By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
PARIS, France – The crowd in Bercy chanted “defense” with a French accent and the hosts listened to them, getting to the Olympics final by shutting down world champions Germany 73 – 69.
After conceding 25 points in the first quarter, France kept Germany to 30 points in the next 25 minutes to make things happen.
Guershon Yabusele scored 17 points, Isaia Cordinier had 16, including the win-sealing free throws, and Victor Wembanyama added 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, setting the tone in defense.
Once again, Rudy Gobert had a limited role with just five minutes on the court.
For Germany Dennis Schroder had 18 points, while Franz Wagner was held to 10 as Germany fought until the end, but couldn’t get the win.
A defensive battle
Despite a 12-4 start by Germany that was extended to a nine-point lead (18-9), France came back swiftly with Mathias Lessort entering the game scoring four quick points and then Cordinier adding a three to trim the lead to two (18-16).
However, the Germans closed the first quarter leading 25-18, and Nick Weiler-Babb’s three pushed the lead back to 10 (28-18) to start the second.
With Gobert entering the court for the first time and Wembanyama scoring, France made it a six-point game (28-22). A majestic block by Wemby to Daniel Theis followed with French defense setting the tone and the young French star trimming the difference to three (28-25) after a goal foul.
Germany held on and a big three by Andreas Obst made the score 33-27. France kept pushing and after a dunk by Wemby tied the score at 33 to end the halftime, keeping Germany to just eight points in the second quarter.
The first lead and German lockdown
Captain Nicolas Batum gave the first lead to France with a three (36-33) to start the second half. Johannes Voigtmann and Schroder tied it all at 42 and set the tone for the rest of the game.
France had the advantage with Yabusele dancing on the court and scoring at will but Germany wouldn’t give up and got momentarily the lead back (49-48) thanks to Schroder.
Evan Fournier gave France a six-point advantage (56-50) making a transition three after a steal, just the fourth made three of his team out of 18 attempts, and that was the score at the end of the third.
The lead went up to eight (58-50) thanks to Frank Ntilikina and then to 10 (63-53) after a three by Wemby and a basket by Lessort with seven minutes left. A block by Wemby to Schroder and a three by Ntilikina followed (66-53) and suddenly the French cushion seemed big enough for the win.
Germany managed to come back and cut the deficit to 70 – 68 with 39 seconds to play thanks to a three by Franz Wagner.
Wembanyama made 1/2 free throws with 10 seconds left but so did Schroder on the other end before Cordinier’s pair from the line that closed the game for France.
Photo credit: FIBA