Eurobasket Hoops: Czech 'em out! Israel in EuroBasket!

Sherf's team advances thanks to margin of victory and France's loss to Turkey.

By ALLON SINAI
lior eliyahu 224 88 (photo credit: asaf kliger)
lior eliyahu 224 88
(photo credit: asaf kliger)
Israel advanced to its ninth straight European Championships in remarkable fashion on Saturday night. The national team thrashed the Czech Republic 98-61 in its final EuroBasket 2009 qualifier at the Nokia Arena and, thanks to Turkey's 80-78 victory over France, progressed to the championships as one of the three best runners-ups in group play. After an erratic qualifying campaign in which the team lost all three of its road games, Israel needed Tony Parker's France to lose at home to Turkey on Saturday and for the combined margin of its victory and France's loss to be 30 points. For much of the night, France led its game and it seemed as though Israel was on its way to the additional qualifying tournament for a third straight time. Turkey, who didn't need to win on Saturday to advance, would do Israel a massive favor, however, and, by beating the French, handed Israel a place in next summer's championships in Poland. "We entered the game in a tough situation, but we were excellent both defensively and offensively," Israel coach Tzvika Sherf said. "There were many positives and negatives in this campaign, but the important thing was to advance and we did that." Yotam Halperin led Israel in scoring for a second straight game, contributing 25 points and seven assists. Meir Tapiro was at his best, scoring 24 points, dishing out six assists and hauling down six rebounds, with Lior Eliyahu scoring 16 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Raviv Limonad added 15 points off the bench and Yaniv Green was superb under the baskets, scoring 14 points and pulling five rebounds. "We did something amazing tonight," Tapiro said. "We showed our character and determination and did what we had to do." Israel looked slightly edgy at the start of the game and a Jiri Welsch dunk two-and-a-half minutes into the encounter gave the visitors an early 6-2 lead. It wouldn't take the national team long, however, to find its rhythm and the Czechs were quickly forced into submission. Seconds after he entered the game for the first time with three-and-a-half minutes to play in the first period, Eliyahu gave the side a 13-11 advantage, the first basket in another memorable national team performance for the forward. Israel built on its lead immediately thanks to some excellent defense, forcing the visitors to turn the ball over time and again. A Tapiro jumper inside the final three minutes of the quarter opened a five point margin (18-13) and his three points from the foul line with just a couple of seconds to play in the period extended the margin to 28-19. Ladislav Sokolovsky opened the second quarter with a three-pointer, giving the Czechs some hope, but it was soon apparent that Israel's dominance was set to continue. A three-point move by the excellent Green opened a 34-22 lead and the center's jumper midway through the period followed by Tapiro's basket from beyond the arc opened a 16-point gap. Tapiro's lay-up to end the first half maintained Israel's comfortable margin (49-35) and Sherf's team continued to bolster its advantage after the break. A Halperin basket one-and-a-half minutes into the third period gave the side a 56-35 lead and, despite the visitors' best efforts, a three by the new Olympaicos guard after five minutes preserved the significant margin (65-44). A Limonad triple with 10 seconds to play in the quarter meant the team took a 78-54 lead into the fourth period, setting up an enthralling final 10 minutes to the game. With France trailing at home to Turkey, Israel knew it needed to extend its gap to at least 30 points if it wanted to make sure of qualification and a Green free-throw after three minutes gave the side that magical margin (84-54). France closed to within one point with 27 seconds to play, but Turkey held on for the win and sparked massive celebrations at the Nokia Arena seconds after the national team clinched a 98-61 victory. Israel beat out Bulgaria as well as France to qualify for the tournament by being the second-best runner-up in group play.