Croatia, Czech Republic, Turkey and France qualify for the Olympic games

Four teams have obtained rights to participate in London Olympics, all four are from Europe. The rest of the world will fight it out for the remaining one place in the games.

As was expected the Croatia Canada game went down to the line with both teams giving each other plenty of opportunities to succeed, but neither using them particularly well. Iva Ciglar three pointer with 6 minutes remaining proved to be a turning point as Croatia took back the lead and never gave it back. Jelena Ivezic and Marija Vrsaljko were the only Croatian players able to reach double digits.

Czech Republic stormed out to a 13-0 lead and never gave it up. Japan though made a bit interesting in the fourth quarter by cutting down the lead to 3 points, but that’s the closest they could get to the Czechs. Petra Kulichova dominated the undersized Japanese opponents with 14 points and 15 rebounds.

OQT hosts Turks had an easier night with their opponents Argentinians not being able to cut in the host lead unlike previous two losers. Tugba Palazoglu scored 7 consecutive points at the start of the fourth quarter when Argentina managed to cut down the lead to 7 points. The game wasn’t close in the remaining more than half a quarter. Nevriye Yilmaz finished as the top scorer for Turks with 17 points.

Despite a slow start France got their act together in the second quarter and went to locker rooms with a 9 point advantage. By the end of the third it was increased to 18 points and that was the game. French post rotation of Gruda, Yacoubou and Miyem each scored in double digits.

Semifinals will be played on Saturday in order as follows:

Canada – Argentina
Japan – Korea

Croatia – Canada 59-56
Croatia: Ivezic 12, Vrsaljko 10, Ciglar 9
Canada: Pilypaitis 11, Gabriele 9, Achonwa 7

Czech Republic – Japan 53-47
Czech Republic: Kulichova 14 (15 reb), Viteckova 10, Burgrova 8, Horakova 8
Japan: Mamiya 16, Fujiwara 9, Tanaka 8

Turkey – Argentina 72-58
Turkey: Yilmaz 17, Palazoglu 13, Hollingsworth 12, Ivegin 9
Argentina: Gretter 17, Cava 12, Cabrera 8

France – Korea 80-63
France: Gruda 19, Yacoubou 12, Miyem 10
Korea: Sin 17, Beon 15, Kim 9