By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Maxime Raynaud dropped 26 points and grabbed five rebounds while Ilias Kamardine posted 23 points and seven assists as France beat Israel 89 – 79 in the Final of the FIBA 2023 U20 European Championship to win the gold medal.
Kamardine won tournament MVP after finishing with 14.0 points (on 14-29 threes), 3.4 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 2.6 steals.
Both Kamardine and Raynaud also scored all points of the French national team in the extra period, combining for a decisive sequence of triples. After missing the shot to win the game at the end of the regulation, Raynaud made the start and then it was Kamardine time. The Dijon guard hit two of his own while making a 4-point play in his later attempt to put France up 84 – 77.
Israel was unable to respond and Raynaud drained the 3-pointer that gave France a 10-point lead with 53 seconds remaining.
Noaam Yaakov had 31 points plus five assists and Daniel Wolf notched 17 points, 16 rebounds and four assists for Israel. The latter scored the basket to tie the game at 72 with 17 seconds remaining in the fourth period and won the foul, having a chance to put the Israeli side ahead. He missed before Raynaud also misfired as the game went to overtime.
In the third-place game, Greece beat Belgium 68 – 64 behind 16 points and 12 rebounds by Vangelis Zougris to claim bronze medal.