Peterborough man and GB have to settle for a silver medal in the European Wheelchair Basketball Championships
Great Britain and Peterborough man Lee Manning had to settle for a silver medal at the Wheelchair Basketball European Championships.
GB were beaten 72-69 by Spain in Sarajevo with a poor first period proving costly. Spaln led 29-17 at the first break and, despite whittling down the lead in every other session GB fell just short.
Manning contributed eight points in the final to complete a decent personal tournament. GB won the other seven matches they played.
Manning contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds – the most in the game – as GB won 73-49 in a semi-final win over Germany.
The fancied GB team, who won all five of their group matches in comfortable fashion, had pipped quarter-final opponents Turkiye 60-59, but they were far more comfortable against the Germans. Manning had picked up a crucial 9 points against Turkiye.
The ardent Peterborough United fan, and former Jack Hunt School student, scored 11 points in an 80-64 win over Israel in GB's opening match and then delivered an excellent all-round display in a 67-53 success over Italy on Saturday. Manning scored six points in that game, but also contributed eight rebounds (the most by any player in the match), three assists and two steals (the joint-most in the match).
GB’s winning streak continued with an impressive 96-63 win over France when Manning scored 10 points and claimed six rebounds.
And Manning added another 14 points in a 97-42 rout of Switzerland as GB made it four wins out of four.
GB beat the Netherlands 71-52 to ensure they finished top of their group when Manning received long periods of rest. He still contributed a healthy six rebounds.