have to be here on the day before rest day. As I said, the stage is set.

Rowell loses the tip and the game starts with six consecutive misses. Scoring is going to be a struggle today for both teams. Luckily Joe Hart is in one of those tournament zones and scores the first five points for GB and a 5-2 lead. Rowell works hard under the basket and picks up his points, but Hungary look hungrier, jumping out to 10-4.

For the first time, GB isn’t sharp on the boards. Devon finally gets a shot to fall and GB battle back to 16-13 on Zak’s free-throws. Dobos and Allen kill GB inside, though, and finish the quarter strong, taking a 20-13 lead. Did I mention we were worried?

Not enough can be said about the contribution Lewis Champion is making in his limited minutes. He comes in and sets the trademark GB defensive tone, providing that much needed spark. He scores four big points but also just gets energy going and GB will play its best quarter of the game. Matthew Don also is working his way back from his injury and together with Nick Lewis, they get GB back to 20-19.

A characteristic scoring spree from Devon, Joe with another three, Nick with a jumpshot and it’s the GB team energy that we recognise. Devon shoots the gap, big dunk, and time-out Hungary, 31-24 GB.

But more misses, though, and it remains tough. It’s déjà vu when Devon shoots the gap and dunks again, but the game stays too close, 35-28 at the half—a good quarter at 22-8 with some stellar defense.

Very quickly, through down-low scoring from Raph and creative play from Devon, GB establishes its first double-digit lead, extended to 14 after another Joe three, and a pleasedon’tbreaktherim dunk from Raph (referees had told the players not to dunk during warm up). It all might look relatively safe on the scoreboard, but the game doesn’t feel like it.

Matthew Don and Nick Lewis (free throws) keep the safe margin intact; however, it’s all a struggle. The referees follow their morning instructions by calling unsportsmanlike fouls that haven’t been called all tournament and there’s a bit of a niggling feeling to the game.

Still, a 12-point lead to start the fourth. When Markovich hit the three-pointer with about 5-minutes to play, it’s a one-point game, 58-59—there was another unsportsmanlike against Matthew in the meantime, and we’ve only scored three free throws so far. Great. And there’s not a defibrillator in sight.

Luckily, the Romanians are GB fans and they copy our clear instructions to the team—Go GB! Since shots seem not be falling, Nick hurls himself into trees and his quick jump off the miss allows him the tip, 61-58, 3min 51 to play. There are no scores until 20 seconds left to play when Hungary closes to 61-60.

Plenty happens during those agonising 3+ minutes, though. Significantly, there are no fouls called on either side during that time either and it’s a serious brutal defensive stand by both teams. Because the shot clock is turned off for the final 20 seconds, Hungary have to foul and GB make sure the balls gets into Devon’s hands; coaches sub offensive for defense several times.

Hungary are in the penalty with 11 seconds to play, Devon hits the free-throws. Time-out Hungary, GB up three, ball at the hash mark. Coaches, what do you do? Foul and take the two free-throws or gamble on a missed three, since the ‘worst’ that could happen is OT? GB opt for the latter.

Markovich misses the contested three and Matthew comes up with the huge rebound as Devon comes in to grab it, and gets fouled immediately with five seconds left on the clock. Both free-throws drop and GB claim the hard-fought 65-60 victory. Winning ugly.

After such a difficult game, it takes a while to realise that actually GB win the group, are 5-0, and undefeated all year. They’ve almost played a season in about six weeks, have been behind in multiple games, but always found a way to win. It is a very special team.

The rest day couldn’t happen at a better moment. The players need this day for rest and the coaches need this day for extra prep and delivering game plans. The quarter-finals are set after the Netherlands lose to Switzerland. GB’s opponent in the quarter final is now the 4th place-finisher from the other group, the Netherlands.

A much-coveted semi-final final is at stake there, which in itself would be the best-ever result of an U20s men’s team. Everyone here is so focused on that next game, the next ‘final’—one game at a time.

Fortunately, all the top eight games are played at the big sports hall, Trivale. One of the security guards tells us he’s put a bet on GB. We feel at home.

Duco.

Scores and Stats:
Devon van Oostrum, 26p, 5 assist, 7reb, 8 times fouled against.
Joe Hart, 11p (3/5 3s).
Raph Thomas-Edwards, 9p, 4 reb, 3 steals. +8 on court.
Nick Lewis, 6p, 3 rebounds.
Lewis Champion-Alleyne, 4p, 1 assist.
Matthew Don, 4p, 10 reb.
Zac Wells, 3p, 4 reb, 2 blocked shots.
Rowell Graham, 2p, 5 reb, 2 steals.
John Stewart, 3 reb, 1 assist.
Grant MacKay
Jordan Spencer, DNP
Joe Lockwood, DNP