FIBA U17 - Croatia remain perfect, set up Semis date with Australia

KAUNAS (2012 FIBA U17 World Championship) – Croatia needed time but eventually steamrolled past Czech Republic 94-71 in the Quarter-Finals of the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship to set up a Semis date with Australia.

Domagoj Bosnjak collected 21 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists while Mario Hezonja scored 18 points and Karlo Zganec hit for 19 points as Croatia remained undefeated in Kaunas.

Croatia will next take on Australia in the Semi-Finals.

The Czechs, U16 European silver medalists last summer, will face Argentina in the 5-8 Classification Games. They were led by Martin Peterka’s 23 points and 11 rebounds while Jiri Dedek had 16 points.

In a re-match of the 2011 FIBA Europe U16 Championship, Croatia were able to build up a lead in the first quarter, jumping ahead 24-16 before the Czechs tallied the final five points for a 24-21 Croatia lead after 10 minutes.

But Hezonja picked up his third foul in the waning seconds of the first quarter and was forced to sit the entire second period.

Adam Pechacek tallied seven points in the second quarter and helped the Czechs pull ahead 36-34 and the biggest lead the rest of the half was three points – with the European champion up 42-40 at the break.

Hezonja was back on the court and made up for lost time, scoring 12 points and the Croatian defense began to take charge, building a 10-point lead 68-58. And the gap was 72-66.

Croatia could not be stopped in the fourth as they pushed the lead to as large as 23 points.

FIBA