GB U20s Start European Championships with Victory

Image credit: Hoopsfix.com

Great Britain Under-20’s made a winning start to their Division B campaign at the European Championships, in Chalkida, Greece, after beating Albania 62-44, on Friday morning.

Pharroh Gordon top scored with 12 points to lead a balanced attack with Josh Steel also in double figures with 10 points along with eight rebounds as Andreas Kapoulas’ side earn a 1-0 record in Group C.

After a slow start, Dang Akodo opened the scoring and GB would have a narrow 4-3 advantage through the first five minutes of the game. Gordon converted a three-point play to cap a 13-4 run for GB to help forge a 17-11 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

Scores from Deane Williams and Sedale Hanson-Young extended the gap to double digits for the first time at the start of the second and Steel showed his range in the period with two triples as GB went into half-time with a commanding 11-point lead at 34-23.

GB were slow to get going in the second half and were held to just a single point for over four minutes in the third with the lead trimmed back into single figures.

Andre Arissol had the quick hands to turn a steal into a score at the other end for GB’s first field goal in the quarter to re-open the 11-point gap at 40-29. Callum Lawson later added a three after a good save from Steel and GB headed into the fourth, 48-31 ahead.

A 6-0 burst towards the start of the final quarter saw the lead extend beyond 20 points with the advantage peaking at 54-33. Steel became GB’s first player into double figures and Gordon followed suit later on with four points to finish with 12 to complete the routine win.

11 players got onto the scoresheet for GB and they edged the rebounding battle (46-41) whilst holding their opponents to less than 30% from the field.

Box score.

GB U20s return to action tomorrow (Saturday) in Group C action against Ireland at 12:15pm.

Do you like our work?

We have a tiny favour to ask. In 2018 we set out to make Hoopsfix sustainable by building our relationship directly with our readers. Up until now, Hoopsfix has been creating editorials, videos and podcasts to provide sorely missing coverage of the British game and its distinct culture and community.

We have funded Hoopsfix with our freelance work creating basketball media, but sadly that means not only does it fall behind our client’s priorities, but some of those clients are the same organisations we need to report objectively on putting us in a conflicted position.

We want to devote more time to our mission of helping British basketball reach its potential, and produce even more content for the basketball community by making Hoopsfix a sustainable 100% independent business funded directly by our readers through Patreon.

If everyone who enjoys our content chose to support us, our future would be much more secure. For as little as $3 per month, you can support Hoopsfix – and it only takes a minute.

We are tremendously honoured and humbled to have a community of people who value what we do, and we look forward to being at the forefront of the British game as it continues to evolve.

Support Hoopsfix