Olympic host Britain was eliminated from the European championship Monday despite an 88-81 win over Poland on Monday which allowed Turkey to go through. Holder Spain and host Lithuania also advanced from preliminary Pool A, while France, 2009 runner-up Serbia and Germany joined them from Pool B. Surprise package Macedonia, 2005 champion Greece and unfancied Finland progressed from Pool C along with Russia, Slovenia and Georgia, the top three teams from Pool D. The second stage will feature two groups of six, with the top four teams from each group advancing to the quarterfinals of the tournament which is also an Olympic qualifying event. Facing an early exit after losing to Poland Sunday, the Turks could hardly believe their luck as several hundred of their vociferous fans roared on the British against Poland in the closing stages of the gripping contest. Knowing they were through no matter what they did against Spain, a relieved Turkish team stunned the champion 65-57 two hours later after conceding only 19 second-half points. France advanced as the top team from Pool B with five wins out of five after a 97-96 overtime defeat of Serbia in the day's most entertaining contest with a thrilling climax. Russia remained the only other team with a perfect record after an equally dramatic 65-64 win over Slovenia. Macedonia's impressive run continued with their fourth straight win, a 75-68 success over Bosnia that took it through to the second stage for the first time as an independent nation. In contrast, fellow former Yugoslavs Croatia stretched its winless streak against Greece to 16 years with a 74-69 defeat and crashed out in the preliminary stage for the first time since they gained independence in 1992. Finland advanced with a 71-65 victory over Montenegro, Germany progressed with an 81-80 win over Latvia and Georgia went through despite a 79-69 loss to Bulgaria.
