25.07. 16.15 hrs Luxemburg – Monaco 63 – 52
Scorer:Koster 5 , Weiler 0 , Picard 10 , Schwartz 6 , Weyrich 0 , Semedo 0 , Schmit 7 , Birenbaum 9 , Kerger 4 , Wiseler 15 , Kartheiser 2 , Herrmann 5
26.07. 14.00 hrs San Marino – Luxemburg 36-84
Scorer: Koster 4, Weiler 10 , Picard 6 , Schwartz 6 , Weyrich 7 , Semedo 7 , Schmit 5 , Birenbaum 12 , Kerger 4 , Wiseler 7 , Kartheiser 14 , Herrmann 2
27.07. 18.30 hrs Luxemburg – Scotland 67 – 73
Koster 0 , Weiler 0, Picard 18, Schwartz 8, Schmit 10,
Birenbaum 6, Kerger 11, Wiseler 14, Kartheiser 0
29.07. 18.30 hrs Semi-final 1. Group A – 2. Group B
Andorra – Luxembourg 82 – 76
Koster0, Picard 24, Schwartz 12, Schmit 6, Birenbaum 7
Kerger 15, Wiseler 6, Kartheiser 2, Herrmann 4
30.07 16.15 hrs Match pour la 3. place
Luxembourg – Wales 81 -39
Koster 5, Weiler 2, Picard 21, Schwartz 18, Weyrich 14,
Semedo 6, Schmit 0, Birenbaum 5, Kerger 0, Wiseler 4,
Kartheiser 3, Herrmann 3
Classement final:
1. Andorra
2. Scotland
3. Luxembourg
4. Wales
5. Monaco
6. Malta
7. San Marino
8. Gibraltar
Report U18 Boys Promotion Cup in Malta 2005
We played this competition for players born 87/88 with our U16 Boys (team born 89) plus Sam Picard (born 88). So we were by far the youngest team at this Promotion Cup. This also explains our two defeats against Scotland and Andorra which were more mature and physical. But that’s the competition we need for our boys even if we loose. Still everybody agreed that we had the most talented group of the tournament.
On defense we played MvM halfcourt and fullcourt press after a made basket. Also we were running different sets to get lots of offensive scoring situations.
Our preparation to this tournament wasn’t perfect because 6 players also participated in the European Qualification the two previous weeks. From Slovakia they flew immediately into Malta. Arriving in Malta they were already mentally and physically very tired. They were three weeks on the road playing 13 international games. This was a unique experience for Luxembourgish players on an international level.
Unfortunately this probably cost us the victory at this Promotion Cup.
During the season we practiced 3 times per week. The last 1 ½ months players born 89 practiced together with the U18 team.
Game by game analysis
Luxembourg -Monaco (63-52)
1st quarter: 19-19 , 2nd quarter: 15-18 , 3rd quarter: 12-9 , 4th quarter: 17-6
We had a difficult start because the team only met the evening before the 1st game and we never got adjusted to the 40° C in the gym! It took us into the last quarter to get the upper hand of a Monaco team we should normally beat by 40 pts. Unconcentrated on defense we gave them too many easy baskets. We couldn’t stop them from penetrating and rebounding on the offensive side. Again our players relied too much on Sam Picard to lead the game. But he was too tired coming from a 2 weeks European championship.
Luxembourg -San Marino (84-36)
1st quarter: 27-7 , 2nd quarter: 20-12 , 3rd quarter: 23-7 , 4th quarter: 14-10
This was the weakest team in our group. Everybody played and scored.
Luxembourg -Scotland (67-73)
1st quarter: 22-15 , 2nd quarter: 9-21 , 3rd quarter: 21-16 , 4th quarter: 15-21
Scotland had five 2m players born 87/88. They played a slow basketball trying to feed their inside players in post up or high-low situations. They out rebounded us 53-30 with might have decided the game.
We were leading into the 2nd quarter by 5 pts when they switched to a 2-3 Zone defense. We stopped moving and were afraid of attacking their static zone. Finally our very FT percentage didn’t help us either.
Luxembourg -Andorra (76-82)
1st quarter: 22-18 , 2nd quarter: 15-21 , 3rd quarter: 23-17 , 4th quarter: 16-26
Comparing our last years defeat at the U16 Promotion Cup their team had 4 players born 87 and we were much younger. So on the paper Andorra should win it easily, especially after everybody noticed that our key players were exhausted after 2 weeks in Slovakia. But we played our best offensive game of the tournament. We also stopped their fastbreak by always sending 2 players back on defensive transition, 1 player containing their point guard Colomb (MVP of the tournament) and 2 players going for the offensive rebound.
Unfortunately we couldn’t stop them in the offensive rebound (24x). In the end they scored half of their points from 2nd shots!
Still up in the last quarter we gave away a very possible victory and so the chance for a revenge against Scotland in the Final.
Luxembourg -Wales (81-39)
1st quarter: 19-11 , 2nd quarter: 18-12 , 3rd quarter: 17-6 , 4th quarter: 27-10
In this last game for the bronze medal we gave especially our bench players a chance to perform in this competition.
Resume:
After the great result of the U18 Boys National Team at the European Qualification Luxembourg basketball can again be proud of another boys team! We ended the competition with 3 victories and 2 close defeats against 2 years older teams. This 89 group for sure has some potential for the future. These positive results prove the good work Kresimir Basic and his coaching staff have been doing in the last two years.
The organisation in Malta was very good so we couldn’t complain about anything. A special thank to our official Andre Schwartz who unselfishly assisted the team all year. Therefore he had to use part of his private holiday. Unfortunately he couldn’t get Congé Sportif. It would be good to find a solution for the future if we still want officials to help us.
Last thank to all members of the Comite Central and of the ENEPS who supported us all year.
Kresimir Basic & Dan Becker
