Israel U16 Girls Basketball Team Falls to Turkey 72-61, Faces Serbia Next

The Israeli under-16 girls basketball team was defeated by Turkey 72-61 on August 16, concluding the first stage of the European Championship. Despite a strong performance by Michal Abudraham, who scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Israel finished third in Group B with one win and two losses. The Turkish team dominated much of the first half, building a lead that Israel struggled to overcome despite a late rally.

Israel led briefly at the end of the first quarter but fell behind 35-30 by halftime after a poor second quarter. Turkey extended their lead to 11 points early in the second half, but Israel responded with a 17-6 run to take a narrow 49-48 lead going into the final quarter. However, Turkey regained control in the last period, limiting Israel to just 12 points while scoring 24 themselves.

Coach Daniela Reuven’s team will now face Serbia in the round of 16, with the match scheduled for Tuesday and broadcast live on Sport 5. Key contributors for Israel included Rona Tzalal with 13 points and 3 assists, Ella Maoz Berda with 10 points and 5 assists, and Dafna Winterfeld with 6 points and 8 rebounds. The loss ended Israel’s hopes of advancing directly from the group stage but kept them in the competition for the knockout rounds.