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2012 FIBA Europe U16 Championship
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The fourth day of FIBA Europe youth competitions in Division A means the start of the qualifying round for the top 12 and classification (relegation group) for the bottom four.
The teams promoted from the 2011 FIBA Europe U16 Division B tournament, Germany and England are amongst the four teams in the relegation group.
Russia remain unbeaten and take maximum points into the qualifying round after seeing off the Slovak Republic (82-55). France, already assured first place in Group C, had no problems in seeing off England (77-40) in keeping their unbeaten record.
In the last game from Group C, the Czech Republic beat Croatia (65-59) to claim second place.
Belgium claimed first place in Group A with an impressive victory against Hungary (58-37).
With a (72-61) Sweden sent Turkey into the relegation group while Greece saved themselves and the Slovak Republic from playing in the relegation group by beating Serbia (72-58).
The Netherlands had an impressive win over Italy (49-47).
FIBA Europe U16 Queens Spain doing just enough to win
The 2011 FIBA Europe champions Spain came into this match with the threat of having to play in the relegation round if they had lost.
In the first quarter they played the type of basketball that has made them one of the best youth basketball programmes in Europe.
Excellent high low pass combinations and good defending allowed them a (17-10) first-quarter lead.
However in the second quarter Spain decided that a 15-point advantage was enough and went to sleep. This was a mistake as Germany raised their game and suddenly the match became exciting.
The Germans were blocked time and time again but still managed to cause Spain problems.
However Spain have a young player by the name of Laia Flores who appears to settle her team-mates. Flores made them regain control and pull away once more (36-22) at the break.
The third quarter lacked the intensity of what was seen in the first half. Spain controlled the tempo while Germany played with a lot of heart.
Spain led (50-37) going into the final quarter and finally applied their effective press to put the game out of reach of their opponents (67-47).
Germany: Marija Krstanovic 6, Alexandra Wilke DNP, Nele Aha 6, Nele Aha 2, Lena Wenke 7, Paulina Körner 0, Paulina Körner 0, Maj Vom Hof 4,Nadjeschda Ilmberger 2, Patricia Broßmann 9, Lisa Janko 2, Emma Stach 15, Cynthia Homburger 5
Spain: Maria Cazorla 6, Angela Salvadores 6, Carla Romeu 2, Nogaye Lo Sylla 4, Cristina Molinuevo 3, Laura Quevedo 6, Laia Clavero 6, Elena Capella 9, Itsaso Conde 13, Laia Flores 7, Helena Orts 2, Sara Zaragoza 2
What is happening at the FIBA Europe U16 in Miskolc?
The Netherlands played zone defense for the last 20 minutes against Italy and ended up winning the game (49-47) in a nail biting finish.
Italy led (29-23) at half time but then struggled against a shifting zone throughout the second half, while the Netherlands grew in confidence.
However as so often at FIBA Europe U16 events it was anybody's game until the last second. Although Italy was on the back foot for the last two quarters, they had the chance to go in front with six seconds to play but missed the shot.
Netherlands had a time-out left and used it. Two seconds after the inbound Deborah Vos was fouled. Although composed she missed the first free throw but then made the second.
Then the Netherlands went back to zone and Italy were left with a last shot from basically the half-way line.
Netherlands won the match but Italy finish as Group D winners.
Belgium have been playing total team basketball with all the players entering to rotation no matter what. In their final group game against Hungary despite 3 early fouls for Agnés Dobos they won with ease (58-37).
They started slowly in the first quarter (17-11) and then moved up a gear in the second quarter (35-21) and killed the game as a contest by the end of the third quarter (53-25).
So far Greece have been hot and cold in this competition but saved their best for last by beating Serbia (72-58) to save themselves from playing in the relegation round.
The FIBA rules for three-way ties were used to determine which team finished last in Group B with Serbia losing out on point difference.
France continue winning
England were quickly into their stride and scored the first 4 points of the game after good hustles by Rhianna-Mae Laing and Shanice Norton.
This woke France up and Katia Clanet quickly found her way to the free-throw line. Her 2 points were quickly followed by a Alix Duchet's trademark side step mid-distance jumper to level the score (4-4).
The English coaching staff called for an immediate time-out but nothing changed as they conceded 5 more points.
The French press was effective and England struggled to get to mid court. By the first quarter they trailed (8-16).
France continued the same system after the break and pushed their advantage into double figures (26-9) after completing a 12-0 run with 14 minutes played.
Savannah Wilkinson ended the England barren spell with a long two-pointer. England finally found a way past the press with crisp criss cross plays. Yet their finishing let them down.
France continued to extend their advantage and went into the interval leading (40-19) on a Carla Blatrie buzzer beater.
The third quarter turned into a training match with both coaches trying out things for the next stage of the competition.
France were more tidy and only turned the ball over once compared to England's five. The quarter came to an end with Blatrie firing in a buzzer beater (57-26).
The game fizzled out as a contest with France winning (77-40).
England: Parris Wilkinson 0, Shanice Norton 13, Samanta Clement 7, Leah McDerment 2, Ellen Maidman 0, Rhianna-Mae Laing 5, Chyna Sawyers 4, Savannah Wilkinson 5, Johanna Adenrele 0, Ellen Lewis 0, Sadie Russell 1, Evelyn Adebay 3
France: Alix Duchet 4, Marylie Limousin 5 (5 assists), Lisa Berkani 7, Marie Milapie 11, Katia Clanet 12, Louise Dambach DNP, Carla Blatrie 14, Maimouna Ba 3, Ornella Bankole 7 (11 rebounds), Mathilde Combes DNP, Camille Cirgue 4, Angélina Turmel 10
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FIBA Europe U16 basketball picture credits:
womensbasketball-in-france.com
Picture Gallery: First three days
U16 Division A
22 July 2012 Spain defends U16 crown
21 July 2012 Spain and Italy in final while France qualify for 5th place match
20 July 2012 Belgium, Italy Russia and Spain in semi-final while England relegated
18 July 2012 Russia are the only unbeaten team going into Final Round
17 July 2012 Eight teams already qualified for the quarter-finals
16 July 2012 Spain defeat France while Belgium and Russia remain unbeaten
16 July 2012 Title aspiration or Division A survival
14 July 2012 First phase ends with tears for Serbia
13 July 2012 7 teams already in Qualifying Round - England out
12 July 2012 Group D: Netherland's power, Italy's delight
12 July 2012 Great starts in Group C for France and Croatia
12 July 2012 Olympic dreams started with U16 international basketball in 2004
U16 Division B