France's U18 EuroBasket Dream Dashed by Last-Second Shot

France's hopes in the U18 EuroBasket were shattered by a dramatic, buzzer-beating three-pointer from Edoardo Di Meo in overtime. The improbable shot left the French team in disbelief with only fractions of a second remaining on the clock.

Despite a shaky start that saw them trailing early (2-9), Coach Elise Prodhomme's squad managed to take control of the game, at one point building a significant 14-point lead. However, the Italian team mounted a comeback, ultimately tying the score at 64-64 with just 56 seconds left in regulation.

Three-pointers proved to be a critical factor in the decisive moments. While France experienced a clutch equalizer from Louka Letailleur at the last second of regulation (77-77), they were largely on the wrong end of these crucial shots.

Individually, Madiba Diaby Cissé was the standout performer for France with an evaluation of 24, contributing 11 points and 8 rebounds. Hugo Yimga was the team's leading scorer with 14 points.

France will now compete for the bronze medal on Sunday against the loser of the Slovenia-Spain semi-final. Regardless of the final outcome, France has already secured its spot in the U19 World Cup in 2027.

English Translation:

France's U18 EuroBasket campaign ended in heartbreak with a stunning last-second three-pointer from Edoardo Di Meo in overtime, leaving the team devastated with mere hundredths of a second left to play.

The French team, guided by coach Elise Prodhomme, began the game slowly, falling behind by nine points (2-9). However, they rallied to take command, at one stage holding a commanding 14-point advantage. The Italians, however, fought back and managed to level the score at 64-64 with just 56 seconds remaining in regular time.

Three-point shots played a pivotal role in the closing stages. While France benefited from Louka Letailleur's game-tying three-pointer with one second left on the clock to force overtime at 77-77, they often found themselves on the receiving end of these critical shots.

On an individual level, Madiba Diaby Cissé achieved the highest rating with 24, thanks to 11 points and 8 rebounds. Hugo Yimga was France's top scorer with 14 points.

France will face the loser of the Slovenia-Spain match on Sunday for the bronze medal. The team has already secured qualification for the 2027 U19 World Cup.