EuroBasket!

A tremendous game in the EuroBasket semi-finals yesterday.  Spain, going for its third consecutive EuroBasket title, led France 34-20 at the half.  But in the second half, France made nine three-point shots to catch Spain at 65-65 and send the game into overtime.  In overtime, Spain's offense couldn't do much of anything right, in large part because they played like a collection of World B. Free's, taking wild shots from all over the floor with little of their usual flow.  Meanwhile, Tony Parker -- who finished with 32 points and 6 rebounds -- led France all the way to the final with a 75-72 overtime win.  For a France team that has long played second-fiddle to Spain on the European basketball stage, this was a glorious victory.

France now moves on to Sunday's final to take on Lithuania.  The Lithuanians haven't reached the finals of any major tournament since they won EuroBasket in 2003.  But the green-and-gold beat Italy in the quarter-finals 81-77, and then blasted Croatia 77-62 in the semi-finals, and they will be going for their fourth EuroBasket title tomorrow.

Here are the scores from the knock-out rounds:

Quarter-Finals:
Serbia 60 - 90 Spain
Slovenia 62 - 72 France
Croatia 84 - 72 Ukraine
Lithuania 81 - 77 Italy

Semi-Finals
Lithuania 77 - 62 Croatia
Spain 72 - 75 France (OT)