The Great Britain Under-20s took their second big scalp of the Division A European Championships, beating Greece 69-66, thanks to a three pointer with a second remaining from Luke Nelson on Friday evening in Crete.
After Greece’s Christodoulou hit a three to tie the game with just over 1 minute remaining, GB turned the ball over on their ensuing possession, but managed to force a Greek miss, Ben Lawson corralling the rebound and getting it ahead to Luke Nelson who knocked down the clutch shot and win the game.
“This win was all about preparation and focus,” said GB Head Coach Doug Leichner after the game.
“The team preparations start from the coaches and it ends up within the players. That’s what it takes to play at this level. It starts at the coaching level breaking down the video, then working on the plays, walking through with the players and finally executing it on the floor.
“It then takes focus to win games like this especially on a road game like this, because that’s what this was playing the home team from the host country. It was always going to be tough but the team were prepared and had the focus to win.
“Luke Nelson had the confidence to take that shot. Greece missed a shot down the other end and the ball was in his hands. He wanted to take it and he had the confidence to take it. He pulled up from deep, way beyond the arc and he drained it with confidence.”
Nelson has become known for his clutch heroics, having come up big time and time again throughout his career, but none as big as this one.
He finished with 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals, with Elliott Sentance adding 12 and Kavell Bigby-Williams 9 points and 9 rebounds.
Assistant Coach James Vear tweeted after the game:
We just beat Greece in Greece, unbelievable. Our guys mental toughness was amazing, huge win #Believe #2FeetIn #GBU20NT
— Coach Vear (@CoachVear) July 11, 2014
GB will now round out the first round against Lithuania on Saturday.
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