U20 European Championship Women 2011

[carlo]

The U20 Euro Championship for Women 2011, Division A, will be played in Novi Sad (Serbia) from 7-17 July.
The groups and the teams participating can be found in the FIBA link:

http://u20women.fibaeurope.com/en/

[carlo]

Great Britain and Slovakia are the newcomers to the Division A, having earned the two first positions in the Division B last year.
For the British team is due to play 6-4 PF Temi Fagbenle, a senior HS in the 2010-11 season (Blair Academy, NJ) and committed to play for Harvard (NCAA) in the next season.
She played in the McDonald's All American game this year and is ranked 13th. overall in her class by ESPN.
Fagbenle has already gained international experience as a member of the Great Britain team at the 2010 U18 Euro Division B, where she was named to the All Star team.
Great Britain has recently met France in an exhibition series, losing twice and winning the last game.

[carlo]

The 12 France team finalists:

Linda Boubsaa 165-G-91
Kelly Corre 180-F-91
Kekelly Elenga 186-F-91
Morgiane Eustache 197-F-91
Touty Gandega 170-G-91
Princesse Goubo 165-G-91
Sophie Le Marrec 184-F-91
Kadidia Minte 187-F-91
Manon Morel 192-C-92
Clementine Samson 181-G/F-91
Isabelle Strunc 179-G-91
Chloe Westelynck 188-F-91 SI

France played last week the Bourg-en-Bresse tournament with Russia, Germany and Romania, finishing with 1w and 2l (vs Germany and Russia).
Russia won the tournament.

[carlo]

At the Caorle Tournament Italy edged Sweden 54-51 in the first day led by Valeria De Pretto with 14, then defeated Germany 69-52 with 17pts scored by guard Laura Spreafico.

[serbianhoops]

The two last friendly game between our girls and french ones. Unfortunately, Ivana Grbić got injured in the last one and may miss the Championship.

Serbia - France 64:42 (19:16, 15:2, 18:15, 12:9).
Serbia U20: Stanković, Čolić 5, Prvulović 7, Vučurović 6, Marković 5, Jovanović 5, Krnjić 13, Ajduković 7, Grbić 2, Milenković, Stančić 6, Nikolić 8.
France U20: Gandega 8, Goubo 2, Elenga 4, Bousbaa, Strunc 6, Samson 8, Minte 2, Eustache, Morel, Westelynk 2, Le Marrec 2, Corre 8.


Serbia - France 70:50 (8:10, 27:8, 14:16, 21:16).
Serbia U20: Čolić 12, Špikić, Marković 7, Grbić, Milenković, Prvulović 9, Stančić 2, Nikolić 9, Vučurović 2, Krnjić 8, Jovanović 15, Ajduković.
France U20: Gandega 10, Goubo, Elenga 4, Boubsaa 5, Strunc 7, Samson 2, Minte 10, Eustache 2, Morel, Westelynck 4, La Marrec 5, Corre 1.

[carlo]

A three at the final buzzer by Federica Tognalini (19 pts) gave Italy a narrow victory over Spain 53-52 (19-39) in the final day of the Caorle Tournament.
Italy was trailing for the whole game but in the last 5' cut the gap after a technical foul to the Spanish coach until the final basket that reversed the final score.
Italy won this preparatory tournament 3-0.

[carlo]

The U20 Euro championship is approaching and the participating teams have ended their preparation, as most of them played friendly games / tournaments.

From the results of the prep games here are my favorites (ranked just by Groups order):

Serbia (Group A) – host country went 2-0 in a recent friendly games mini series with France and 3-0 with Latvia. C Sara Krnijc seems to be the best of the group (averaged 13.3ppg and 7.7 rpg at the 2010 U20 Euro).

Ukraine (Group A) – won the Istanbul tournament edging Turkey in the final day. Has 3 impressive players in G Alina Iagupova, PF Olesia Malashenko and F Olga Maznichenko, all returning from last year’s U20 team.

Group A will show imo big fight for the first place.

Russia (Group B) – won the Bourg-en-Bresse tournament defeating host France, Germany and Romania. Anastasiya Shilova (high scorer for the 2010 Russian golden team) and C Alexandra Tarasova should be back.

Italy (Group C) - won the recent Caorle tournament 3-0 and prevailed in a scrimmage with Poland 2-1. It’s a good team with some excellent players (Federica Tognalini, Laura Spreafico and Valeria De Pretto).

Spain (Group D)– lost by just 1 point to Turkey in Ferrol as well as to Italy in Caorle. Has very talented players in post Laura Gil (named MVP in Caorle) and in Queralt Casas.

Possible runner-ups:

Turkey (Group B) – won the Ferrol tournament defeating Spain but lost to Ukraine at the Istanbul tourney. G Ozge Yavas was the best performer in the friendly games.

France (Group C) – perennial powerhouse, lost several prep games and its current roster suffers from the absence of such standouts like Diandra Tchatchouang and Allison Vernerey (both injured). In the last game French women defeated Serbia but playing against the U18 selection.

Latvia (Group D) – lost friendly games with Serbia but don’t know if its best players were in. If returning, Sabine Niedola (16.0ppg last year), Ilze Gotfrida and big 6-5 Kristine Vitola could be dangerous.

Would appreciate any additional info/comments on participating teams.

[carlo]

Championship starts today.
See "Players to watch" in Fiba page:

http://u20women.fibaeurope.com/en/

[JGX]

On paper Great Britain doesn't have much chance. None of the star players from last year's U20 that got promoted are back, England's U18 was 8th in Division B last year, and Scotland's U18 was last place in Division B.

[carlo]

That's right, especially considering that in the UK group Spain and Latvia should be the favorites.
But UK could win with Slovak Rep (another promoted from B Division) and continue to the second round, if their star Temi Fagbenle (HS All American in the past season) is healthy and plays.
UK won a scrimmage with France (losing twice) and with Holland (losing once).
We'll see later on tonight !

[carlo]

Exciting win from Serbia against Ukraine in the first day. Serbs showed good shooting and great force at the rebounds (62 vs 41). Home team establishes as one of the favorites of the tournament, while Ukraine was somewhat deceiving after the brilliant pre-championship campaign.
Clear wins of Spain, Turkey, Russia, Poland and Holland.
France narrowly defeated Italy in the final seconds, despite the high number of to (24) but clearly outrebounded Italian women (49-28). Good shooting beyond the arc of some Italian players.
In a "Cinderellas" match-up between ex Div B countries, Slovak Republic edged Great Britain by 1 in a very low scoring game. Slovak Martina Kissova, the only one scoring in double digits, is a player to watch as she was named to the All Star team at the 2010 U18 Euro Div A. UK star Temi Fagbenle played only 19' due to an injury but collected 11 reb and 4 bs besides 8 pts.

[carlo]

After three days of preliminary round competition, all favorite countries are promoted to the next round, starting tomorrow.
Three teams are undefeated: France, Russia and Spain.
Composition of next groups:
Group E: Russia, Poland, Serbia, Ukraine, Turkey and Lithuania
Group F: Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands and Great Britain

Group E composition is imo the most balanced.

[carlo]

Spain is European champion after defeating Russia 63-52 (29-21) in the final.

Spanish is the only undefeated team throughout the tournament and was led in the final by MVP Queralt Casas (21 pts + 6 reb).

Other All Stars: Alina Iagupova (UKR) tournament top scorer with 16.6 ppg, Anastasiya Shilova (RUS), Sara Krnijc (SER) and Malgorzata Misiuk (POL).

Three of the best Spanish players (Queralt Casas, Laura Gil and Mariona Ortiz) are all 1992 born and could be added to the U19 squad that is already in Chile.

Final Four standings:

1. Spain
2. Russia
3. Poland
4. Serbia