European Championships U18 – Division B. Day 1 in Skopje

YordanMinchev Group ACyprus – Ireland 67-61Cyprus fired past Ireland behind 13 points from Michalis Mythillos (190-G-98). Cyprus recorded a 40:32 halftime lead. They stretched the margin at 11-point mark at the final intermission. Ireland narrowed the deficit in the fourth frame but came up short at the end. Christos Hatzikostas (184-G-98) tossed in 11 points in the win. Adam Drummond (192-SG-99) and Robert Sullivan (184-G/F-98) responded with 15 points each for Ireland.FYR Macedonia – Bulgaria 69-88Bulgaria cruised past FYR Macedonia in the opener. Yordan Minchev (202-F-98) nailed 26 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. Bulgaria established a 54:36 halftime lead. FYR Macedonia cut the distance at 12-point mark at the final intermission. However Bulgaria picked up the tempo in the fourth frame to roll to the victory. Krastan Krastanov (195-F/G-99) provided 24 points in the win. Ranko Mamuzikj (200-PF-98) replied with 22 points and 6 rebounds for FYR Macedonia.Poland – Hungary 72-76Hungary rallied past Poland in the opening game in Group A. Chester Lewis (185-PG-98) posted 19 points to lead the winners. Poland recorded a 43:32 halftime lead. Hungary however turned things around in the second half. They went on a 24:12 run in the fourth frame to snatch the win. Csaba Kucsora (189-G-98) posted 13 points for the winners. Dominik Rutkowski (196-F/G-98) responded with 18 points for Poland.Group BMontenegro – Belgium 71-59Milos Popovic (197-PF-98) posted 27 points and 13 rebounds to lead Montenegro past Belgium. The Balkan side jumped to a 37:29 halftime lead. Montenegro extended the margin at 10-point mark at the final intermission. They protected the lead throughout the fourth term and raced to the win. Milic Starovlah (196-F-98) delivered 10 points for the winners. Giuliano Neri (187-SG-99) answered with 12 points for Belgium.Belarus – Portugal 66-54Belarus held off Portugal behind 16 points and 8 rebounds from Yauhen Massalski (204-F-99). Portugal and Belarus were tied at 27 at the interval. Belarus however cleared off in the second half. They went on a 39:27 …

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