Lions coach looks for big crowd

Clark: “If you can’t see it, you can’t dream it"

London Lions women’s coach Mark Clark is hoping that fans will turn out to support his team as they face Zabiny Brno in the FIBA Europe Cup at the Copper Box, on Wednesday afternoon (4pm).

“I know it’s an afternoon tip, but it’ll be great to get as many people at the Copper Box on Wednesday” he said. “If you can’t see it, you can’t dream it and I hope young girls in particular take the chance to see the many GB internationals we have in action.

“It’s a chance to come straight out of school and come down to the Copper Box and watch some of the highest level European basketball this country has seen for a long time.”

Clark is hoping to build on a great start to the season that has seen his side win all five WBBL games as well as win a thriller 81-78 at Rutronik Stars Keltern in last week’s Europe Cup opener.

“We’re looking forward to another challenge in the Europe Cup after the win away from home last and now we’re at the Copper Box for three straight games” he said.

“Brno are a team with a lot of history from the Czech Republic  and they’ll be looking to bounce back after they lost their opening game. I think we have to approach the game with a lot of confidence. I believe the tempo we’re playing at will give them some real issues and they’ll have to find a way to combat how we move the ball really well.”

While Lions were continuing their impressive early season form last Wednesday, Brno suffered a heavy 75-68 home loss against Castors Braine. Petra Zaplatova was their key player, finishing with 19 points, three assists and a couple of rebounds.

Brno have been the most successful team in the Czech league following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, dominating the championship between 1996 and 2008. In 2005 it reached the Euro league final but lost to CSKA Moscow, and the following year they became the second Czech European champion in its arena in a rematch of the previous final. In 2008 they again hosted and reached the final, but lost against defending champion Spartak Moscow Region.