Image courtesy of LS Media
Scots Fleur Gamal and Caoimhe Stupart, working under Head Coach, Donnie MacDonald, were integral members of the Great Britain Under 16 Women’s squad that gained promotion to Division A of EuroBasket.
Excitingly for Stupart, she has the potential to be part of the squad competing in Division A next season. Challenging for a position in the Under 18 squad will be the objective for Gamal.
The tournament began with a couple of comprehensive victories, against Bosnia – Herzegovina (105 – 34) and Estonia (77 – 51). A 79 – 63 loss to Lithuania provided valuable learning and the team bounced back to defeat Iceland (82 – 66) in their final group game.
Coach MacDonald was clear that the team had set themselves the goal of promotion to Division A. They rose to the additional pressure of knock-out basketball, despatching Denmark (86 – 61) in the quarter-final. A narrow 65 – 61 defeat to the Czech Republic meant everything was on the line in their 3rd place play-off. Lose and they miss out on promotion. Win, and GB would be back in the top Division of European basketball.
Adding further pressure to the team, they were up against the host nation and their passionate support. In an almost perfect example of how to neutralise a passionate support, the team raced to a 26 – 3 lead at the end of the first quarter. Thereafter, they maintained their composure and discipline to win 84 – 62.
On securing their third place finish, Coach MacDonald was effusive in his praise for the personalities within his squad:
“This was a very special GB U16 women’s team to work with and it has been a privilege to get to know each and every one of them and to see them achieve their goal of promotion to Division A.”
Gamal and Stupart will be hoping to take the energy and momentum from their involvement back to their club teams for the start of the Scottish Basketball Championships, beginning in a couple of weeks.
