GB Under-16s Into Last Eight as Unbeaten Group Winners

Image credit: FIBA

Great Britain Under-16s advanced to the quarter-finals at the European Championships in style after maintaining their unbeaten record with a 64-54 victory over Portugal in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Tuesday.

James Vear’s side go through as Group D winners with a perfect five wins from five and will face either Hungary or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the last eight.

Tomiwa Sulaiman led the way with a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds with Mate Okros also adding 18 points in the win.

Box score

GB started with a 9-3 opening, but were pegged back with their lead cut to just two points by the end of the first quarter at 15-13. Portugal were within one early in the second, but Okros’ triple pushed GB ahead by five – and that gap remained at the half with the score 30-25.

An 8-2 start to the third quarter saw GB trail for the first time in the game and after a spell of exchanging baskets, they put together a pivotal 11-2 run to re-gain control to take a 50-41 advantage into the final period.

GB kept things tight in protection of their lead as they held their opponents to just a single field goal in the first six minutes of the fourth.

Portugal managed to cut their deficit into single figures, but GB were able to complete a fifth successive win to edge closer to promotion to Division A.

Notes

– GB’s starters were Pandza, Shodunke, Okros, Sulaiman & Hughes
– Pandza injured shoulder early in third following an unsportsmanlike foul
– Greece, Netherlands and Czech Republic also advance without defeat
– GB conceded just 48.4 points per game throughout the group stage

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