GB Under-20s Beaten by Germany in Last Eight

Image credit: FIBA

Great Britain Under-20s were unable to build on a positive start as they were beaten 81-56 by Germany in the last eight of the European Championships in Tel-Aviv, on Thursday.

Karl Brown’s side were outscored 50-26 in the middle periods with their semi-final dream ended as they now play in the 5-8 Classification Round at the weekend.

Nathan Robinson led the resistance with 12 points with Hosana Kitenge adding 10 points and eight boards for a near double-double.

Box score.

Kayne Henry opened GB’s account after being found from Kitenge’s full-court assist, although Germany would jump out to a 7-2 start through the first four minutes.

Kaiyem Cleary – bouncing back from a shoulder injury that forced him out during yesterday’s win – hit two tough shots as part of a strong 9-3 finish to the first quarter from GB, capped by Jacob Round banking in a three at the buzzer for their first lead at 15-14.

The lead changed hands in the opening stages of the second with Kitenge going to work with six points in a row for GB before Robinson’s putback tied the game at 23-23.

However, Germany took control with the next 13 points with GB held scoreless in a five-minute spell, which included five turnovers. Henry stopped the rot before Nathaniel Powell followed with a score inside, but another three at the other end made it 27-39 at the interval.

Romario Spence and Robinson hit triples in a 6-2 start to the third, but Germany soon restored their double-digit advantage with a 9-0 response for their biggest lead of the game at 33-50.

The gap continued to grow – just as it did in Germany’s big win over Greece – and GB found themselves trailing by 23 points ahead of the final 10 minutes.

The fight did not fade in the fourth with GB edging the early exchanges of the fourth through the scoring of Henry and Spence, but had too much to make up.

GB are already assured of their best-ever finish at the event and will take on the loser of Turkey and Spain in their next game on Saturday.

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