Leichner Recognises Significance of “Huge Win” Over Latvia

By Sam Neter on July 9, 2014

Great Britain Under-20s Head Coach Doug Leichner has said he recognises the significance of the Great Britain Under-20 men’s programme’s first win in Division A, especially with it being over a team such as Latvia.

The Under-20s defeated Latvia 64-62 on Tuesday night thanks to some last minute heroics from big man Ben Lawson, who knocked down the game winning free throws with 10 seconds remaining and then came up with a steal on the final possession (highlights here).

Though Leichner has said they weren’t focusing on the significance of the programme’s first Division A victory, it was made all the more special by it being against a powerhouse like Latvia who were runners up last year at U20 and fourth place finishers with the U18s.

“We got promoted last year and it was our first promotion, so we were definitely aware of that, but it (the game having historical significance) was not something we really talked about,” the second year U20s Head Coach said in an interview with FIBA after the game.

“Our big thing right now is to be in the moment of the game we are playing. Having said that, we know the significance of beating a basketball country like Latvia. So for us, yes, it was a huge win.”

Despite this, he remains acutely aware that their work is far from over, with their goal being to win it all.

“Our goal, we keep saying, is to win a championship until it’s no longer an option,” he added.

“So I don’t want us to say for example ‘we want to finish seventh’ or ‘we want to go on to the next round’. We have to create a vision and a mission and best to attain it. Having said, that, this is clearly a very difficult tournament with some great countries involved, but we are not going to be the first country or the first team to say ‘we are not good enough’. So we are going to dream big, and see where it takes us.”

GB beat Latvia at their own game by playing an up-tempo style of basketball, and Leichner added that people will likely see more fast break basketball from GB in the remainder of the tournament as they prepare to face Hungary tonight.

“I think we definitely like to get up and down, to play with a fast pace and share the ball,” he continued. “The more possessions we get, the better. We are not looking to slow it down by any means but I do feel that if we need to fight in the half court, we can do both. Given the choice, we like to play fast.”

Check out the full interview over at FIBA Europe.

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