In Pogdorica, Montenegro, the France U20 team was beaten by Lithuania this Thursday (79-89), in the quarter-finals. A premature elimination caused by a catastrophic first period.
We hoped to see another face of the Bleuets following the eighth final won in pain, yesterday, against Portugal. It didn’t happen, especially in the first half. Assaulted from the start, Matthew Strazel’s partners were quickly overwhelmed. With five ball losses in the first four minutes, they found themselves dropped eleven units behind (0-11, 4′). The defense took on water and the Bleuets very quickly conceded nineteen points of disbursement (9-28, 9′).
Despite the French reaction through Brice Dessert, launched twice in the air by Jayson Tchicamboud (18-28, 12′), the French were still relegated to twenty points behind in the second quarter. Led by a Mantas Rubstavicius at 23 points (38 in the end), Lithuania turned with an eighteen point lead at the break (30-48, 20′).
A burst in the second half too late
No doubt shaken by their coach, Frédéric Crapez, the partners of Matthew Strazel then showed another face. The ASVEL leader scored 12 of his 25 points in the third act. With a block from Brice Dessert, two consecutive winning shots from Ilias Karmardine then another from Jayson Tchicamboud, France came back to four points (49-53, 27′; 19-5 in seven minutes).
But this burst of pride was too late. The Blueberries were no longer approaching (62-69, 33′) despite Strazel’s banderillas. With a bonus acquired from the third minute of the last act, the Lithuanians took advantage of it. On a missed free throw and an offensive rebound later, the France team conceded a long distance shot, almost crippling (64-76, 34′).
Les Bleuets therefore miss the last four. A great disappointment for the vice-world champions U19 last year who were aiming for the title.
Boxscore U20 France / U20 Lithuania
Photo : Jayson Tchicamboud (FIBA)
