France and Spain's qualification for the knock-out stage of the FIBA Europe U20 Championship is already assured but they still need to remain focused as they have tough games against teams still in the qualification hunt.
Latvia's qualification now depends on them winning the next two games as well as the Netherlands coming to their aid. Italy have one foot in the door after their victory against Great Britain. A victory today against Spain should see them through.
With the British victory they have also eliminated the Netherlands from any hopes to get a spot in the quarter-final.
You can watch Damian Jennings' interview about the victory against France after the Fiba U20 European game report.
Latvia wanted the victory more
Latvia dominated the ball for the first three minutes of the game to also score 8 points.
Latvia, sharing the ball around, were able to maintain their advantage for the rest of the first quarter.
The Netherlands reverted to long distance shooting but were unsuccessful with one exception for Latvia to win the first quarter (18-10).
Latvia continued their running game at the start of the second quarter with Asnate Fomina and Sabine Niedola scoring on fast breaks (22-10).
The Netherlands struggled in the Latvian paint. So they had to switch to long distance shooting. Tessel van Dongen was first with a 24-second buzzer beater three. But it was Latvia through Anete Kirsteine with two treys that won the contest.
Zera Butter joined in with a trey for the Netherlands but Fomina replied in kind as Latvia went to the locker room with a 15-point lead thanks to a pair of free throws by Kristine Vitola (35-20).
Latvia appeared to have the game in control as they stretched the advantage to 22 points (45-23) midway through the third quarter.
However things started to change as Kourtney Treffers fired the Netherlands back into live with 7 quick points. Latvia panicked and Randell van der Lee took full advantage as she sparked her team into a 10-0 run for her side to trail by 2 points at the interval (48-50).
Niedola showed why she is one of the best youth players in Europe with her 9 points and 8 rebounds during the final quarter as she guided her team to victory (67-58).
Netherlands tried everything in the last ten minutes but in vain. With 1:16 to play Chatilla van Grinsven collided with Niedola with the Dutch player holding her arm and Niedola rubbing her face.
Latvia had secured their victory (67-58).
Both teams had to wait for the Great Britain-France game to know if they were still in the race for a FIBA Europe U20 European Championship quarter-final place.
Furthermore van Grinsven had to go to hospital after the incident on court to get further treatment.
Latvia: Dita Rozenberga 4 (4 assists), Sabine Niedola 20 (13 rebounds and 4 assists), Kristine Brance 1, Anete Kirsteine 15, Arta Kublacova DNP, Asnate Fomina 5, Anna Sonka 0, Guna Lagzdina DNP, Madara Gulbe 2, Liga Surkusa 0, Kristine Vitola 18 (18 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks), Ilze Gotfrid 2
Netherlands: Willemijn Kallenberg 3, Zera Butter 6, Tessel van Dongen 8, Kourtney Treffers 15, Jamailah Adams 2, Randell van der Lee 7, Marlou de Kleijn 5, Dewi Keppij DNP, Maxime Essenstam 0, Tamlyn de Groot 0, Chatilla van Grinsven 12 (5 blocks), Romy Stijsiger DNP
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Great Britain to take second victory
Touty Gandega scored on the very first attack for France. But Renee Busch replied with a reverse lay-up immediately afterwards.
Then Gandega scored again for Great Britain to reply with a turn-around jump shot by Ella Clark (left).
France started to play on the fast breaks. With five minutes played they had opened the first big lead of the game (14-6).
Damian Jennings continued to turn his bench, changing players' roles. He was rewarded with an 8-0 run on the back of two treys by Clark.
Great Britain were on a run. With a trey by Kristie Sheils and 2 points by Deanne Hayward they opened a 5-point lead (21-16).
However Gandega scored for the 8th time just before the buzzer to reduce the French deficit (18-21).
Nothing happened for almost four minutes as the teams neutralised each other.
Busch finally broke the deadlock but scoring was still hard. Only Jessica Hurd and Rebeca Allison scored off a pass by Katrin Chiemeka (27-18).
France finally scored as Kelly Corre and Isabelle Strunc took things into their hands. Strunc scored the last points of the quarter, leaving Great Britain heading into the locker room leading (27-22).
The third quarter was again hyper defensive. France started to move the ball around with Corre concluding fast breaks as they quickly reduced the deficit.
Great Britain still played hard defensively. With good perimeter shooting by Hayward and Busch connecting from beyond the arc they were able to go into the final quarter leading (43-34).
The last quarter was a case of French flair and fast breaks against a hyper defensive Great Britain team.
Clémentine Samson and Hhadydia Minte did most of the scoring for France while Great Britain shared the scoring as Clark was able to get to the basket.
With 58 seconds to play Hurd delivered the final knock-out blow for France (58-50).
France were unable to do anything and Great Britain went on to win (62-50). However qualification for the FIBA Europe U20 European Championship quarter-final still depends on other results.
France: Touty Gandega 8 (4 assists), Princesse Goubo 0, Ondaye-Akoa Elenga 4, Linda Bousbaa 0, Isabelle Strunc 2, Clémentine Samson 8, Hhadydia Minte 14 (9 rebounds), Morgiane Eustache 0, Manon Morel 2, Chloe Westelynck 0, Sophie Le Marrec 2, Kelly Corre 10
Great Britain: Katrin Chiemeka 4, Erin Mc Garrachan 0, Deanne Hayward 8, Ella Clark 16 (7 rebounds), Renee Busch 12, Rebecca Allison 8, Josephine Salmon DNP, Jessica Hurd 9, Kathryn Taylor 0, Kristie Sheils 3 (4 assists), Temitope Fagbenle 2, Gemma Bullard 0
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Spain stay unbeaten
In lively first ten minutes with 6 lead changes and 7 ties Italy somehow managed to find a way past the Spanish press and put a 4-0 run together to regain the lead (16-13) with 90 seconds to play.
However they dropped their guard and allowed Vega Gimeno all the time in the world to shoot from down-town to tie the game for the 7th time (16-16).
Spain meant business at the start of the second quarter with Gimeno and Mariona Ortiz scoring in the paint (20-16).
Italy struggled with the press and turned the ball over a number of times. They manged just one score from open play by Elena Bestagno.
Spain were not great themselves but still went into the locker room leading (24-19).
Italy tried to stay in contact with Spain. Yet their efforts were in vain (23-33). Then it was one-way traffic with Queralt Casas, Vanessa Blé and Ortiz causing mayhem as Spain went into the last quarter leading (46-23).
Nothing changed in the final quarter with Spain having an easy run to win (65-39).
Italy: Giulia Leva 0, Federica Nannucci 6, Virginia Galbiati 7, Tayara Madonna 2, Laura Spreafico 4, Elena Bestagno 6, Valeria De Pretto 6, Alessandra Tava 6 Federica Tognalini 3, Irene Cigliani DNP, Alessandra Pastorino 0, Giulia Rulli 1
Spain: Leonor Rodriguez 5, Queralt Casas 8, Amaya Gastaminza 3, Tanja Perez 7, Miriam Foraste 4, Laura Arroyo 3, Mireia Vila DNP, Vega Gimeno 3, Arantxa Mallou 7, Vanessa Blé 10, Laura Gil 11 (10 rebounds), Mariona Ortiz 4 (4 assists)
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