|
Serbia continued to shine during the U20 youth international basketball tournament in Chieti The second day of the youth international basketball of FIBA Europe U20 European Championship Women witnessed the qualification of six countries for the qualification round. Serbia beat hosts Italy (71-53) with former Bourges Basket player Sonja Petrovic (left) registering a double-double 14 points and 10 rebounds. Serbia are the first team from group A to qualify for the next stage. In group B the Czech Republic’s qualification was gained after a tough match against Latvia. Andrea Ovsíková scored 17 points as the Czech Republic went on to win (65-56) after allowing their opponents only 3 points in the last five minutes of the game. Russia and Ukraine qualified from group C after comfortable victories. Russia beat Bulgaria (83-50). Jaklin Zlatanova, Bulgarian youth international and former Tarbes player scored 7 points in this game. Ukraine made light work of Lithuania (101-50). In group D Spain beat Montenegro (80-61) and Belarus held off Belgium (73-67) to book their tickets for the next round of matches. France bounced back with a comfortable win after a 16-0 start
France were quick into their stride and led (12-0) after five minutes of play. Germany finally hit the target on their 14th attempt as Hanna Mügge (12 points) found her way to the basket. France maintained control and took advantage of the Germans team foul problems with free trips to the free-throw line. Hence they increased their advantage by the end of the first period (21-4). Germany committed 9 team fouls during the first period. To compound their problems Jacqueline Fatsawo committed 3 of them. Germany was more aggressive at the start of the second quarter and outscored France (8-4) to reduce their deficit (12-25). Mélanie Arnaud then got France back on track with a trey. She was then the receiver of a pass from Lucie Bouthors to score 2 more points. Carine Paul added 2 more points as France were getting ready for another riot (32-12). The German head coach, Julia Gajewski, called for a time-out to break up the French rhythm. She changed her team’s tactics and managed to halt the French progress inside the paint. So France was forced to shoot from the perimeter. This was an exercise that Ingrid Tanqueray with one three-pointer and Sarah Michel with two three-pointers enjoyed. Hence France went into the interval with a 20-point cushion (42-21). France maintained their 20-point advantage for most of the third period. But Germany kept coming back and reduced their deficit (42-59) going into the final period.
Once again Marielle Amant got France back on track as they went on a (12-4) run to finally end the game as a contest (71-49) with five minutes remaining in the game. France went on to win (84-59) with Michel scoring 13 points. She was joined in double digits by Paul and Amant (4 rebounds) with 13 and 11 points respectively. European Championship Women U20 Basketball Day 1 Return from Youth International Basketball U20 Day 2 to "What's New" page Return from European Championship Women U20 Basketball to youth international basketball index Youth International Basketball U20 Day 2 picture credit:
|
Ireti Amojo (left-15 points) hit a trey at the start of the final period to bring Germany to within 14 points of their opponents. This was as close Germany was to get to France. 
