Sheffield double as GB shine in Olympic build-up

Following on from Saturday’s 83-68 win at the Sheffield Arena, GB turned in a more rounded performance at Ponds Forge yesterday with big contributions off the bench as they built a lead early and kept pulling away for a 86-66 victory.

Portugal came out aggressively after suffering defeat on Saturday, and having fallen 4-0 behind they took a 9-4 lead on Joao Gomes’s three-pointer as they battled hard for offensive rebounds.

But Britain were looking more polished than they did in the first half 24 hours earlier, and they soon battled back, with Kieron Achara’s three-pointer highlighting an 8-0 run to end the first quarter as they went 21-14 ahead. The scoring streak hit 12 on a pair of free throws from Andrew Lawrence, and the big plays kept coming.

When Achara nailed another three, Britain were up 28-16, and a big dunk from Pops Mensah-Bonsu made it 37-18. Back-to-back threes from Joao Santos and Mario Fernandes kept Portugal alive, but they went in trailing 46-29 at the break.

Britain continued to edge clear in the third quarter, leading by 20 when Sheffield Sharks’s Nate Reinking’s three-pointer made it 57-37. Portugal kept fighting through the long-range shooting of Joao Santos and the third quarter ended 61-45 following Achara’s third three of the game.

Eric Boateng made a major impression with nine quick points early in the final quarter, dunking his own missed free throw to take the score to 70-50.

Kyle Johnson was another man to make an impact off the bench, making his first seven field goal attempts – including three big threes – before missing, and helping push the lead to 24, 81-57, midway through the final quarter.

Johnson finished as the leading scorer with 21 points, while Deng had 14 and Boateng 11. On Saturday, Chicago Bulls’ star Deng scored 21 points as Great Britain rallied from an interval deficit of 39-37 to pull away in the third quarter by outscoring the doughty Portuguese 25-6. That was their first win in eight games as they stepped up their preparations for their Olympic campaign.

On Thursday night Chris Finch’s side face gold-medal favourites and basketball powerhouse the United States in Manchester.

GB women bounced back from defeat to Australia at the Sheffield Arena on Saturday to beat France 74-67 at Ponds Forge.