France 1989 youth international basketball generation finish on a high

The round of observation lasted just 10 seconds as France went on the offensive to shoot their first ball which did not go in.

Spain were quickly down the other end but also missed their first shot.

Doriane Tahane finally opened the scoring for France with the first two baskets of the game.

However Spain responded quickly with Cristina Ouvina and Alba Torrens (left) scoring to bring the two teams level (4-4).

Both sides were still level (6-6 ) with just three minutes on the game clock.

But Spain were beginning to take charge of the game and led (10-8) after five minutes.

A rainbow trey by Torrens set Spain on a 10-0 run.

This included a trey by Ouvina and ended with a second trey by Torrens.

Virginie Brémont ended the Spanish run with a pair of free-throws for the last score of the first period.

Spain started the second period leading (23-10) but saw their advantage stretch as Marielle Amant (right) and Tahane started to throw their weight in the paint (26-24) with just over 2 ½ minutes before the interval.

Spain were then on the back foot and France continued to work in the paint with Ana Cata-Chitiga and Amant scoring for France to regain the lead (30-28).

Amant’s 12th second quarter points helped France go into the interval leading (32-28).

Amant continued from where she left off in the first half with the first 2 points of the quarter.

Tahane completed the French 12-0 run for her side to go further ahead (36-28).

Torrens ended the French onslaught with a 3-point play but France maintained the pressure with a trey from Isis Arrondo.

Spain changed tactics and Torrens was used to make space for her team-mates. The result was a Torrens drive and pass-off to Ouvina who hit her second three-pointer of the match.

Spain regained the upper hand with Torrens hitting a couple of free-throws.

She was causing mayhem and France’s advantage dropped to 2 points (40-42) with just over two minutes left to play in the third period.

Amant came to the rescue for France. But Laura Nicolls from Spain decided it was time to start scoring some points as she reduced the French lead to a single point (45-46).

However France went into the final quarter with a 3-point lead with Brémont scoring just before the 24-second violation buzzer went off for France to lead (48-45) going into the final quarter.

Amant continued her one-lady mission at the start of the fourth quarter with her 18th point of the game.

A three-pointer from Darline Nsoki, only the second one for France, finally put an end to the Spanish resistance.

France recovered their collective game and Mélanie Plust (left) started to hit her shots from behind the arc.

France went on a 17-0 run to open up a 20-point lead (67-47) with four minutes left to play.

Tamara Ablade ended the French run and Ouvina fired in another three-pointer for Spain’s last effort at reducing the deficit (52-67).

Plust and Tahane kept on scoring for France as they finished with a flourish to win (74-52).

Amant led the French team with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Tahane fired in 18 points while Plust finished with 15 points.

For Spain Ouvina led the way with 17 points.