In this year’s U16 European Championship Division B, the Luxembourgish U16 basketball team achieved a good 14th place finish, marking their best result since 2010 (Team that included Hoeser Jo, Melcher Bob, Wolff Yann, Grün Thomas, Moura Kevin). The team showcased remarkable resilience throughout the tournament, competing against physically stronger opponents.
Over the course of 10 days, the U16 boys demonstrated their fighting spirit, remaining competitive in 7 out of 8 games. Notably, three of their five losses were closely contested, with the outcomes decided in the final moments.
The team’s aggressive playing style was evident in their statistical achievements. They ranked 3rd in steals, averaging 13.9 steals per game. They recorded performances with 20 steals in two games against Switzerland and Iceland (4th best value). Individually Philippe Stoffel (2,4 spg), Viktor Horvat (2,3 spg), and Sean Bugeja (2,3 spg) finished 13th and 15th in steals.
Offensively, the U16 boys emphasized teamwork, averaging nearly 16 assists per game, ranking them 9th in the tournament. Their collaborative approach on the court led to three players scoring more than 10 points per game. Stoffel led the team with 14.1 points per game ( 84 FT% – 1st). Konan Oth and Sean Bugeja were also key contributors, with Oth averaging 13.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game (9th), while Bugeja had 12.6 points per game.
Viktor Horvat achieved the second-highest number of successful three-pointers in a game during the game against Ireland, while Gerry Schuder replicated thus feat during the game against Iceland.
Furthermore, Conan Ange, showcased remarkable consistency by achieving the most double doubles throughout the championship (alongside three other players).
Despite their collective efforts to overcome physical challenges, the team faced difficulties in rebounding and blocking shots, finishing last in these categories.
Results of the group phase
Group stage:
August 4th: Luxembourg – Switzerland 71:64
August 5th: Luxembourg – Croatia 58:80
August 6th: Luxembourg – Czech Republic 77:80
August 8th: Luxembourg – Ireland 75:56
August 9th: Luxembourg – Denmark 44:99
Results of the classification games:
Sweden – Luxembourg 71:63
Luxembourg – Iceland 88:71
Luxembourg – Portugal 63:69
Results of the competition:
Statistics of our team:
