Germany defeated Poland 82-69 in the secondary final to claim the bronze medal at this year’s EuroBasket. The hosts controlled the match from the very beginning and won, despite the fact that the Poles equalized in the last quarter.

Germany returns to post-2005 EuroBasket medals and the silver they won in the final against Greece. Poland went overboard with a quarter-final win over Slovenia, but then fizzled out.

The hosts got into the game better and took a 12-8 lead thanks to a two-pointer by Tice. Herbert’s team took a 19-12 lead with five straight Schroeder points as Ziskowski went 19-14 in the first period.

The Poles showed a reaction at the beginning of the second period, when Ponytka and Sokolowki were reduced to a point (21-20). The Germans went on a 34-20 streak again with Schroeder’s 3-pointer and Michalak landed a clean shot. Sokolowski’s two-pointer made it 36-23 at halftime.

Poland found the answer at the beginning of the third period. Milicic’s team dropped to 9 points (39-30) and then to 7 (40-33) with Garbay. Law and Wagner took Germany to double figures before Sokolovsky cut it to 48-41 with a three-pointer. The visitors cut even further (54-49) thanks to two consecutive three-pointers from Garbage and Slaughter.

The Poles were trailing 54–51 at the start of the last period and equalized (59–59) with a three-pointer from Garbage. Herbert’s team took a 73-64 lead with Schroeder’s 3-pointer and reached +10 (76-66) with another 3-point shot, effectively giving his team the win.

Quarters: 19-14, 36-23, 54-49, 82-69.

Germany (Herbert): Giffay 2, Holatz, Law 5 (1/7 shots, 2/2 shots), Surround 9 (2/7 3s), Schroeder 26 (3/3 2s, 4/7 3s, 8/9 shots, 6 assists, 8 fouls, 2 steals), Sengfelder, Theis 9 (1 3-pointers, 6 rebounds), Thimann 6 (1/5 3-pointers, 5 rebounds, 4 assists), Vogtman 14 (4/5 3-pointers, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 interceptions, 2 blocks), Wagner 8 (1 three-pointer, 4 rebounds, 4 assists), Weiler – Babb 3 (1), Wolfart – Botterman.

Poland (Milicic): Balcerovski 4 (2/7 shots, 0/2 shots, 6 rebounds, 3 assists), Tsel 3 (1), Dzieva 8, Garbay 12 (4/4 3s), Kolenda, Michalak 1, Ponitka 9 (2/5 2s) , 1/2 three-pointers, 2/2 shots, 3 assists), Kill 10 (2/5 two-pointers, 2/7 three-pointers, 0/1 shot, 10 assists, 2 assists), Sokolovsky 18 (5/6 two-pointers, 2/ 7 3s, 2/4 shots, 6 rebounds, 3 assists), Ziskowski 4 (0/4 3s).