2024-08-01 16:29:03
Tom Purli’s students lost against the Germans 86:87 (22:22, 25:27, 19:15, 20:23) and ended the fight for the European Championship title.
It is true that our team will continue the fight for a place in next year’s U19 World Championship, which will be held in Switzerland (Lausanne). We remind you that the five best European teams enter the championships.
Ours was not saved by the solid performance of Nojaus Indrušaitis. The defender scored 22 points (4/12 doubles, 3/6 triples, 5/6 penalty), 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 fouls and 16 utility points in 27 minutes.
The big three were unstoppable in the ranks of the Germans, who threw as many as 64 points into the Lithuanian basket. Jack Kayil scored 22 (3/7 doubles, 4/10 rebounds, 4/5 penalty), Christian Anderson (1/3 doubles, 5/11 triples, 4/5 penalties) and Ivan Kharchenkov (3 /7 doubles, 3/5 triples, 6/10 penalties) scored 21 each.
The Lithuanians started the match weakly. In the middle of the first quarter, our team already had a double-digit deficit (5:16). At one point, the Germans had a 15-point advantage (7:22), but the Lithuanians, inspired by Nojaus Indrušaitis, made a 15-0 run and after the first 10 minutes of the game, the result was equal (22:22).
In the second half, both national teams exchanged successful episodes and neither national team managed to accumulate a solid advantage. After hitting a difficult two-pointer at the end of the quarter, the Germans had a minimal advantage of 2 points (47:49) before the second part of the match.
In the third quarter, both teams continued to play point to point, and 3 minutes before the end of the quarter, after a long two-pointer by Matas Buteliauskas and a layup by Gant Križanauskas, our team had a 5-point advantage (64:59). However, German defender Christian Anderson scored a three-pointer in the last second and our team had a fragile 2-point lead (66:64) before the decisive quarter.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, our team continued to lead, but the Germans tied the score 7.5 minutes before the end of the match (68:68). After that, both teams continued to exchange accurate shots, but halfway through the quarter, our team led by 4 points (76:72) after N. Indrušaitis’ three-pointer.
After that, the same N. Indrušaitis made another three-pointer, Neds Raupelis added a free throw, which led to the fact that with 3 minutes before the end of the match, T. Purlis’ students led by 7 points (80:73). However, the Germans did not raise the white flag. The Lithuanian rivals made a 2:10 run in 1.5 minutes and changed the result of the match in their favor (82:83).
Later, N. Indrušaitis organized a great raid closer to the basket, forced the opponent to foul and finally made both free throws (84:83). After that, the Germans responded with a three-pointer (84:86), and N. Indrušaitis equalized the result (86:86). After a foul by M. Juzėnas, the German Ch. Anderson went to throw free throws, hit 1 of 2 and with 21 seconds left before the end of the game, our team had a point deficit (86:87).
On the other side of the pitch, N. Indrušaitis twice had the opportunity to snatch victory for the Lithuanians, but his shots were inaccurate and the Lithuanian 18-year-old national team ended the fight for medals at the European Championship (86:87).
Lithuanian 18-year-old national team: Nojus Indrušaitis 22, Mantas Juzēnas 17 (2/4 doubles, 3/8 triples, 4/4 penalties, 3 rebounds, 3 errors, 5 turnovers), Kasparas Jakučionis 12 (3/6 doubles , 2/9 goals, 5 goals, 2 goals, 13 points (2/4 doubles). /3 points, 3/4 points, 8 points, 15 points) and Gant Križanauskas (2/3 points, 2/4 points) each.
German 18-year-old national team: Jack Kayil 22 (6 rebounds), Christian Anderson and Ivan Kharchenkov 21 each, Hannes Steinbach 15 (5/13 doubles, 5/7 penalty, 18 rebounds, 25 points).
2024-08-01 16:29:03