Israel's U16 Cadet Team Wins Dramatic 58-53 Victory Over Italy at European Championship

Israel's under-16 girls' basketball team concluded their European Championship campaign with a 58-53 win against Italy on August 22, 2026. Despite the victory securing 13th place in Division A, the Israeli team was relegated to Division B for the next season since Bulgaria, which finished last, will host the top-tier championship next summer.

Italy started the match strongly, taking an early 6-2 lead, but Michal Abudraham quickly turned the tide by scoring 8 of Israel's first 11 points, helping Israel lead 19-13 after the first quarter. The Israeli offense struggled early in the second quarter, but timely contributions from Abudraham, Eden Puls, and Tehal Dugan extended the lead to 37-21 by halftime.

Israel maintained control in the third quarter, with Abudraham and Dugan keeping the team ahead and Eden Puls hitting a three-pointer to push the lead beyond 20 points. Italy mounted a 10-2 run late in the quarter to narrow the gap to 38-51. In the final quarter, Israel faced pressure without their star Abudraham, who fouled out with 6:30 remaining. Italy closed in to a single-digit deficit, but Israel managed to hold on, with Rona Tzalal stepping up to score crucial baskets and secure the win.

Final statistics highlighted Abudraham's 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 steals; Dugan's 14 points and 4 steals; and Tzalal's 13 points and 3 assists. The Israeli team showed resilience despite the setback of relegation and absence of their key player in the closing minutes.