England under-18’s preparations for the upcoming Division A FIBA European Championships took a hit this weekend with heavy defeats in a four-team tournament in Italy.
Karl Brown’s side were depleted for their final game against Greece and subsequently suffered a devastating 75-31 defeat. Josh Steel was the only England player in double figures with 10 points
There was more promise from their opening two games with England leading by nine at the half against Israel on Friday before going down 77-63. Sedale Hanson-Young led England with 11 points, with Steel and Jules Dang Akodo adding 10 apiece.
Hosts Italy also proved too strong in the second half as the Italians completed a 66-51 success on Saturday in front of a home crowd. Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye, Josh Steel and Patrick Whelan each scored 12 points.
The under-18’s had last been in action at the Albert Schweitzer tournament in April and now have just ten more days of preparation before their Division A campaign begins in Turkey.
They face a tough task having been drawn alongside European powerhouses Croatia, Lithuania and France in Group B.
Last year, England began the tournament with a shock victory over Spain on their way to remaining in Division A and will be hoping to repeat the feat twelve months on.
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