Game Report: Iceland U21 vs. Serbia U21 – 100:103
Our Iceland U21 team delivered an outstanding performance, pushing Serbia U21, one of the top 10 teams in the world, to the brink of defeat. With a final score of 100:103, it was a hard-fought game that showed just how much potential this squad has.
Proud Performance Against One of the Best: "We're incredibly proud of the team. It's no small feat to challenge one of the best teams in the world and nearly pull off the win," said our coach after the game. "We controlled the game for large stretches, especially in the third quarter, and proved that we can compete at this level."
Game Flow: After a tough start, where Serbia took the lead 25:19 in the first quarter, we fought back with a powerful offensive push in the second quarter, winning it 30:26. We stepped up even more in the third, dominating with a 35:27 advantage, giving us the lead heading into the final period.
Unfortunately, our defensive intensity slipped in the fourth quarter, and Serbia capitalized on that, going on a 25:16 run to close the game. Despite the loss, we demonstrated as a team that we can hold our own on this high stage.
Standout Players: Our captain H. Ingþórsson led the team with 24 points and 9 rebounds, while W. Atlason contributed a strong 24 points and 6 assists. V. Gabríelsson came off the bench to add 17 crucial points, and L. Auðunsson chipped in 14 points and 6 assists as well.
Coach's Comments: “There are many positives to take from this game. The way we played against such a high-caliber team shows that we're on the right track. Of course, we still need to work on maintaining our consistency in crucial moments, but this experience will only make us stronger going forward."
This game proved that our young players are ready to compete with the best teams in the world.