In August 2010 a number of first and second team players made the trip to Liverpool Echo Arena to see the GB squad defeat Bosnia-Herzegovena

 

 

 

Luol Deng and Pops Mensah-Bonsu both produced their highest scores for GB, Deng hitting 38 points and Mensah-Bonsu adding 32 and 21 rebounds.

 

GB needed two free throws with 19 seconds left to reach overtime at 81-81 but dominated the extra period.   Nate Reinking added 16 points as GB reached EuroBasket 2011 in Lithuania.

 

Particularly in the first half GB missed open long-range shots. Level 15-15 at the end of the first quarter, they fought through to a 37-29 lead with the help of a 11 points from an inspired Mensah-Bonsu and eight from Deng.

 

By half-time, Bosnia were trailing by three points but Deng had complained his way to a technical foul. He returned, energised, after half-time to post 12 points in the third quarter with the help of a pair of threes from Reinking. However, Bosnia remained stubbornly in contention, trailing only 64-57 at the end of the third quarter.

 

They were ahead again after three minutes of the final period when Henry Domercant hit a second three-pointer and Aleksej Nesovic added another.

Deng, Reinking and Mensah-Bonsu restored the lead, but Bajramovic and Domercant brought Bosnia back into the lead and it took a Mensah-Bonsu rebound for a pair of free throws with 19 seconds remaining to tie the game and force overtime.

 

In the extra period, Mensah-Bonsu hit another matching pair and Reinking and Deng added baskets for a 6-0 run for an 88-83 lead with 2:04 left.

The decisive play came 46 seconds later when Deng and Mensah-Bonsu combined on the fast break for the latter to finish with a reverse dunk that brought the crowd to its feet and all but clinched qualification.

 

GB's win came in front of Deng's former Chicago team-mate, London-born Ben Gordon, who flew in to see the game at Liverpool.

 

 

 

Thanks to all who supported the event at Egerton Youth Club on the 15th Nov 2009, especially Phil Rickett who sorted out the fantastic raffle prizes with the support of Cottons Hotel and to all who sold raffle tickets. For those who didn't manage to make it on the night and somehow avoided the raffle sellers, all donations to the proceeds will gratefully received.

 

The night did reveal we have a few sad class swatts amongst our associates including one (John O'Keefe) who remembered Hooks Law of Elasticity. At least most people identified Yao Ming.

 

Congratulations to winning team 50 years of the Preston Bypass. Other notable perfamnces from Northerm Monkeys, The Tinky Winky Collective and Can You Come Back Later.

 

Check out the gallery below for a few shots from the event. News of more events later. Any ideas please send them in via the contact form.