France U16 youth international basketball roster confirmed for Naples

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Arnaud Guppillotti changed the youth international basketball programme this season and reduced the number of tournaments played in France.

France won the traditional “Tournoi à Poinçonnet” during Easter with victories against Turkey (67-63), Russia (62-53) and Spain (51-44).

The summer preparation started in June with a 3-match series against Germany. France won the series (79-46), (81-66) and (69-47).

After this competition the roster was reduced and the squad minus Esther Niamke, who was playing at the U18 European Championship, went to Italy for a joint training camp and a 3-match series.

France won the first two games (49-38) and (52-32) but then lost the final match (52-57).

France had also entered a team at the 10th European Youth Olympic summer festival in Tampare, Finland.

Basketball was just one of 9 sports and France was drawn in Group B with Sweden, Hungary and Finland.

France opened with a win against the hosts and Division A newcomer Finland (69-52) with Caroline Plust leading the scoring with 11 points.

On day 2, France beat Hungary (74-42) with Jodie Cornellie this time leading the scoring with 16 points.

In the last group game on day 3 France cruised past Sweden (61-33) with yet another player leading the scoring, Sabrine Bouzenna with 11 points.

France met Turkey in the semi-final and for the first time they were taken to the wire. They just had enough in the reserve tank to beat Turkey (46-45). Laure Mercier and Christelle Diallo both scored 10 points for France.

In the final France had to play Belgium. France appeared to have everything under control and led by as many as 16 points. However in typical youth international basketball style Belgium came storming back and trailed by a single point.

Once again France found a solution and went on to win (77-68) with Christelle Diallo taking the scoring honours with 16 points.

The 12 players selected for the European Championship are:

Surname	First Name	Date of birth	Club
BOUZENNA	Sabrine	14/10/1993	S.I.Graffenstaden (CFBB)
CHEVAUGEON	Sara	12/02/1993	La Rochelle (CFBB)
CORNELIE	Jodie	20/04/1993	S.I.Graffenstaden (CFBB)
DIALLO	Christelle	12/03/1993	Marne la Vallée (CFBB)
EPOUPA	Olivia	30/04/1994	Paris Basket
GALLIOU	Margaux	12/04/1993	Bourges Basket
HERGOTT	Mathilde	27/10/1993	Basket Lattes Maurin Montpellier
MERCIER	Laure	29/07/1993	AL Mezieu (CFBB)
NAYO	Alice	16/01/1993	Paris Racing (CFBB)
NIAMKE	Esther	17/07/1993	USO Mondeville
PLUST	Caroline	29/07/1993	Union Hainaut
STIEVENARD	Claire	15/09/1993	Wasquehal (CFBB)