21/03/09
Istanbul, Turkey—- Two free throws by B. Turnan with 7.8 seconds left lifted Beşiktaş to a 59-56 win over County Upper School Basketball Academy, in the consolation final of the Istanbul International Basketball Tournament.
Ali McCann (Southend, Essex) scored 11 points to lead County Upper. Austin Wright (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire) added 9 points, Grant Bangs (Chelmsford, Essex) added another 8 points, while Ben Warden (Shenfield, Essex) chipped in with 7 points.
It was the second straight heartbreaking loss in two days for County Upper, which lost yesterday by three points to I.B.B.
CU fought hard during the contest despite battling turnovers and shooting struggles from three-point range (26.5 percent).
After Turnan hit the two FT for Beşiktaş, County Upper had a chance to push the game into overtime in the final seconds but a three-pointer from James Dawson (Chelmsford, Essex) wouldn’t fall.
Both teams started the game trading blows, until the 5:24 minute mark when Beşiktaş went on an 11-2 run to open up a 19-10 lead. Beşiktaş finished the quarter with a seven point lead 21-14.
In the second quarter CU started with a 4-0 run to cut Beşiktaş’s lead to just three points 21-18. Midway through the quarter County Upper hit a cold spell from the field which Beşiktaş took advantage of by going on a 20-4 run, opening up a 19 point lead at half time 41-22.
The second half started with both teams trading baskets until the 6:46 minute mark when County Upper went on a 8-2 run to cut Beşiktaş’s lead to ten points 45-35. Beşiktaş quickly responded with a 8-3 run of their own to finish the quarter leading by 15 points 53-38.
County Upper started the last quarter with some great offensive possessions combined with some amazing defensive displays, and quickly put together a 14-0 run cutting Beşiktaş’s lead to just one point 53-52. CU were never able to take the lead in the fourth quarter although they came to within one point on two separate occasions, the last time being 57-56.
This contest marked the final season game for five CU players, who will be leaving at the end of the year: Billy Beddow (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire), Alistar McCann (Southend, Essex), Nick Oleary (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire), Ben Warden (Shenfield, Essex), and Austin Wright (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire). This group combined for 30 points in the game.
