Deni Avdija’s Incredible Show Lifts Israel Past France/ Shai Boker

Avdija drives to the basket. (FIBA.Basketball)

Tonight, we all lived in Avdija’s world, as the Israeli superstar had an incredible game (26 points) carrying Israel to a hard-fought win over France, 81:70, and helping them advance to the final where they will meet Spain. Eidan Alber and Raz Adam supplied a great showing as well. Ludovic Beyhurst led France with 16 points in the loss. Israel marked its 3rd final in the past three years. Game summary, five takeaways, interviews, key stats, and scores from a very busy 7th day of the U20 tournament await await.

Game Summary

The French got off to a very quick start with Beyhurst and Eddy Owootomo Kayoloud doing as they pleased, leading their team to an 0:11 start after two minutes, thus forcing Israel to take a timeout. After the timeout, Israel’s defense picked up leading their way back into the game. Avdija got Israel’s second field goal by hitting a three-pointer with 5:31 remaining in the first quarter, cutting the deficit to 7:13. On the other end, Timothee Bazzile made a jump hook to give France a 7:15 lead with 4:01 to play in the quarter. Eidan Alber checked in and with four consecutive points tied the score at 15:15. He then stole the inbounds pass and knocked down a three-pointer to give Israel an 18:15 lead. Yam Madar would get a fastbreak layup and gave Israel a 20:15 lead after 10 minutes.

Heart over height. Beyhurst. (FIBA.Basketball)

The second quarter began much like the first quarter for the French, as Dylan Afoo-Mama and Kayoloud once again got easy points in the paint, giving France a 20:21 lead with 8:26 remaining in the first half. Raz Adam came back with a nice crossover and layup, but Beyhurst created space from Avdija with a great hesitation move and nailed a jumper to give the visitors the lead once again. That hesitation-move, didn’t faze Avdija, as the Israeli superstar nailed a three-pointer and Alber got a layup to give Israel a 27:23 lead with 6:41 to play in the second quarter. Kayoloud and Bazille flipped the scoreboard around toward the end of the half, but Madar’s turnaround jump shot made sure Israel would head into the locker room tied up at 35:35.

Madar's pretty reverse layup. (FIBA.Basketball)

Yves Pons got France’s first field goal of second half by banking-in a shot clock buzzer-beating wild three pointer putting them ahead 36:38. Pons got another easy two points at the rim and extended France’s lead to 40:43 with 7:06 to play in the quarter. Hanochi and Avdija began to block shots on the defensive end leading to an easy layup for Adam, giving Israel a 48:45 lead following an 8-2 run. Beyhurst and Kayoloud refused to back down and with five consecutive points regained a two-point lead at 48:50 with 1:56 to play in the quarter. Madar and Alber were not too excited about their team’s deficit, and made sure the scoreboard showed a 54:50 lead after three quarters following two huge threes by the guards.

Alber at the line. Scored 20 points off the bench. (FIBA.Basketball)

Quentin Ruel and Bazille got off to a quick start in the final 10 minutes with seven big points nodding the game at 57:57 with 7:07 remaining forcing Israel to call for a timeout. Once Israel returned from the breather, Avdija, Madar, and Yotam Hanochi quickly gave their team a 66:57 edge with 4:30 remaining. An Ivan Fevrier three pointer cut the lead to 68:60, but Hanochi led a 7-2 Israel run to put them up 75:62 and securing a date with Spain in the Finals.

Israel had four players score in double-figures tonight:

Avidja: (career highs in points, steals and PIR)

Avdija's stats. (PC: Oded Karni, Israel Basketball Association)

Alber: 20 pts, 6 rebs, 3 asts, 3 stls, 24 PIR

Adam: 12 pts, 4 rebs, 1 stl, 12 PIR

Madar: 13 pts

The French had three players who reached double-digit scoring:

Beyhurst: 16 pts, 19 PIR

Kayoloud: 11 pts

Fevrier: 11 pts

Five Takeaways:

1) Anyone who says that Avdija is not a lottery pick is out of their mind.

Avdija has all the making of a future NBA star.

2) Israel can always count on its bench.

Alber and Adam scored 32 of the bench’s 39 points.

3) A slow-paced game is not good for Israel.

The French controlled the pace of the game for 32 minutes, but once Israel started running, it was game over.

4) Heart over height.

Beyhurst might be small, but he’s not afraid of taking defenders twice his size to the hoop.

5) Israel is going for Gold again

Israel played a great fourth quarter. If the team comes out with that energy tomorrow night, they could get their second consecutive title.

Key Stats:

Rebounds: ISR 31 FRA 42

Turnovers: ISR 16 FRA 23

Steals: ISR 11 FRA 10

Blocks: ISR 4 FRA 5

Points off turnovers: ISR 23 FRA 18

Fast break points: ISR 20 FRA 7

Threes made: ISR 6/18 FRA 6/25

Yotam Hanochi on beating France:

Noam Avivi on beating France:

Eidan Alber on Spain missing Parra:

Other scores from day 7:

Semi Finals:

Spain vs. Germany 80:62

Interview with Carlos Alocen:

5-8 Seedeings:

Lithuania vs. Croatia 94:93

Ignas Sargiunas on Lithuania's comeback win over Croatia:

Turkey vs. Great Britain 104:87

Interview with Muhyamin Mustafa:

Great Britain’s Jacob Round on exceeding expectations for the tournament:

9-12 Seedings:

Ukraine vs. Montenegro 72:58

Greece vs. Slovenia 89:80

13-16 Seedings (losers are relegated, team that loses tomorrow will be relegated as well):

Poland vs. Latvia 82:68

Italy vs. Serbia 86:63

*Serbia’s first ever relegation to Division B*

Final is tomorrow at 20:30 Israel time as Israel takes on Spain.