England U16s Remain Unbeaten After Comeback Leads to Overtime Win

By Bradley Gains on August 22, 2014

England under-16’s needed overtime after battling back from 11 points down at half-time to record their third straight victory at the European Championships after beating Estonia 83-75 in Strumica on Friday.

Carl Wheatle again top scored for his side scoring all of his 14 points after the first half whilst adding 10 rebounds – for his third double-double at the tournament – as well as 7 assists. Three other players reached double figures with Nelson Boachie-Yiadom scoring 13 points, Kemar Hawes had 12 and there were 11 for Rayell Eytle-Rock.

Estonia made the stronger start and opened up a 25-18 advantage at the end of the first quarter. Their lead peaked at 13 points when leading 35-22 in the second which became 41-30 at the half-time break.

England began to mount their comeback in the second half and a 10-2 run in the third helped reduce the deficit to just five points. That gap would remain the same heading into the final quarter with Estonia holding on to a 58-53 advantage.

The lead was cut to a single point around the midway point of the fourth only for Estonia to push their lead back out to five points with 4:44 left on the clock. An untimely drought ensued as England kept their opponents off the scoreboard until just a minute to go, in which time they had built a four point lead at 70-66 on the back of a 9-0 run.

Estonia stopped the rot to make it a one possession game and then capitalised on two missed free throw’s to force overtime in the dying seconds with the score tied at 70-70.

Boachie-Yiadom scored England’s first seven points in the extra period in a pivotal 9-2 start to make it 79-72 in their favour. Wheatle added back-to-back baskets to all but secure the win as England celebrated another win in Macedonia.

Stats.

England are in action again on Saturday when they take on Belgium, who are also undefeated, at 20:00 UK time with the winner assured of progression.

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