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U18 Partnership youth international basketball entering day 4After three days of youth international basketball competition Slovenia remain unbeaten. On day 4 they take on The Netherlands. Germany are still looking for their first win and have a tough assignment against Ireland. In the final game the hosts Luxembourg take on England. Slovenia taking title after beating The NetherlandsAlready before the last day Slovenia have assured to be the winners of this edition of the youth international basketball U18 women Partnership tournament. Fieke Ligthart opened the scoring for The Netherlands after 30 seconds of observation. Nika Baric replied with a coast to coast run seconds later. Then the match was launched.
Slovenia's continuous drive to the basket paid dividend. They made frequent trips to the free-throw line to reduce their deficit midway through the first period (12-13). Slovenia's switch to zone kept their opponents scoreless for the rest of the first period. Furthermore they continued to win free- throws to finish the first period in front (16-13).
Slovenia reverted back to zone once more. The Netherlands had difficulty to find an opening and were only able to score 2 points while Slovenia hit 9 points with Teja Oblak and Baric doing the damage (29-20). The Dutch coach called for a time-out and was rewarded on the very next play as Marianne van der Hoek hit a three-pointer just as the 24-second clock violation buzzer sounded. Hoek was to score again as she split a pair of free-throws. Despite the Dutch domination of possession Slovenia went into the locker room leading (31-26). Slovenia started to run the ball more during the second period and used more fast break transitions causing their opponents troubles. They increased their advantage (43-31). Baric, who was leading the attack, picked up her fourth personal foul and had to return to the bench with 2:38 to play in the third period. However Slovenia had increased their lead (47-31).
For most of the final period The Netherlands controlled the play and slowly reduced their deficit. With the game entering money-time they trailed (48-54). Innes Kerin (above) then came up with a shot from down-town to settle her side's nerve (57-48). The Netherlands continued to bombard the Slovenian basket. With 43 seconds remaining the Dutch coach told her girls to believe in themselves as they made one last effort to save the game (51-57). Then Esmee Danielle Van Geffen hit a trey with 25 seconds left to play. She then fouled Julija Lojen who missed her free-throws but Gortnar got to the rebound first and was fouled. She made no mistake from the free-throw line to give Slovenia with (58-54) some breathing space with 18 seconds to play. Slovenia were to score once more from the charity stripes to win (61-54). For Slovenia Gortnar led the scoring with 15 points while Baric and Oblak finished with 12 and 11 points respectively. For The Netherlands Kuyt led the scoring with 9 points. Ireland happy after beating Germany
Ireland scored the first 11 points of the match as Germany struggled to get going. When Germany finally got into their stride Ireland were forced into playing a zone defence as Jenny Menz and Danina Skrobek ejected pace into the attack with their side storming back (6-12). However Ireland still led (19-12) at the end of the first period as Sinead O'Reilly hit a three-pointer at the buzzer. Both teams started to play different variations of zone in the beginning of the second period. They exchanged baskets at regular intervals with Ireland holding on their lead midway through this quarter (27-22).
With Ireland regaining their advantage (32-25) it was the turn of Germany to change their offensive options: Stephanie Wagner and Franziska Steiner forced their way into the paint before releasing jump shots to reduce their deficit (29-32). Ireland then went on the offensive to finish the first half on a high (36-31). Germany resumed their application of the zone. With the addition of Mara Greunke in defence (Greunke controlled the defensive boards), Germany could concentrate on offensive options and drew level for the first time (37-37). Ireland were not perturbed by their opponent's revival with O'Reillly and Clare Rockall hitting back to back baskets to regain the lead. Ireland had the chance to further stretch their lead from the charity stripes but went 0-for-4 instead. All the same Ireland still went on a 6-0 run and went into the final quarter leading (50-41).
For Ireland Orla O'Reilly (2nd right) top scored with 24 points while Sinead O'Reilly (Right) was the only other player in double figures with 11 points. For Germany Pia Mankertz top scored with 18 points. With this victory Ireland are in this youth international basketball tournament 2-2 while Germany are still looking for their first win. Luxembourg continue to enjoy hosting youth international basketball as they have defeated EnglandJo and Lynn Schreiner caused England all sorts of problem at the start of the game with their pace. However Charlotte Stoddart hit a trey to settle England's nerves (5-4). Luxembourg continued to run at the English defence. Then Jill Haentges was allowed to score 7 points on the trot as Luxembourg took control of the game (13-7). The English head coach called for a time-out and made some changes. England then put together a 6-0 run to get themselves back into the game. Léonie De Jonge ended England's run as she finished a fast break. Luxembourg held on to the lead at the end of the first period (15-12). Luxembourg continued to apply a full court press and England's poor shooting allowed Luxembourg to increase their lead (24-15). Luxembourg continued with the same approach and went into the interval ahead (33-24). England was with no option but to chase the game. They played small to start the second half with Lucy Fish hitting a trey from the baseline. However Luxembourg changed their pressing system and pushed the advantage back up to 10 points (39-29). The English coach had no other option but for her players to play a stricter player on player marking system. England did reduce the deficit and came to within 4 points off a Katrin Chiemeka baseline trey (41-45). England's foul problems cost them as Luxembourg hit a lot of free-throws (49-43). Both coaches changed their offensive systems as the tempo increased. England were running at full pace and reduced their deficit to 3 points as Tamzin Barroilhet was at the end of a fast break. But Luxembourg went into the final quarter leading (52-49). The final period was end to end basketball with Hannah Shaw for England matching the combined strength of Lynn Schreiner and Haentges for Luxembourg. Lynn Schreiner hit a shot from nowhere with 4:52 to play to give Luxembourg the cushion they required (60-55). A time-out was called and soon aftewards Haentges hit the knock-out blow with Luxembourg's 7th trey of the evening (63-55). Neither side allowed any more open shots. Most of the remaining points came from the free-throw line. Luxembourg maintained the advantage and with less than a minute on the clock they led (65-56) and held on to win (69-61).
Paar Hermann, (right)the coach of the Luxembourg senior women team, has been involved in the youth international basketball set-up for this generation of players for a number of years. He was very pleased with the result of the matches so far as his team are now 2-2 for the tournament. Youth international Basketball Partnership Tournament Luxembourg "Day 3 Youth international Basketball Partnership Tournament Luxembourg "Day 2 Youth international Basketball Partnership Tournament Luxembourg "Day 1 Youth international Basketball Partnership Tournament Luxembourg U18 women Preview Return from Youth international Basketball Partnership Tournament Luxembourg to "What's New" page Return to youth international basketball index Date created: 19 July 2008
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Amanda van Huenen (left) from The Netherlands worked the paint well to score a few points. Yet it was the three-point shooting that gave the Dutch side the edge early on. Karin Kuyt hit two shots from the land of many while the other points came from Mascha van der Linden as they opened up a 6-point lead (12-7).
The Netherlands ended their barren spell and opened the second period with a trey by Demelza Ten Caat. Another trey followed by her team mate Susanne Van Hoogstraeten. However scores from Petra Lesar and Tjasa Gortnar (right) kept Slovenia in front (20-18).
The Netherlands' only score came from the charity stripes as Slovenia went into the final period with a significant advantage (49-32).
Sarah-Marie Frankenberger hit a baseline jumper from her favourite position to bring Germany to within 2 points. Almost immediately Ireland hit back on a fast break concluded by O'Reilly. Ireland scored again from a fast break with Clare Rockall.
Germany chased and chased all during the final quarter but were unable to break down the Irish resistance. Jimmy Diggans, the Irish coach was able to turn his bench as his players controlled the pace of the match to win (62-51).
Lynn Schreiner led the scoring with 20 points for Luxembourg while Haentges finished with 19. Hannah Shaw was the only player in double digits for England with 18 points.
