Luxembourg hold off Ireland comeback in EuroBasket 2029 pre-qualifying
FELL SHORT: A huge comeback by Ireland was wasted as they fell to Luxembourg in the opening game of EuroBasket 2029 pre-qualifying. Picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
A huge comeback by Ireland was wasted as they fell to Luxembourg in the opening game of EuroBasket 2029 pre-qualifying.
The first quarter was an abject disaster for Michael Bree’s charges. Despite having a visible athletic advantage over their opponents, Ireland looked off the pace at both ends of the floor.
A Ben Kovac three for the hosts gave Luxembourg the first double digit lead of the night with just over 6 minutes played. Ireland’s perimeter defence continued to fail them through the tail end of the opening quarter. Further three's from Oliver Vujakovic and Max Logelin ensured Luxembourg held a deserved 26-11 lead after 10 minutes.
A Sean Flood three to start the second brought some life to the Irish side. The perimeter defensive issues continued to plague Ireland however as Kovac hit a wide open three to stretch the gap to 18 points early in the second quarter. Bree’s side was in danger of letting this one get out of control before they even had a chance to get into it.
Flood and Taiwo Badmus started the fightback in the middle of the quarter. Despite Badmus heavily favouring his injured left leg, the duo forced Luxembourg into a more physical battle as the quarter wore on.
A big Jordan Blount three raised the spirits of the Irish side. Flood followed that up from deep and then made a steal before driving coast to coast to score. A pair of threes from Badmus cut the gap further but Ireland still trailed 47-37 at the half.
The perimeter defensive issues that had plagued Ireland returned early in the third quarter, with Philippe Gutenkauf nailing a pair of three's to stretch the advantage for Luxembourg. Ireland looked static offensively, being easily cut off by the hosts and lacking any real creativity.
Badmus settled things down with a couple of scores. The quarter became more of a grind it out affair but scores from Matt Zona and Sean Jenkins cut the gap to just 3 points as Ireland finally found a way to bully the hosts. Ireland were level briefly thanks to a Rapolas Buivydas score but entered the final quarter trailing 64-61.
Buivydas gave Ireland the lead early in the final quarter before Kovac hit two threes in quick succession for Luxembourg. Ireland looked like they had finally settled as threes from Badmus and Zona gave Bree’s charges reason to believe.
The hosts hadn’t gone away and a Vujakovic three midway through the quarter put them back in front as this one became a tense affair in the closing stages. Clancy Rugg stretched the Luxembourg lead to 6 points with just over 2 minutes to play as it looked like the Irish comeback would be for nought.
The result was put beyond doubt after a Malcolm Kreps dunk and a Gutenkauf three. In the end, Ireland fell 89-77 in a game that was there for the taking.
: Adrian O’Sullivan, Rapolas Buivydas, Sean Jenkins, Sean Flood, Jordan Blount, John Carroll, Max Amadasun, Taiwo Badmus, Matt Treacy, Matt Zona, Neal Quinn, Sam Alajiki.
: Badmus 24, Flood 15, Alajiki 9, Buivydas 9Â
Malcolm Kreps, Dino Ceman, Max Logelin, Philippe Gutenkauf, Alex Laurent, Joe Kalmes, Ben Kovac, Davy Rocha, Oliver Vujakovic, Christopher Jack, Clancy Rugg, Ivan Delgado.
: Kovac 38, Vujakovic 19, Gutenkauf 12, Rugg 11
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