ENGLAND HOPES HANGING BY A THREAD AFTER SECOND CLOSE LOSS
We got off to a great start for once, leading by 10 at one point in the first quarter, but I never felt that Lithuania were beaten. I was fairly confident we were going to win, but didn't think we'd keep up that kind of pace. Sadly that turned out to be all too true. Another poor second quarter saw Lithuania go in ahead at the half. I prediced then that we'd be level after three quarters, in fact we were one ahead at that point. But sadly my prediction that we'd be too strong in the fourth was not correct. Most of the fourth quarter saw us either ahead by 1 or behind by 1, until with less than four minutes to go they scored, we missed, and they scored again to create a four point lead. I didn't think that was the end of the game, but it did prove insurmountable for us.
Lithuania are a strong team, but I don't feel they were unbeatable. We came up short and I think we can all see that the game shape this week was unquestionably the best of the season. I think I've come up short again in getting the best out of the players, especially by creating a situation where Innes played far too long.
Marshall top scored with 25. He and Sharpling led assits with 5, and MacAusland led rebounding with 15, despite only playing 21 minutes.
This leaves us in a very precarious position within the group. We no longer control our own destiny, but since its not impossible to qualify we need to keep going. Obviously we can't afford another loss so that makes things rather simple for us. Perhaps not simple, less complicated is probably better. We do need other results to go our way, I won't say which, but its fairly clear.
Credit to all the managers for the game shape this week.