Basketball in the United Kingdom originally lost out on funding altogether following London 2012, but after a high-profile campaign to regain its vital financial support, UK Sport agreed to invest in British Basketball for a further year, plus additional investment dependent on performance, with a top-six EuroBasket finish high on the agenda for the men's team. 

But an early exit in Slovenia has now left sport in the nation facing the prospect of losing ita funding once again, as the squad missed out on qualification for next year's International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup in Spain. 

The women's senior team fell narrowly short of their goal of a top eight finish at the women's EuroBasket in June, finishing in ninth place overall, and the men's side had qualification for the second round in their own hands after they routed their German rivals 81-74 yesterday, but with a win required against Ukraine, the Britons were simply beaten by the better side on the night, going down to a 19-point defeat which confirmed their elimination.

Head coach Joe Prunty, who was appointed to the role back in June this year following a spell as assistant manager of National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise Cleveland Cavaliers, believes his side's slow start left them facing an uphill battle against an in-form Ukrainian side, who were only defeated once in their five opening fixtures by eventual group winners, France.

"We battled once the game got going, but we needed to get it from the start," he admitted.

"We got our rhythm back, cut it to one but in the second quarter it was tough for us.

"I was proud of the fight we had in the second half, our guys tried to compete.

"We were trying to pressure, trying to get more possessions in the game.

"But it was a great effort by Ukraine."

British Basketball could have its funding cut after both the men's and women's teams fell short of the targets set by UK Sport


A faltering start was undoubtedly Britain's downfall on this occasion, as their Ukrainian opponents opened up a seven-point lead in the first quarter, which had expanded to 17 by the end of the second as Britain faced the arduous task of overturning a 48-31 deficit.

A mini-comeback had Britain dreaming of an unlikely win in the final quarter as they cut the gap to 14 points at 74-60, but a run of eight points against them proved to be the nail in the coffin of their EuroBasket campaign.

British forward Dan Clark reflected on the disappointment of not reaching their goals for the tournament, while also mentioning the importance of continued financial support from UK Sport in order to improve performances.

"We put ourselves in the right position but didn't execute," said Clark, who plies his trade with CB Estudiantes in Spain.

"It's tough not to be able to make that extra push and we're disappointed we didn't get to our objective for the tournament, which was to reach the second round.

"There are positives because some of the younger guys performed really well and if we can keep being supported they will grow and the programme will continue to get stronger."

UK Sport will hold its annual review in January next year, as British Basketball faces an anxious wait to learn the fate of its future funding.

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