France Crushed by Spain in U18 Women's European Championship Final

Spain secured their 7th gold medal in this age category, a remarkable achievement only surpassed by the former USSR's 17 titles.

Rarely has a modern French team been so thoroughly outplayed by Spain. The Spanish side demonstrated flawless collective basketball, excelling in passing, shooting accuracy, and defensive intensity.

A striking statistic highlights the French team's struggles: Thelma Leray, Cameron Kolissoko, Emma Broliron, Ange Thermoz-Lorcière, and Neyvaeh Marcin collectively missed all 24 of their shots. Only Camille Sevaux, with 11 points, 7 rebounds, and a valuation of 15, managed to perform well.

Overwhelmed by Spain's suffocating defense, France committed forced shots and turnovers from the outset. They failed to score their first points until over four minutes into the game, trailing 0-9. The respite was short-lived, as a powerful 0-13 run by Spain extended their lead to 7-24 by the end of the first quarter.

The Spanish defense proved impenetrable, breaking down most of the French offensive efforts. Camille Sevaux, scoring 9 points (half of her team's total), provided some relief for the struggling French squad. Les Bleuettes managed to narrow the gap to 12 points (22-34) at one point, but another surge from Spain widened the margin significantly by halftime, with the score at 24-49.

The French players appeared dazed, and the Spanish team showed no leniency. The second half of the final saw France with half the points of their opponent (32-69). The match felt arduous, marked by dribbling turnovers, shot clock violations, and airballs. The deficit reached 40 points (35-75) with over eight minutes remaining, and the final score reflected a 36-point difference. A tough outcome for France.

In the bronze medal match, Finland defeated Serbia 75-62.