Britain fight back to reach maiden European Championship final

Great Britain staged a comeback for the ages to book their spot in a first-ever Wheelchair Basketball European Championship final, beating Germany 49-48.

A sluggish start left Miles Thompson’s side six points down at the end of the first period and despite a revival early in the second, they trailed 28-22 at the halfway stage in Rotterdam.

But inspired by 16 points from Amy Conroy and 11 points and six rebounds from talisman Helen Freeman, Britain battled back to best the ten-time champions and secure at least a silver medal.

Britain secured seminal silver at last summer’s World Championships and have made history once again, snapping a streak of six successive bronzes and securing Paralympic qualification on the path to Sunday’s final. 

Germany, victorious when the two teams met in the group stage, made a confident start at Topsportcentrum, racing into an 8-0 lead with six points from Katharina Lang.

Having trailed 14-8 at the end of the first, Britain had far more success in penetrating the paint early in the second as Conroy and Joy Haizelden got inside and made lay ups.

The deficit remained at six points at the interval but Britain’s revival continued in the third, Conroy and Freeman both getting to the free throw line and Robyn Love taking them to within four.

Eight fourth-quarter points from Conroy saw Britain grasp the initiative at the crucial moment and tenacious defence saw them hold on for a memorable triumph.