After a competitive Group Stage campaign, GB progressed to the 9th-16th Classification Stage of the FIBA U18 Men’s EuroBasket, having narrowly missed out on qualification to the quarter-finals.

GB won two of four group games, against Ireland and Iceland, losing to Poland and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the latter in heartbreakingly close fashion.

As a result, GB moved on to face Georgia in the first match of the Classification Stage.

Classification Game 9th-16th: Great Britain VS Georgia

Georgia came out of Group B with two victories and three defeats, led by Mate

Khatiashvili and Giorgi Tchirakadze.

GB came out firing, with Ike Davids netting two layups in quick succession.

Despite Tchirakadze starting the game with confidence, knocking down a three and a short jumper, GB looked strong after an Obinna Ekufu and an Oskaras Visockas fastbreak finish gave them a two-point lead. They finished the quarter down 22-24, well within striking distance.

Milo Murray drives the ball against Georgia

However, the second quarter saw Georgia make a run that GB simply couldn’t repress.

Tchirakadze finished the game with 19 points, whilst Khatiashvili put up 22. Aiden Fyfe scored 22 points in an incredibly impressive solo performance, but GB’s defence was ultimately unable to contain Georgia’s best players, who propelled their team to a dominant victory.

Final Score: GBR 76 / GEO 100

Classification Game 13th-16th: Great Britain VS Czechia

GB moved on to the 13th-16th Classification Game against Czechia, which lost to Croatia in the previous round.

Czechia won two of their five Group Stage games, defeating Finland and Kosovo.

GB again continued their trend of starting games strong, combating an early scoring streak from Ondrej Pospichal, with Emmanuel Ahamefule's assault on the basket and some more crafty play from Davids.

Ekufu further provided range from the bench, cashing in on multiple jump shots to support GB’s efforts. Nevertheless, a three towards the end of the quarter by Lukas Sadovsky saw Czechia lead 17-21.

Ahamefule and Jakub Ofman each knocked down threes early in the second quarter, maintaining GB’s outside pressure. Ahamefule and Fyfe dominated the quarter for GB, but were unable to overturn Czechia’s narrow lead as the half-time score remained 40-44 in their favour.

Emmanuel Ahamefule led GB in scoring with 14.7 points per game

The third quarter followed much the same script. Jakub Zalud and Lukas Smazak connected on three-point attempts in quick succession to give Czechia an eight-point lead, but GB responded through Fyfe and Ahamefule.

Ekufu gave GB a brief one-point lead through a pair of made free throws, but a three from Matej Kolik ensured Czechia led by three going into the fourth and final period.

With five minutes to go in the game, multiple scores from Oluwademilade Babalola, Fyfe, and Davids kept things close, neither side yet able to pull away.

However, a quick five-point run from Matej Strelba and back-to-back threes completed by Smazak saw Czechia burst out to a 13-point lead, ultimately winning them the game.

Fyfe and Ahamefule again led the way for GB with 17 and 18 points respectively, but it was not enough to overcome a strong finish from Czechia.

Final Score: GBR 70 / CZE 85

Classification Game 15th-16th: Great Britain VS Iceland

At the end of a gruelling tournament, GB faced a strong Iceland side for their final Classification game.

GB beat Iceland 70-76 in the Group Stage, earlier in the tournament, but the wear and tear of an intense tournament process had taken its toll on Head Coach Matthew Pitkin’s side.

Iceland blasted GB in the first quarter, scoring 34 points to GB’s 13. With such a commanding lead so early in the game, it proved an impossible challenge for GB to pull back level, despite significant efforts made throughout the squad.

Iceland’s Logi Gudmundsson led all scorers with an impressive 30-point outing, whilst Ekufu led the way for GB with 13, closely followed by Milo Murra, who had 10.

As a result, GB finished the tournament in 16th place, three places better than their performance at last year’s competition.