Israeli U16 Girls Basketball Team Falls 74-63 to Latvia at European Championship
After a strong start and a previous win over Italy, the Israeli under-16 girls basketball team suffered their first loss at the European Championship on Saturday, falling 74-63 to Latvia. Israel began the game well, leading 22-16 at the end of the first quarter and maintaining a narrow 35-34 lead at halftime. However, the team struggled offensively in the second half, scoring only 41 points while Latvia completed a comeback and pulled ahead decisively.
Latvia's defensive zone disrupted Israel's rhythm, allowing them to take a 54-46 lead by the end of the third quarter and extend it to 61-48 midway through the final period. Key Israeli scorers included Rona Tsalal with 15 points, Ella Maoz Berda with 13, and Michal Abudraham with 11. Israel will face Turkey on Sunday at 20:30 in their final group stage match.
Despite the loss, Israel showed early promise with consecutive three-pointers and solid inside scoring, but Latvia's resilience and defensive adjustments ultimately proved too strong. The team now aims to regroup ahead of their crucial game against Turkey to keep hopes alive in the tournament.
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