Surprise debut for Gilchrist

Romford Recorder: Dan Clark in action for GB against New Zealand (pic: Graham Hodges)Dan Clark in action for GB against New Zealand (pic: Graham Hodges) (Image: Archant)

Former Leopard Robert Gilchrist scored 12 points and pulled down four rebounds on his Great Britain debut but he couldn’t prevent New Zealand leaving the Copper Box with an 84-63 victory.

Gilchrist was a surprise starter for a youthful GB team, but although he seized the opportunity, he admitted that he was disappointed with the final scoreline.

“It was great to play and we did well in the first half,” he said. “But we need more consistency and that’s something we need to work on before we go to Holland.”

Gilchrist played for the Big Cats in the 2007/8 season as a 17-year-old before going to Florida State Universty and was one of three former Leopards on show in front on near-capacity crowd at the Copper Box Arena.

Dan Clark has certainly come on leaps and bounds since being waterboy for the BBL champion Leopards in 1998 as well as playing in Division One at the age of 13 for Ware Rebels, who went on to merge with Leopards in 2004.

At the age of 26 Clark is now an established international having played for Britain at three EuroBasket final tournaments as well as the 2012 Olympics.

But he had a difficult game on Saturday, finishing with eight points and three rebounds.

The trio was completed by seven footer Zak Wells, who was part of the 2012 treble-winning Big Cats squad and has been part of the GB under-20 squad in the past. Wells now plays for BBL side Leeds Force and saw only limited action, coming into the game late in the fourth period, but he did get on the scoresheet with his only shot.