France Edges Greece in FIBA U18 Thriller
Hugo Yimga spearheaded a dramatic French comeback as they edged out Greece 66-65 in a FIBA U18 EuroBasket thriller. France secured the win after trailing by nine points entering the final quarter. Greece had controlled the first half, holding a two-point lead at halftime (38-40) and establishing a significant ten-point advantage by the end of the first quarter (15-25).
Despite shooting 40% from the field compared to France's 32%, the Hellenic side saw their lead evaporate in the closing stages. Greece's rebounding dominance (45-31) and 23 points from their bench proved insufficient to quell the French surge. Yimga was instrumental, pouring in 18 points and grabbing 7 rebounds, with Louka Letailleur contributing 10 points and 8 boards for France. For Greece, Chrysostomos Chatzilamprou starred with 23 points, ably supported by Charalampos Bilionis's double-double (9 points, 13 rebounds).
This hard-fought victory gives France crucial momentum early in the tournament, marking a significant psychological boost.