Ireland to face Poland in the Semi-Finals, Germany paired with Great Britain
DUBLIN (FIBA U18 Women's European Championship 2017, Division B) - Poland, Germany, Ireland and Great Britain advanced to the Semi-Finals of the FIBA U18 Women's European Championship 2017, Division B after getting past the Quarter-Finals hurdle on Friday evening in the Irish capital, Dublin.
The Polish team had a relatively easy day in the office after breaking away by double figures against Belarus in the second quarter to claim a 70-53 victory behind an 11-point and 15-rebound double-double by Martyna Leszczynska.
Natalia Klimek scored a team-high 17 points for the winners, while Belarusian top-scorer Maryia Vasileuka couldn't keep her side in the game in spite of 19 points, 9 rebounds, 5 blocks, 4 assists and 4 steals.
When you make history in front of a packed arena. #FIBAU18Europe #GreenShoots pic.twitter.com/g4oxI77zN0
— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) August 11, 2017
Tournament hosts Ireland overcame their toughest challenge yet in Israel to join Poland in the Semi-Finals with a 60-55 victory, as Claire Melia posted another memorable individual performance of 15 points, 16 rebounds and 8 assists.
On the other side of the bracket, Germany registered a one-sided 17-point win, downing Portugal 61-44 with Luisa Geiselsoder and Nyara Sabally combining for 35 points and 33 rebounds in a dominant display under the baskets.
In the last Semi-Finals game on the docket, Great Britain outlasted Romania 55-46, as Holly Winterburn led the way with 21 points and 6 rebounds. Shauna Harrison chipped in with 12 points and 5 rebounds, while Carla Popescu had a team-high 12 points for Romania in a losing effort.
Last QF #FIBAU18Europe B game w @gbbasketball 🇬🇧 beating Romania 🇷🇴 55-46. SF are: 🇮🇪 v 🇵🇱 & 🇬🇧 v 🇩🇪 @BlueStarMedia1 @Bluestareurope pic.twitter.com/UePdiZL0fX
— Mike Flynn (@MikeFlynn826) August 11, 2017
With three promotion spots up for grabs, the winners of the Semi-Finals will earn Division A spots automatically, with another place reserved for the bronze-medal winners.
In the Classification Games for 9-16th places, Bulgaria swept aside Iceland 82-58, Slovak Republic came out on top against Norway 80-52, while Finland rolled all over Austria with a 74-46 scoreline. Meanwhile, Netherlands also ended up among the winners with a 64-52 performance against Ukraine.
Lower down the table, in the Classification Games for 17-24th places, Switzerland celebrated a 57-46 victory over the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Estonia got a 65-43 win over Albania, while Georgia capped the night with a 66-30 blowout against Moldova.
FIBA
