GB will play Georgia at 11:00 am (BST) on 1 August as part of the 9th-16th classification stage of the FIBA U18 Men’s EuroBasket Division B, after narrowly missing out on qualifying for the Quarter Finals of the competition.

Head Coach Matthew Pitkin instilled in his squad a sense of determination ahead of the competition, taking the attitude that other teams would have to adjust to their tempo, rather than the other way round.

This served his side well, as GB produced a strong performance in Group A.

However, after a two-point defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final moments of their last group match, GB just missed out on qualification to the Quarter Finals and will instead play a series of classification games to determine their ultimate standing at the tournament.

Ireland VS Great Britain

First up for GB was Ireland.

GB came out of the gates firing, with Nojus Zajankauskas, the Hoopsfix All Star Classic 2025 three-point contest champion, characteristically splashing in a three.

After Emmanuel Ahamefule converted on a pair of free throws, and Aiden Fyfe dropped in a three of his own, GB stormed to an early 0-8 lead.

GB maintained this pressure throughout the quarter as Ahamefule's three-point shot began to fall, and Zajankauskas showed off his crafty finishing in transition.

A couple of threes from Nathan Gbinigie and Kieran Quinn brought Ireland back to within five, but GB remained in control.

The second quarter stagnated somewhat, after an early three from Noel Emile-Lewis Mantock.

Fyfe’s layup, putting back his own three-point miss, and another three from Ahamefule put GB ahead by eight once more, but James Power, who had been scoring consistently throughout the match, pegged GB back.

After Milo Murray forced a turnover and ran out for the layup in transition, GB’s lead had slipped to 37-39 at the half.

Ahamefule celebrates scoring a three against Ireland

Ahamefule continued his fine shooting form in the second half, knocking down a three, with Zajankauskas following suit soon after, with two of his own.

Power again proved the sole force for Ireland, keeping them in the match, despite Ahamefule’s relentless scoring. But Murray’s three gave GB a 10-point advantage going into the fourth.

GB’s comfortable lead deteriorated fairly quickly as a result of Matiss Ogle, who attacked the basket consistently to start the final period. Some nice moves from Quinn and Mark Burns brought the score down to 68-70, with just two minutes to go.

Fortunately for GB, Oskaras Visockas’s driving layup would be the final score of the game, winning it for GB.

See below to watch the full game:

Final Score: IRL 68 / GBR 72

Great Britain VS Poland

GB’s next group game against Poland saw Ahamefule put on another 20-point masterclass, but GB ultimately fell to a talented Polish team, led by 6’0” point guard Jakub Galewski.

GB started well, going back and forth with Poland’s prolific scoring, and Ahamefule knocking down yet another three-point shot.

GB’s narrow lead was short-lived after Bartosz Lazarski converted on a four-point play.

By the end of the first quarter, a three from Galewski gave Poland an eight-point lead.

The second quarter saw Poland run out to a commanding lead, with players like Bruno Chalicki finding far too much success in the paint.

GB struggled to overcome Poland's stifling defence

GB forced somewhat of a resurgence in the third through Zajankauskas and Ahamefule, but Poland’s scoring was too much to overcome.

Zajankauskas added 11, and Obinna Ekufu added 14 points to Ahamefule’s 20, but it wasn’t enough.

Final Score: GBR 72 / POL 84

See below to watch the full game:

Iceland VS Great Britain

Having lost their second group game to Poland, GB needed a positive result against Iceland to stand a chance at qualifying for the Quarter Finals.

Knowing what they needed to do, GB came out firing. Ahamefule connected on a layup early, before slamming down a dunk in transition, whilst Ike Davids started well with a short jumper under the basket.

After a Fyfe three and another Davids score in transition, GB were up 2-11.

Visockas stepped up the pace towards the end of the quarter, helping GB to a convincing lead, which would only expand going into the second.

GB blasted into the second period, characterised by a forceful dunk from Manchester Magic Oluwademilade Babalola.

Iceland’s offence was simply unable to keep up, and after Zajankauskas’s three to end the quarter, GB led 27-45.

Head Coach Matthew Pitkin setting the tone for GB

GB remained in control in the third through Fyfe and Visockas, maintaining a 15-point lead going into the final quarter.

Here, GB’s offence stagnated, whilst Iceland’s flourished thanks to Logi Gudmundsson and Bjorn Birnisson’s crafty scoring.

Nevertheless, GB’s lead accrued in the first three quarters proved too sizable, and they won the game.

Final Score: ISL 71 / GBR 76

See below to watch the full game:

Great Britain VS Bosnia and Herzegovina

GB’s final group game was headlined by more elite performances from Zajankauskas, Fyfe, and Visockas.

Having lost their first match to Poland, Bosnia won their next two group games against Iceland and Ireland, meaning whoever won this match would qualify for the Quarter Finals.

In the first quarter, Zajankauskas’s early score was quickly overwritten by two tough jump shots from Eman Jasarevic.

Bosnia continued to score at will, taking a seven-point lead through Miljan Kljestan’s bucket on the break.

Ekufu and Isaac Fiagbe added an important scoring punch for GB, but Uros Grahovac’s strong finish to the quarter saw Bosnia take the 20-27 lead.

GB turned on the heat early in the second, kick-started by Ahamefule’s driving layup. Aiden Fyfe then scored five consecutive points before Babulola knocked down a wing three on the break to give GB a one-point lead.

Oluwademilade Babalola attacks the rim

However, from there, Bosnia’s defence locked in, securing a nine-point lead come the end of the half.

GB battled back in the third, with Ahamefule and Fyfe yet again leading the way. Jan Bulajic and Benjamin Teletovic kept Bosnia on top, but GB remained within striking distance going into the final quarter.

GB chased for the majority of the period, but when Zajankauskas hit back-to-back threes, it seemed the momentum would shift in their favour. David's put-back layup saw GB take a 69-68 lead with just a minute to spare, but a mid-range jumper from Novak Manojlovic and a free throw from Kljestan sealed the game in Bosnia’s favour.

Final Score: GBR 69 / BIH 71

See below to watch the full game:

With that, GB narrowly missed out on qualification to the Quarter Finals, but will still get to compete in the 9th-16th classification stage of the competition.

GB will no doubt pursue as high a finish as possible after a positive, if unlucky, Group Stage effort.