France take top honours in Sopron
SOPRON (FIBA U18 Women's European Championship) - France have been crowned the 2016 FIBA U18 Women's European Championship winners, defeating Spain 74-44 in Sunday's Final.
Rounding out the podium with a 65-58 win over neighbours Latvia in the 3rd-Place Game were Russia, denying the Baltic nation a maiden medal at U18 Women's level.
In a rematch of last year's Final, Alexia Chartereau was determined to avoid a repeat result, putting in an MVP performance with a 19-point, 12-rebound double-double to exact revenge for Les Bleues.
Chartereau was joined on the tournament's All-Star Five by Spain's Naira Caceras, Russia's Raisa Musina, Latvia's Digna Strautmane, and Reka Lelik of hosts Hungary.
Despite not making the Semi-Finals, there was still reason to celebrate for Lelik and Hungary, with their 64-54 victory over Belgium in the Classification Game for 5th to 6th Place handing them the final ticket available from Europe to next year's FIBA U19 Women's World Championship, where they will be joined by the top-four finishers in Sopron, and Italy, hosts of next year's Championship.
At the other end of the table, there was joy for Czech Republic and despair for Israel, the former holding on for an 87-84 overtime victory to ensure their spot in Division A for 2017, whilst Israel have been demoted to Division B, along with Slovak Republic and Netherlands, both of whom learned of their fate 24 hours earlier.
They will be replaced by Sweden, Greece and Bosnia and Herzegovina, who took the top three spots in Division B, being played concurrently in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sweden won Sunday's Final 62-47 over Greece, whilst Bosnia and Herzegovina topped Iceland 82-67 in the battle for the last spot on the podium and a Division A ticket.
The FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship 2016 Division A Final Standing:
- France
- Spain
- Russia
- Latvia
- Hungary
- Belgium
- Italy
- Turkey
- Lithuania
- Slovenia
- Serbia
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Israel
- Slovak Republic
- Netherlands
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