GB LEFT POLE-AXED

Great Britain were beaten 73-64 by Poland on Saturday to end their Spanish trip winless.

It sends Pete Buckle’s side into next month’s EuroBasket Women with a 2-4 record in their build-up and, behind 18 points from Chantelle Gandy, they nearly picked up a confidence-boosting victory at the last before the Poles closed with a 10- run to seal the spoils.

“We built some momentum and got the lead which is good, but we just didn’t finish the game well enough,” Buckle said.

“We have seen important improvements between game one and game three, especially in our possession game.

“We also had fewer turnovers and we are shooting the ball a little better.

“It’s just about being able to execute offensively in those key moments.

“We have to get ready now for EuroBasket Women and the challenge ahead by training hard between now and the start of the competition.”

While Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott was rested as a precautionary measure due to a groin problem, there was a surprise return for Steph Gandy from injury.

And the WBBL MVP helped GB to take an early 16-9 lead before a 13-3 run from their rivals eventually saw them move seven clear before a flurry from Rachael Vanderwal helped cut the deficit to 42-37 by half-time.

Poland started the third quarter well and ominously streaked away at 50-39, but some great work by Azania Stewart put her into double-figures with 10 points.

Combined with restricting Poland to one basket in over three minutes and a score by Nicole How just before the buzzer allowed GB to narrow to 58-54 heading into the last period.

Erin McGarrachan edged her side closer in the fourth quarter with a pair of free throws and as GB continued to work harder than ever defensively, Poland continued to stutter offensively.

With four minutes left on the game clock, Handy drained a huge three-pointer and that completed the comeback by putting GB 64-63 in front.

But she fouled out and Poland rallied to close out the game, despite an assist from Vanderwal of ten points and seven rebounds.

Young Scottish prospect Hannah Peacock failed to come off the bench in the three games in Spain, signalling her out as a certain cut, leaving Buckle with one more player to omit before naming his 12 for Hungary. Others, he hopes, will strengthen his hand.

“We have to get ready now for EuroBasket Women and the challenge ahead by training hard between now and the start of the competition,” he said.

“We still have Temi Fagbenle to come back into things and three or four niggling injuries to take care of. So hopefully we will be healthy when we arrive in Hungary.”

Game stats 

Canada are colonial queens

Great Britain lost 73-45 to Canada in Logrones on Friday in their penultimate warm-up ahead of EuroBasket Women.

Pete Buckle’s side never recovered from falling 13-2 behind at the outset and although they briefly closed to with six, the Canadians closed clear.

Rachael Vanderwal had a team-best 12 points for GB, who complete their build-up against Poland on Saturday morning

Game stats