Great Team Effort Helps Serbia Down Israel to Kick Off the U20 Eurobasket/ Shai Boker

Serbs celebrate their win over Israel. (FIBA.Basketball)

Group B action didn’t disappoint tonight as the defending champion, the Israeli U20 National team led by star Deni Avdija (14 points), kicked off its quest to defend its title against a very tough Serbian team. But Nikola Miskovic and Ranko Simovic had other plans combining for 35 points and leading the Serbs to a great win to start things off. Game Summary and five takeaways.

Game Summary

Israel got off to a hot start in front of a sold-out Shlomo Group Arena in Tel-Aviv as it led 14:8 early following a series of great plays by Tomer Porat and a breakaway dunk by forward Noam Avivi. The Serbs U18 superstar, Marko Pecarski entered the game and made some good plays under the rim. A 3-pointer by Mihailo Jovcic at the end of the shot clock evened out the score at 17:17. By the first quarter’s end, the score was tied at 19:19.

Noam Avivi throws it down on the break. (FIBA.Basketball)

Early in the second quarter after a takeaway, Simovic posterized Deni Avdija with a stunning dunk and a foul, but he landed hard and was substituted out of the game (to return later). The Israelis regained their momentum thanks to five consecutive points by Eidan Alber, Avdija, and Amit Suss and went up by four, 25:21 with 8:23 remaining in first half. At that point things changed. The Serbs, led by Andrija Marjnovic, Vuk Vulikic, Simovic, and a fantastic team effort, went on a 0-17 run over a 4:18 time span and took a 25:38 lead with 4:05 to go in the half. Yotam Hanochi and Yair Kravitz refused to let the Serbs gain a bigger lead by half time and got Israel to the locker room trailing 33:43.

Ranko Simovic posterizes Deni Avdija with authority. (FIBA.Basketball)

Israel’s momentum continued into the third quarter as Noam Avivi had seven consecutive points including a layup from a gorgeous over-the-head pass from Yam Madar and the Serbian lead was reduced to 40:45 only. After two points from the Serbs, Yam Madar completed a 3-point play’ once again narrowing the lead down to four with 7:24 to go in the quarter at 43:47. Miskovic was able to quiet the crowd with a layup, but Deni Avdija replied with a three to cut a six-point deficit in half. Stefan Momirov and Miskovic were there yet again and thanks to a 0-6 run gave the Serbs breathing room as they led 48:57. The Israeli side once again showed that they were not going down quietly and with three big 3’s went on a 13-2 run as Hanochi gave them a 61:59 lead. By the quarter’s end, the Serbs regained the lead thanks to a huge 3-pointer by Vulikic, 61:64.

Yam Madar's big night wasn't enough. (FIBA.Basketball)

Just like in the first three quarters, Israel again, got off to a hot start thanks to threes by Hanochi and Madar and took a 69:65 lead with 7:31 left. On the other end, Miskovic and Simovic answered the call again and flipped the scoreboard back in their team’s favor at 69:70 with 6:13 remaining. Israel remained close after an Avdija floater cut the lead to 73:76, but back-to-back huge threes by Vulikic and Aleksa Uskokovic gave the Serbs a nine-point advantage that would seal the deal inside of 3:00 minutes left. Final score was 81:92 in the Serbs favor.

Miskovic had it going on hitting huge shots, time and time again. (FIBA.Basketball)

The Serbs had six scorers in double figures: Simovic had 18 points and 9 boards, Miskovic added 17 points, Marjnovic had 13 points, Pecarski and Vulikic has 11 apiece, and Uskokovic finished with 10 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds.

The Israeli side had four players in double figures: Yam Madar had 24 points and 9 assists, Deni Avdija had 14 points (8 rebounds and 6 assists), Avivi and Porat finished with 10 points apiece.

Five Takeaways:

1) Israel must stay focused and positive

At certain times when things didn’t go their way or players were upset with the officiating, the young men in blue ran back on defense with their heads down. This allowed the Serbs to get easy buckets. The blues must hustle back on D.

2) Rebounding should be the team’s focus

The Israelis were dominated on the offensive glass. They allowed the Serbs 17 offensive rebounds that resulted in a 6-15 disadvantage in second chance points.

3) The bench must step up

Israel’s bench was outscored 15-43.

4) Deni Avdija cannot do it alone

Avdija’s teammates except for Madar didn’t play as well as they had in recent weeks in the previous tournaments. Three teammates scoring in double figures, just isn’t enough.

5) The Serbs spacing is strategic and successful

One of the biggest keys to winning games and getting good looks is floor spacing. The Serbs ball movement and all-around plays were truly a sight to behold. There is no question that theirs is a high-level basketball team.