HAMBURG (FIBA U17 World Championship) – In the second semi-final Poland beat Lithuania 75-65 in a stunning, thrilling, entertaining - even for spectators - exhausting campaign. Things went back and forth for nearly 40 minutes, with neither team letting down or giving up. In the FIBA U17 World Championship final Poland will face the USA, while Lithuania will suit up against Canada in the bronze medal game.
Poland, who began slowly, gathered momentum from the end of the second quarter to reach full throttle by the third.
Not just offensively, the team around Mateusz Ponitka (22 points) set the tone by working relentlessly on defense, not willing to give up on a single rebound. Lithuania got no more than one offensive board in the ten minutes following intermission; only five overall.
In that very stanza Polish center Przemyslaw Karnowski (18 points, 13 rebounds) alone collected six rebounds, his team-mates grabbed another six. From many of these second chances, Poland extended the lead to 52-60 (30min).
Were it not for Mantas Mockevicius (24 points), Lithuania would not have been able to rallie from behind late in the last period (63-65, 37min).
Karnowski saw Tomasz Gielo running the lane for a perfect pass to make it 65-71 with 1:31 to go.
The following possession Ponitka drew an offensive foul, but committed one on his own at the other end. Lithuania needed numerous triples, but the shots from long range would just not fall in.
Poland connected for 4-of-6 from the foul line, as time expired. With 5,6 seconds left the lithuanian players layed the ball to the floor, congratulating their opponents with much-given respect.
Quotes
Darius Dickcius, Lithuania head coach: “We congratulate Poland. During the whole Championship they played some great games. We were ready to challenge them. We know how they would play but we made mistakes. We had too many turnovers in the fourth quarter. I am proud of my players, they are among the top four teams in the world.”
Grzegorz Zielinski, Poland assistant coach: “It was a very difficult game. We dreamed all year about this medal. This dream was a burden, especially early. Our efficiency suffered in the beginning. In all games in the past with Lithuania, Poland has tried to win under the basket, while Lithuania tries to win at the perimeter.”
FIBA / JB
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