The Lithuanians played an impressive second quarter, which they won 23:11 and at halftime had a very solid lead – 46:29.
Nothing bad was promised to our team in the third quarter either, after which they even managed to increase the lead – 66:48.
Although in the decisive fourth quarter with 7 minutes left our team still had a 19-point lead (72:53), that was exactly when the Lithuanian national team’s collapse began.
The Germans went on an 18:0 run, and with 3 minutes left there was only one point between the teams – 71:72.
However, the Lithuanians, who found themselves in a difficult situation, did not break down. Ignas Martinkus made free throws, Raigardas Ciūnys hit a three-pointer, and after his and I. Martinkus’s free throws, the Lithuanians could breathe easier in the last minute, as they had an 8-point distance from the Germans – 80:72.
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The top scorers among the Lithuanians were Lukas Andrulis (3/5 two-pointers, 3/6 three-pointers, 2/2 free throws) and Danielius Jasikevičius (4/11 two-pointers, 1/5 three-pointers, 6/7 free throws), who scored 17 points each. The son of Vytenis Jasikevičius and nephew of Šarūnas Jasikevičius also grabbed 8 rebounds and made 6 assists.
R. Ciūnys added 15 points (3/4 two-pointers, 1/4 three-pointers, 6/8 free throws).
This victory also secured the Lithuanians a ticket to next year’s Under-17 World Championship.
In the semifinal on Friday, the Lithuanians will face the French. In the other semifinal, Spain and Latvia will compete.
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