U20 international youth basketball
Eight teams advance
on day 2 in Samsun

Youth basketball coaches in European Championships Division A hate day 2 as it is the most stressful in terms of qualification or elimination.

In Samsun eight teams have secured their place in the second round while for Hungary and Lithuania the dream for the title is already over.

The following teams have qualified for the second round: Netherlands, Spain, France, Russia, Italy, Turkey, Sweden and Germany.

Hungary and Lithuania cannot move out of bottom position in their groups even if they win their last game. 

For the coaching staff the preparation starts now for the dreaded  relegation round in which only the winner stays in Division A next season.

In Group A and B six teams are still in the race for the last four places in the Qualification Round.

France win Group C

The 7-point burst of Esther Moisan Niamke (in picture) at the end of the second quarter put France in control for good (39-29). Niamke led the way with 13 points and a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.

During the second half of the match Niamke added just 3 points to her total. Yet with Sara Chevaugeon (10 points) continuing to shoot the lights out (4-of-6) and Marie-Bernadette Mbuyamba doing all the unselfish work France were never in danger of losing the match.

At the moment Russia are not playing the type of youth basketball that puts the fear in their opponents. But with players such as Ksenia Tikhonenko they are still dangerous.

France won (66-51) and more importantly take maximum points into the second round.

Italy beat Hungary (55-36) in a scrappy game. The Hungarians tried in vain to slow down the Dotto twins which was a mistake as the two players combined for 25 points and 5 assists.

France, Russia and Italy advance to the second round while Hungary have to play in the relegation round.

Youth basketball is becoming popular in Samsun

Turkey have the added pressure of playing at home and on live TV. Yet they seem to be handling pressure. They have wrapped up Group D with a comfortable victory against Germany (72-48).

The Germans kept it close for ten minutes edging the first quarter (14-13). Turkey with so many weapons and complete control of the boards sapped the energy out of their opponents as they controlled the rest of the game.

Özge Kavurmacioglu (in picture) led a balanced attack with 16 points. Ayse Cora and Gizem Seze chipped in 13 and 11 points each. For Germany Katharina Müller scored 16 points.

It took Sweden 25 minutes to get out of their slump to overturn Lithuania. With scores tied (37-37) Sweden hit on the three-point button.

They connected 3 times in a 15-2 run to finish the third quarter and take control of the match for good (52-39). Sweden went on to win (69-47) with 27 points and 13 rebounds coming from Josefin Vesterberg.

Sweden join Turkey and Germany in the Qualification Round while Lithuania must plan to avoid Division B.

The rest of the news from day 2 in Samsun

In Group B, Greece gave themselves a chance of qualifying with a (54-50) victory against Poland. The match was not very good as both sides went through long periods without scoring. For Greece the duo of Artemis Spanou (in picture) and Anthoula Chatzigiakoumi with 16 and 14 points respectively saw them through.

Spain may be the youth basketball Queens of Europe. However they were given a scare by the Slovak Republic. Spain leading (17-14) after the first quarter were then hit 13-0 to start the second quarter. 

They rallied back with a 13-2 run of their own and went into the locker room with the game tied (29-29). Spain made no mistakes once in front after the break and paced themselves to victory (62-52) and a place in the next round.

Astou Ndour led Spain for the second game in a row with 17 points and 10 rebounds while Elena De Alfredo and Yurena Diaz finished with 15 and 14 points apiece. Barbora Bálintová led the Slovak Republic with 16 points.

In Group A, the Netherlands are just warming up. They battered Ukraine in the first quarter (27-9) and then paced themselves to victory (68-52) and into the Qualification Round. Maxime Essenstam (in picture) led the scoring with 18 points while Loyce Bettonvil picked up another double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Serbia led from start to finish against Belarus for their first win of the championship (73-53).

Like this page / Aimez cette page