Basketball: Kieron Achara’s Olympic hopes in the balance

By Mark Woods
Published on 01/07/2012 01:44

Kieron Achara has been made to sweat on his place in Great Britain’s Olympic basketball squad despite impressing in the team’s last friendly before the line-up for London is confirmed on Thursday.

The Stirling-born forward grabbed five points and two rebounds in a nine-minute cameo during Friday night’s 90-80 loss to Lithuania in Houston.

It is understood that Devon van Oostrum and Myles Hesson have been cut ahead of the team’s return to the UK, leaving just 14 players.

And although fellow Scot Robert Archibald will be in the final 12-man team for London, Achara now faces a tense wait to learn his fate. The Lithuanian defeat was the fifth in a row for Britain, who led 44-37 at half-time but succumbed to a three-point bombardment.

And GB coach Chris Finch, whose team was paced by 18 points from Kyle Johnson, will now count on the return of Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng to spark a first win when his side faces France in Orleans next Saturday.

“We played very well in the first half and the let down in the third quarter really cost us,” Finch admitted.

“Training camp in Houston has provided us with outstanding competition and an excellent start to our Olympic preparations.”

Archibald had nine points and three rebounds.