The Netherlands held off Hungary in youth classic

Belgium remained unbeaten after victory against Ireland

Ireland did not allow Belgium any space to operate their three-point play and both sides were level (4-4) after five minutes of play. Arvid Diels called a time-out and told his players to wake up and play simple basketball.

His words worked as Noémie Mayombo hit a trey on the very next play. Ireland are not a team to drop their heads and were back quickly as first Christine O'Gorman and then Orla O'Reilly (2+1) went to score to put Ireland back in front (9-7) and held on to edge the first quarter (10-9).

Belgium's Miete Celus came back in the second quarter all fired up. Her positive energy passed through the team as Mayombo hit a trey followed quickly by a jump shot by Kim Mestagh.

Celus then stole the ball off Claire Rockall inside her half and finished with a lay-up.

Ireland's problems were still not over as Mestagh hit a trey to conclude a 10-0 run in 63 seconds to put Belgium back in command (19-10).

Orla O'Reilly ended the onslaught with a turn-around jump shot. Yet she was to leave the field shortly after as blood was gushing from her knee.

Belgium once again struggled offensively and their head coach called for a time-out (24-13) with just over four minutes until the interval.

Orla O'Reilly returned back to the game and Ireland immediately became more aggressive.

Back-to-back treys from Rockall in exactly the same position brought Ireland right back into the game as they hit their opponents 8-0.

Rockall, then in her element, knocked down a pair of free-throws (25-32) with just over a minutes to play in the first half.

Anne Sophie Strubbe picked up her 4th personal foul during the closing seconds as Ireland continued to press.

Orla O'Reilly was on hand to end the scoring in the first half for Ireland. However Belgium went into the locker room in front (37-32).

Belgium were left with no option but to play in a similar style to Ireland as they struggled to impose their own game.

They got the better of the early flourish of baskets and moved ahead (39-31) after Mayombo completed a fast break. Her next action was to pick up her 4th foul and as a result had to go back to the bench.

Ireland were finding it difficult to break the Belgium defence and fell further behind (47-32).

Initially they got beaten at fast breaks until Mestagh found her touch from beyond the arc. Then the game became rather passionate as Ireland fought tooth and nail to reduce their deficit with Rockall in particular making something out of nothing.

All the same Belgium went into the final period leading (53-41).

The final quarter was exciting for the spectators but a nightmare for the coaches: The players went all out in the final period.

Both sets of players were at the limit in this no-contact sport with bodies flying all over the place as everybody jostled for a position under the basket.

The exchange was fast and furious. With five minutes left to play Belgium still led by 11 points (64-53).

Sinead O’Reilly was the first player to foul out from either side. Strubbe attempted to block Orla O’Reilly in mid-air with 2:45 to play. So Strubbe fouled out.

Belgium went into money-time still in front (66-59). However Ireland’s never-die-attitude saw them come to within 3 points (65-68) with 37 seconds on the clock.

Mayombo (right) then did the rest for Belgium with clutch free-throwing and also provoking Hannah Thorton into committing her 5th foul.

Belgium’s victory (72-65) keeps them in pole position in the group as Latvia do not play on day 2 of this competition.

England held down Scotland

Mari Buchan (left) got Scotland off to a good quick start with a trey. Scotland were in a hurry to get things going and Erwin Mc Garrachan was fouled on the way to the basket and hit her free-throws.

The 67-second riot was completed by Rebecca Allison as they opened the match with 7 straight points.

England finally got off the mark as Renne Johnson-Allen hit a jumper from the top of the key. However Scotland kept on the pressure and Allison added another basket for Scotland (9-2).

The English coach made some changes and Katrin Chiemeka then sparked an England 13-0 run with 6 quick points as the English side took command. This run was concluded by Tamzin Barroilhet (15-9).

Scotland managed to stop the leakage. Yet England maintained the advantage at the end of the first period (19-13).

Scotland, more organised in the second period, started to come back into the game as they attacked the basket more and made it a three-point game (21-24) with Kathryn Taylor splitting a pair of free-throws.

For the rest of the second period the teams exchanged baskets at regular intervals in a typical derby match with England holding on to the advantage (31-27).

England went into the interval leading (33-27) as Julia Colley, fed by Chiemeka, hit a mid-distance jumper.

The third quarter was a ding-dong affair with England have the best of the exchange to go into the final quarter leading (51-39) as Chiemeka hit a period-ending buzzer shot.

England quickly got into their stride with 5 quick points to stride but Scotland bounced back with Buchan (58-48). The battle in the paint between Hannah Shaw of England and Buchan from Scotland was becoming more intense resulting in Shaw fouling out with 4:27 to play.

Buchan converted her free-throws (50-62) giving Scotland four minutes to save the game. They started to move the ball around and Mc Garrachan basket, followed by an Annie Rowan trey resulted in an English time-out (62-55) with 2:52 to play.

England held their nerves and won (70-60).

Top scorers for England (in picture above) were Chiemeka (15) with 17 points while Colley (9) and Mary Durojaye (7) (12 rebounds) scored 10 apiece.

Scotland’s Buchan scored 23 points and picked up 10 boards for Scotland.

Denmark beat Finland

The Nordic derby between Finland and Denmark started at a slow pace with the teams trading baskets early on with Kia Ignatius (6-4) giving Finland the early advantage.The game became stale for almost three minutes with nothing happening offensively.

Saara Vare then brought the game to life with a shot from down-town. Denmark changed their systems and Lotte Tobiassen ended the three minutes scoring drought.

Finland remained in control for the remaining of the first period to lead (16-10).

Denmark switched to a variation of press causing Finland problems while they started to score with first back-to back baskets. Eventually they took the lead (19-18) off the back of a trey from Tobiassen.

Ida Preetzmann's pace was causing Finland all kinds of problems as Denmark stretched their lead (29-23). Maria Saimio's baseline trey brought Finland to within 3 points before Preetzmann (16 points in the first half) went on a 6-point run to (35-28).

Finland found ways to stop Preetzmann from scoring and reduced their deficit with Ignatius' 10th point of the game. Denmark still went into the interval (37-32).

Denmark continued to dominate the game as Finland appeared to be tired. When Ida Krogh was allowed to go coast to coast to score and draw the foul, Denmark's advantage had increased to 10 points (45-35).

A Finnish time-out resulted in a complete change of attitude by the players. Once again Ignatius was at the centre of all their attacks as they reduced the deficit (41-46).

It was now the turn of the Danish coach to use a time-out. He was rewarded as Line Piechnik was nicely placed beyond the arc to hit a trey. Shortly after Preetzmann restored the 10-point advantage from the free-throw line (51-41).

Finland came storming back with 6 points but then allowed all their good work go to waste as they left Preetzmann free on the baseline to hit a trey.

The game became more physical as Finland stepped up the tempo in the last minute. However Denmark still had the advantage going into the final quarter (56-50).

The final quarter became a personal battle between Ignatius and Preetzmann as they were the centre of all their offensive and defensive actions.

Denmark maintained their advantage (65-59).With just under four minutes left to play, Finland had no option but to take risks in order to save the game.

Denmark maintained their discipline defensively and held on to win (71-65).

Preetzmann (above right) led the scoring for Denmark with 27 points and was joined in double figures with 12 points by Bianca Christiansen (above left). The Finland Ignatius had 25 points.