GER – Germans leave it late but defeat Poland in friendly

HALLE (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) – Germany prevailed on Saturday night in their first warm-up game ahead of July’s FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament but they didn’t put away a determined Poland until the fourth quarter.

Dirk Bauermann’s team, which included Dirk Nowitzki and a host of newcomers to the senior side, only led 49-45 at the end of the third quarter but ended up winning 76-62.

Nowitzki, who had 18 points and nine rebounds, steered the Germans to victory over the final 10 minutes.

At the qualifying event in Athens from July 14-20, Germany are in Group B with New Zealand and Cape Verde.

And one of the players trying to force his way into the squad is Polish-born Konrad Wysocki.

The small forward turned out for Germany at youth and university levels (he played college basketball in America at Princeton) and is coming off a solid season with ratiopharm Ulm in Germany’s BBL.

He scored 12 points on the night while Tim Ohlbrecht had eight rebounds to go with his six points.

Demond Greene was Germany’s biggest threat from long range, drilling three of five on his way to 11 points.

Patrick Femerling did not play after being given an extra week off following his title-winning campaign with Alba Berlin.

For Poland, veteran Adam Wojcik scored 18 and grabbed eight boards and Filip Dylewicz weighed in with 14 points and six rebounds.

FIBA