SKOPJE (North Macedonia) - Hosts North Macedonia celebrated winning the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024, Divison B title after defeating Austria in the Final, while Bulgaria joined them in securing promotion.
The hosts were never in doubt in Sunday's game; Austria had the lead only in the opening seconds as everything else went to North Macedonia who celebrated 98-88 victory in securing the title.
Fynn Schott's jumpshot for 5-4 was the last time Austria were in the front as North Macedonia quickly put together a 9-0 run and never looked back. By half-time, it was a 13-point difference for the hosts as they maintained in that area throughout the third stanza.
To avoid all doubts, Stefan Stojkovikj sank two three-pointers at the start of the fourth and it was only the matter of closing the game after that point as the Austria's run was too little, too late. MVP Nikola Janichikj dominated the Final with 30 points as Stojkovikj added 15, and Sergej Mladenovski 14.
Earlier, Bulgaria scored a comfortable 85-64 win over Poland to take the third spot on the podium and, more importantly, also earning the promotion to Division A next summer. Teodor Trifonov led the way with an all-around performance of 18 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals.
Poland was in the running only for the first period; Bulgaria's furious 29-15 second stanza brought the separation and the result was not in doubt beyond that point. Aleksandar Gavalyugov provided a double-double of 20 points and 11 assists for the victors, coming up just three rebounds short of a triple-double.
Elsewhere, Montenegro won the battle for fifth place after beating Switzerland 77-57 as Portugal ran over Czechia 88-54 for seventh.
FIBA