Kapoulas’ GB U20s go 1-2 in preparation tournament

Prior to the trip, Kapoulas had reduced his 21-man training squad down to 16, of which 13 players were selected to face Finland, Portugal and Belarus.

A team-high 17 points from Akwasi Yeboah on Friday wasn’t enough for Coach K’s side, who fell in their opening game to Finland, 60-79 after losing an early lead midway through the second period.

Carl Wheatle, Obi Agu and Josh Steele had seven points apiece, but a 15-5 run from Finland in the final six minutes saw them pull away for the final result.

On Saturday, the team fell to their second successive defeat, after losing 74-66 to hosts, Portugal.

RJ Eytle-Rock scored 12 of a team-high 14 points in the fourth period, whilst Wheatle posted a double-double of 12 points and ten rebounds, including a huge dunk in the opening period, to give Coach K’s side and early two-point lead.

The hosts were able to open up a double digit lead, before Danny Evans sparked a 6-1 close to the third period with a triple, to take a five-point deficit into the final ten minutes.

Seven points in a row from Eytle-Rock saw Coach K’s side reduce the gap to as little as two points in the fourth period, but Portugal responded with successive threes to pull away with an eight point victory.

The Under-20s rounded off their preparation tournament with a convincing 89-66 victory over Belarus on Sunday afternoon.

In a game which saw all 12 players get onto the scoresheet, Amin Adamu led the way with a team-high 16 points, whilst Evans recorded a double-double of 15 points and ten rebounds.

The Under-20s never looked back after racing out to an early 13-2 and led by as many as 29 points at the end of the third period.

Evans put the final touches on the win, knocking down his second triple before the final buzzer to come out on top with a comfortable 23-point victory.

Coach Kapoulas and the GB Under-20s now return to Essex for the second phase of training camp, before heading out to Romania for their European Championship campaign, which begins on Friday, July 14th. They have been drawn in Group B alongside Netherlands, Slovak Republic, Russia and Azerbaijan.

Image Credit: Mansoor Ahmed
Report: Hoopsfix.com