FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024 Quarter-Finals wrap: Israel make history; joined in U19 World Cup by Germany, Serbia, Slovenia; Spain with worst youth result ever
The Israel fairytale lives on after the next surprise, beating France to reach their first FIBA U19 World Cup. They were joined by Germany, Serbia and Slovenia. Spain meanwhile made negative history.
Raise your hand if you had Israel, Germany, Slovenia and Serbia in the Semi-Finals of the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024. Well, that is where we are at after Israel continued their fairytale run with another upset in beating France to qualify with the other three Semi-Finalists for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025 - the country’s first appearance in the global spectacle. Germany won a thriller over Lithuania while defending champions Serbia and Slovenia took care of business more comfortably. And the Classification 9-16 also saw history as Spain were beaten by Türkiye and the five-time U18 continental champions Spain have suffered their worst-ever men’s youth result.
Israel upset France to reach first Semis since Berkowitz in 1972 and qualify to first U19 World Cup
Tampere will always hold a special space in the hearts of Israel basketball fans as the Finnish city was the host of more history as Israel pulled off their next upset in beating France 85-72 to reach the Semi-Finals for the first time in 52 years and qualify for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup for the first time - thanks in large part to Ben Saraf and Omer Mayer.
This is the just the second time Israel have reached the top four joining the team in 1972 when FIBA Hall of Famer Mickey Berkowitz helped the country to finish fourth. Israel have truly become a major player in the youth landscape. While having won the 2018 and 2019 FIBA U20 EuroBasket titles and finishing second in 2017 and 2023, Israel have now reached the top eight at the U18 EuroBasket the last three summers after playing just one year at Division A between 2009 and 2022. The success has not yet come at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket with just one top eight finish since 2007 - though this generation with Saraf and Mayer finished fifth in 2022.
France have reached the podium just once in the U18 EuroBasket since 2017 with a third-placed finish in 2018. The French now need two victories to reach the U19 World Cup. They have played in the last four global competitions, taking third in 2019 and second in 2021 and 2023.
France were leading most of the first half and then Israel blew the game open with a 20-3 run near the end of the third quarter to open a 16 point lead and lay the foundation for the next upset. Saraf drained 3 three-pointers in scoring 10 of those points and Mayer added 2 triples for the other 10 points.
Israel did an excellent job finishing the game, never allowing the French back into the game. Especially after losing Saraf with his fifth foul with 5:22 minutes left to play and the score 77-63. Mayer ended up with 31 points including 6 three-pointers along with 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals while Saraf had 23 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals.
Noa Essengue was able to get his - collecting 28 points to go with 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 1 block - but Israel frustrated France’s main ball-handler Nolan Traore. The Saint-Quentin young star scored 12 points and picked up 7 rebounds and 9 assists but he also was forced into 8 of France’s 17 turnovers.
Germany fight past Lithuania, reach second straight Semis - thanks to starters
Germany wasted a 15-point lead but managed to survive a major fight in knocking off Lithuania 87-86 to reach back-to-back Semi-Finals and also book their ticket to the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025 - their first spot in the global tournament since 2017 and just their second appearance since 1987.
Germany relied heavily on their starters - who scored all 87 of the team’s points - and the team jumped ahead 22-7 in the first quarter. But it was Lithuania who led after 10 minutes with a 17-0 run to lead 24-22 after 10 minutes. The game went back and forth the rest of the way with 12 lead changes.
Ivan Kharchenkov and Jack Kayil both hit big three-pointers in the final 109 seconds but it was tied 86-86 when Christian Anderson made the game-winning free throw with 21 seconds to play.
Kayil finished with 22 points, Anderson and Kharchenkov both scored 21 points, Hannes Steinbach collected 15 points, 18 rebounds and 2 blocks and the fifth starter Declan Duru chipped in 8 points and 8 rebounds. The rest of Germany’s team did not contribute a single point.
Nojus Indrusaitis scored 22 points to lead Lithuania, who must finish with two wins to get back to the U19 World Cup after missing the tournament in 2023.
Strong second half carries Slovenia into Semis
Slovenia took care of business with a strong defensive second half in beating Sweden 79-56 to reach the Semi-Finals for the third time in the last four editions and now back-to-back appearances in the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.
Slovenia gave up just 24 points in the final 20 minutes in remaining undefeated in the tournament. Urban Kroflic led the way with 21 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists and Vit Hrabar added 18 points.
Casper Pohto and Ludvig Lindby both had 12 points for Sweden, who still have a chance to reach the U19 World Cup for the first time.
Serbia too strong for Belgium, still alive for first repeat since their own in 2017 and 2018
Defending champions Serbia remain alive for the first repeat of the U18 EuroBasket since they did it in 2017 and 2018 by defeating Belgium 88-76. The Serbs also can still move into sole possessions of junior continental titles with six - moving two behind Soviet Union’s eight and ahead of the five of Spain and Yugoslavia. Serbia also booked their fourth straight appearance in the U19 World Cup and seventh in the last eight editions.
After a close first half, Serbia pulled away to build a 17-point lead in the third quarter. Belgium could not get closer than seven points the rest of the way.
Milos Sojic paced the Serbs with 23 points and 12 rebounds and Savo Drezgic tallied 19 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 steals. Jayden Hodge scored 21 points and Oskar Giltay added 19 points in the loss.
Spain nightmare continues, worst ever result, need two wins to avoid relegation
Spain came to Finland looking for their sixth U18 EuroBasket title or at least securing a spot in the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025. But Spain now find themselves in the unthinkable spot of fighting off relegation after losing 84-68 to Türkiye in Classification 9-16. Spain now must register two victories to avoid their first ever drop to Division B.
Spain lost the second quarter 28-13 and never got back into the game. By playing in Classification 13-16, Spain have now secured their worst-ever finish in any men’s youth event. The country finished 11th at the U18 EuroBasket in 2000 and 2010. It would be the first time Spain were relegated at any youth men’s age group. The last time a Spanish youth team - men or women - did not play in Division A was at the FIBA U18 Women’s EuroBasket 1979.
Salih Altunas scored 22 points to lead Türkiye while the trio of Hugo Gonzalez (20 points), Mario Saint-Supery (16) and Bruno Alocen (11) had 47 points but no other Spain player scored more than 6 points.
Latvia avoid relegation after promotion from Division B last summer
Latvia achieved their number one goal in the competition by defeating Croatia 72-60 in the Classification 9-16 to avoid relegation after being promoted from Division B last summer. Kristers Skrinda scored 22 points and Adrians Andzevs added 15 points and 6 assists.
Josip Pavkovic had 14 points as Croatia’s struggles at the tournament continue, failing to reach the top eight since 2014 and twice finishing 13th in last three editions.
Greece stay in Division A, hosts Finland in danger of drop
Greece will remain in Division A for another year - every tournament since 1984 - after beating Finland 79-72 in Classification 9-16. Eleftherios Liotopoulos collected 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in the win.
Elmeri Abbey scored 21 points but they were not enough for Finland, who finished 15th last summer but could not be relegated as they were the designated hosts for this year’s tournament.
Italy avoid drop, Denmark in danger of going back down to Division B
Italy will play in Division A once again next summer after beating Denmark 90-77 in Classification 9-16, having been in the top flight since 2004. Edhodaghe Atamah scored 16 points to lead Italy.
Denmark, who were paced by Noah Norgaard’s 21 points, now must fight to avoid relegation to Division B. They finished 13th last season to remain in the Division A for this summer.
What’s up next?
There is an off day in the tournament for Friday, August 2 with the action picking back up on Saturday August 3. In addition to the two Semi-Finals - Germany vs Slovenia and Serbia against Israel - there are the two Classification 5-8 games with Lithuania playing Sweden and France taking on Belgium with the two winners staying alive for the final spot from Europe at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025. And of course there is the two Classification 13-16 games as Spain look to avoid the unthinkable relegation in taking on hosts Finland and Denmark play Croatia. The two losers will be dropped to Division B next summer.
The bracket
