Britain’s men defend their basketball bronze

By Paul Carter

Great Britain’s men’s wheelchair basketball team secured their second successive Paralympic bronze medal with an 85-77 victory over the USA in the third place play-off match at Beijing’s National Indoor Stadium.

Despite only leading by a single point at half-time, it was a game that always looked well under their control, and some excellent ball movement and strong offensive play were enough to sweep aside a surprisingly below-par American side.

GB pulled through with a solid display of team basketball, but were inspired by superb indivudual performances from Jon Pollock and Terry Bywater, with the latter scoring 32 of his team’s 85 points.

Pollock expressed his delight at defending the medal, but said that the win marked the end of an era for GB basketball.

He said: “At the moment, I am electric for the team and the effort we’ve put in over the last two weeks. Now there’s going to be some restructuring, so will never see these 12 players together again. But that’s for the future; tonight I’m over the moon.

“This is what it’s all about. When we get in the gym and break sweat, this is what it’s for – being on the stand with a medal round our necks.”

Stand-in coach Sinclair Thomas, who took over when head coach Murray Treseder had to return to Australia earlier in the week, paid tribute to his side’s work ethic.

“It’s been a big tournament for us. We’ve gone through a lot of adversity with the coach flying home and me having to take over. But the key was team work. It’s been the key all week.”

The match also marked the last appearance for GB by former captain Andy Blake, who was given the match ball as a tribute.

“It’s going to be hard for me to move on, but I can’t thank these guys enough for such a send-off. Finishing with the ball in my hands was a nice moment,” he said. “Now I’m just trying to take it all in, because it’s the last chance I’ll get.”