IND/SYR - Second quarter splurge seals Indian win

SURAT THANI, Thailand (20th FIBA Asia U18 Championship for Women): A 13-0 run early in the second quarter took India to a position of strength from where the Middle Asian nation only consolidated and posted a 97-44 win over debutants Syria in Level II game on Friday.

India’s third win from as many games has put them with a very strong chance of a top-two finish in Level II which would qualify them for the Level I Play-offs.

Syria, on the other hand, are virtually out of the Play-offs race having suffered their second successive defeat.

Action and exchanges went on even keel for the first ten minutes of the game at the end of which the scores were level 12.

“We didn’t make our shots the way we should have,” said India coach Abdul Hameed Khan.

India’s scoring rhythm shot early at the start of the second quarter, with Amrutha Bhuskute leading the way.

The Maharashtra lass scored seven points, including a long ranger, as India scored the first 13 points of the second quarter. That spree sealed the issue in India’s favour.

India played for time for the remainder of the game.

Bhuskute went on to top the scoring for the game with 23 points

Result: -

IND/LAO - Stephy-less India roll past Laos

SURAT THANI, Thailand (20th FIBA Asia U18 Championship for Women): India played without their tallest player and captain Stephy Nixon, yet proved a handful to Laos winning their Level II game 117-45 on Thursday.
India, thus became the first team in competition – in both levels – to cross the three-figure magic mark in scoring.

For India, who had beaten Sri Lanka on the opening day, it was their second win. Laos had lost to Syria on the opening day.

Nixon, the only player from the Indian team that lost the Level I Qualifying game at Medan two years ago, was forced to warm the bench yet to recover from the knee injury she suffered during the game against Sri Lanka.

“We hope she would recover in time for the bigger games,” said India coach Abdul Hameed Khan.

Kavita more than made for her captain’s absence with a game-high 30 points.

All eleven available Indian players – apart from Nixon – took to the court. And all of them scored – four apart from Kavita in double digits.

“We have to redraw our plans and start working harder to make up for Stephy’s absence,” India assistant coach Shiba Maggon.

India, who were relegated to Level II at the last edition at Medan, will next play Syria.