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France U16 are the queens of youth basketball in Poinçonnet again The 2010 Tournoi International du Poinçonnet youth basketball tournament has come to an end with France beating Spain (43-35) in the final match.With this victory France successfully defended the trophy in a repeat of the 2009 final match. Valériane Ayayi was the match winner for France with 17 points and 10 rebounds. In the first match of the day Poland held off a late surge by Belgium to win (67-63) in the match between the two teams without a victory. Olivia Epoupa (right) was selected as MVP and was joined in the all tournament team by Marles Balart, Antonia Delaere, Dominika Miloszewska and Valériane Ayayi. 
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France also had a bad day from the free-throw line with just 9-from-21. However their strength in rebounding with Lidija Turcinovic and Valériane Ayayi (left) gave them the edge at the interval (29-16).
Ayayi was the player of the match with 17 points and 10 rebounds for France. She was the only player in double digits. Lidija Turcinovic who scored 4 points picked up 10 rebounds also. Poland ending tournament on a high
It was clear early on in this game that Poland were not going to experiment much with rotations. They started with their strongest five players and only took them out when they committed fouls.
On the other hand Belgium continued their policy of rotating players in the first 20 minutes before settling for the better performing players at the end.
Poland profited from the frequent changes in the Belgium line-up to win the first quarter (18-9) and maintain that advantage up to the break (33-24).
The two teams raised their game during the second half. They reduced the turnovers and finished with a flourish of baskets.
Dominika Owczarzak (right) was the leading player for Poland. She finished the game with 20 points and 4 assists. But it was her perfect free-throw shooting (7-of-7) that was to make the difference in the end.
Katarzyna Jaworska and Karolina Puss had a strong finish to the youth basketball tournament.
If Belgium had played in the first half in the way they played during the second half, they may have won this game. They committed too many unnecessary fouls allowing Poland 35 trips to the free-throw line.
Antonia Delaere (left) was the motor in this team. She finished with 13 points but dished out 7 assists and was credited with 2 assists.
Hind Ben Abdelkader led the Belgium team in scoring, 16 points.
On the balance of play Poland deserved the victory in this game.
Overall both teams improved as the tournament went on and their coaches should be pleased with what they saw. This tournament is only the first step in their preparation for the U16 European Championship Div A later this summer.
Poland: Monika Skrzecz 0, Malwina Rudzka 3, Dominika Owczarzak 20, Julia Drop 0, Maja Rynkiewicz 0, Julia Adamowicz 0, Daria Marciniak 2, Wioletta Wisniewska 0, Dominika Miloszewska 13, Karolina Puss 10, Katarzyna Jaworska 13, Beata Jaworska 8.
Belgium: Antonia Delaere 13, Nette Van Oeckel 0, Hind Ben Abdelkader 16, An-Katrien Nauwelaers 0, Saar Bogaert 6, Janne Roggemans 0, Heleen Adams 11, Jolien Goyvaerts 4, Josephine Anseeuw 0, Camille Lebrun 0, Jille Van Meerbeeck 0, Malon Humblet 11, Axelle Bernard 2.
2010 France and Spain remain unbeaten on Day 2
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Youth basketball picture credits:
Nathalie Gallois
Olivier Sarre @ Basquetbol.org
Date created: 05 April 2010
