20/04/09

Istanbul, Turkey — A three pointer by Billy Beddow (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire) with 5.4 seconds left was not enough as I.B.B edged County Upper 73-70, in the first round game of the Istanbul International Tournament in Turkey.

 

CU (14W-6L) faced Besiktas U18’s at 12:30p.m. on Saturday 21 March in the Istanbul International Tournament consolation final.

 

County Upper had 4 players in double figures with Ben Warden (Shenfield, Essex), Billy Beddow (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire), and Michael Warden (Norwich, Norfolk) all having 13 points, also in double figures for CU was Alistair McCann (Southend, Essex) with 11 points.

 

Both teams started the game scoreless until the 5:36 minute mark when I.B.B converted a lay up. After the ice was broken both teams traded baskets until CU went on a 9-2 run to open a 15-8 lead, I.B.B quickly responded with a 11-3 run of their own to take the lead 19-18 at the end of the first quarter.

 

The second quarter started with I.B.B going on a 13-3 run to take a 12 point lead 32-21. County Upper finished the quarter with a14-4 run of their own, cutting I.B.B’s lead to one point 35-36 going into half time.

 

County Upper finished the half shooting 48.1 percent (13-of-27) from the field while shooting 30.7 percent (4-of-13) from three-point range.

 

The third quarter started with a 6-2 run by I.B.B which increased their lead to seven points 44-37, but a persistent County Upper team again dug deep to respond with a 12-5 run to tie the game at 49-49 with 2:32 minutes remaining. The third quarter finished with I.B.B taking a narrow 53-51 lead.    

 

The forth quarter was an action packed thriller, with the game being tied five times and the lead changing four times. County Upper started with a 7-0 run taking a 58-53 lead, but I.B.B responded with a 5-0 run to tie the game at 58-58. A big three-pointer from Ali McCann (Southend, Essex) gave the lead back to CU 61-58 with 3:30 minutes left on the clock. I.B.B responded with a 4-0 run to take a 62-61 lead with 2:25 minutes remaining. Both teams traded baskets until the last 90 seconds when I.B.B went on an 8-0 run to take a 72-67 lead. A big three-pointer from Billy Beddow (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire) cut I.B.B’s lead to just 2 points 72-70 with 23 seconds left on the clock. After C. Ismailoelu converted one of two FT’s for I.B.B, CU had a chance to push the game into overtime in the final seconds, but a three pointer from Ali McCann (Southend, Essex) heartbreakingly hit the back of the ring.

 

County Upper finished the second half shooting 42 percent (13-of-31) from the field while shooting 46 percent (5-of-11) from three-point range. For the game County Upper finished by shooting 45 percent (26-of-58) from the field while shooting 38 percent (9-of-24) from three-point range.

 

CU now face Besiktas U18s at 12:30p.m. on Saturday 21 March in the Istanbul International Tournament consolation final.