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U18 youth basketball: France won against Australia, but gems take trophyThe fourth U18 youth basketball tournament in Troyes, France was played under difficult conditions with temperatures as high as 38°C outside. The Australians suffered in the heat and had to dig deep to get past Belgium in their opening game (72-63).
Despite a late flurry by the Belgium players, just like in Rezé, Australia hung on to win. For Australia Kerryn Harrington (left) scored 16 points and was joined in double digits by Rebecca Cole and Rebecca Allen with 15 and 12 points each. Hanne Mestdagh led the Belgium attack with 18 points. The players from Australia were more than happy to continue their "ice bath" ritual. France opened their campaign with a routine victory against Germany (56-45). On the second day Australia beat Germany (52-43) while Belgium defeated France (66-63) in a cliff hanger. Belgium completed their tournament with a victory against Germany (72-63).
She wanted her players to experience playing against tougher opposition in their preparation to gain promotion during this summer's European Championship. Julia Gaudermann, Sonja Greinacher (right) and Finja Schaake all had good games for Germany and are likely to be the leaders of this team. For Belgium Hanne Mestdagh has been having fun and is back to her best. She missed the youth basketball last year due to injury. The final match was a sea-saw battle between France and Australia. Eléonore Grossemy who led the scoring for France in the first two games in this tournament was once again on form with 17 points as France ended the unbeaten run of the gems (65-61). Despite this defeat Australia picked up their second trophy of the tour. Australia 72-63 Belgium Australia 52-43 Germany Belgium 72-63 Germany Go to French international youth basketball page Go to Women Playing Basketball In France Home Page GO Back to the top of the page Youth basketball picture credits: womensbasketball-in-france.com
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The teams were tied (31-31) at the interval. It required a full court press for most of the third quarter for the gems to pull away from Belgium (55-39).
Alex Maerz, the coach from Germany, was not disappointed with the final result.
