Laura Vilcinskas owned the glass and the paint for our young Cats on Friday, finishing with 23 points and 14 rebounds to lead Belgium past Poland 66–55 in Division A play. The double-double came on a night when our rebounding margin proved decisive—Vilcinskas alone accounted for more than half of her team's second-chance opportunities, and her three blocks underlined a defensive presence that Poland struggled to navigate.
It was a workmanlike win rather than a rout, but Vilcinskas's interior dominance made the difference in a contest that could have tightened in the middle quarters. Her ability to finish at the rim and crash both boards gave our Cats the foundation to pull clear in the closing stages.
The tournament continues for our young Cats from here. Vilcinskas's form will need to hold up.
Belgium's young Cats pulled away decisively in the fourth quarter to hold off Poland, 66-55, in a back-and-forth contest that stayed competitive until the final frame.
The first half was a mirror image — Poland led by as many as 7 (32-25 midway through the second quarter), but our young Cats answered with a 7-0 run early in Q1 to seize control. Belgium responded to Poland's pressure with a 12-point fourth-quarter outburst to close the door, outscoring their opponents 18-9 when it mattered most.
Laura Vilcinskas was the difference-maker. The center delivered a complete performance: 23 points on near-perfect shooting (5/9 from the field, 13/13 at the free-throw line), 14 rebounds and 3 blocks — a dominant double-double that set the tone on both ends. Annie Kibedi chipped in 10 points, 9 boards and 5 assists, while Aurelie Vanderstraeten added 9 points and 7 rebounds off the bench.
Poland's Nadia Lucja Klobukowska led the opposition with 13 points, but 5/16 shooting limited her impact. The Poles simply couldn't find their rhythm in a grinding, physical affair defined by six lead changes and seven ties.
The young Cats move forward in the competition on the back of a disciplined defensive second half.
Marczynska versus Vilcinskas: Poland's 17.2-point scorer and our own Laura at 15.5 PPG are set to duel at the heart of this U18 matchup, and both have been doing the heavy lifting for their teams in recent games. The efficiency gap is narrow — 64 to 59 in TIB rating — but the stakes are clear: two of Division A's sharpest young wings, each running identical assist numbers (1.3 APG), will shape how their sides defend and distribute in transition.
Poland come in with momentum and a genuine scoring threat in Marczynska. Our young Cats have the counterpunch in Vilcinskas, whose consistency and efficiency will be critical if we're to control the pace and limit the open looks Poland thrives on.
This is the individual battle that will either unlock the game for one side or force both teams into uncomfortable half-court chess. Tipoff in under three hours.
Audrey Tchako Tchako was the difference. Thirteen points, three rebounds, two steals and a block—the young Cat's footprint across the full 40 minutes as Belgium edged Italy 62–55 at the U18 Women's EuroBasket.
It was a win ground out on discipline rather than flash. Italy kept the tempo low and the margins tight; our youngsters had to earn every basket. Tchako's scoring came in bursts—her ability to finish at the rim and move the ball keeping the offense honest when Italy's defense tightened. She also had her hands in on the defensive end, active on the ball in ways that forced turnovers and set the tone.
The margin tells you what kind of game this was. Not a rout. Not a blowout. Just a team that found a way when it mattered. Next up: the next opponent awaits.
Belgium's young Cats held off a second-half surge from Italy to secure a hard-fought 62-55 win at the U18 EuroBasket. The game pivoted decisively in the third quarter, where our side outscored their opponents 24-13 to build a commanding 15-point lead at 51-36.
Italy clawed back late. A crisp 8-0 run in the opening quarter (from 3-5 to 11-5) set an aggressive tone early, and the Italians refused to go away down the stretch, outpointing Belgium 15-11 in the fourth. But our Cats' third-quarter dominance proved the difference in a back-and-forth contest marked by 12 lead changes and 9 ties.
Jada Lynch led Belgium with 16 points on 6-of-17 shooting to go with 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Audrey Tchako Tchako was immaculate off the bench, shooting a perfect 5-of-5 from the field for 13 points. Laura Vilcinskas added 9 points and 7 rebounds in a balanced offensive effort.
Italy's Francesca Baldassarre led her team with 12 points and 5 rebounds despite struggling from the floor at 5-of-20, while Divine Obaseki contributed 10 points and 8 boards.
Laura Vilcinskas is running away with this one before tipoff.
Our young Cats' point guard has lit up the tournament at a 67.8 TIB Efficiency rating—nearly 17 points per game on recent form—and she'll square off against Sofia Zuccon, Italy's engine room at 41.6 EFF with 8 PPG and 2 APG. The gap in those numbers tells you something about where Belgium's offense is flowing right now. Vilcinskas has been the orchestrator; Italy will need Zuccon to impose herself early if they're to slow the pace and control the floor.
Belgium's depth and scoring punch have been the story of this age group. Italy brings a structured, methodical approach. The matchup hinges on whether Vilcinskas can keep finding space in transition and running the offense, or whether Zuccon can steady the Italians' half-court sets and make the game a grind.
Kista Convention Centre 1. Tips off in three hours.
Jada Lynch carried our young Cats on her back in Osnabrück, dropping 25 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals in a losing effort against Serbia. The guard's offensive aggression kept Belgium within reach through three quarters, but Serbia's fourth-quarter execution proved the difference in a 76–68 final.
Lynch's 25 points came when we needed them most — a genuine bright spot in an otherwise difficult night for the team. Her ball pressure on defense (4 steals) forced moments of chaos, yet Serbia's spacing and poise down the stretch overwhelmed our response. This is the nature of youth competition at this level: individual brilliance doesn't always translate to a win.
The loss stings, but Lynch's performance is the kind of foundation U18 teams are built on. Next up: another chance to fight.
Serbia's third quarter proved too steep a climb for our young Cats. Down 12 at the half, Belgium fought back — a 10-0 run in the third kept the door open — but a 29-point Serbia outburst that same quarter swung momentum decisively. The visitors led by as many as 11 down the stretch, and though our Cats scraped to within one possession inside the final two minutes, they could not level the floor.
Jada Lynch carried Belgium's offense on sheer volume: 25 points on 9-of-23 shooting, with four three-pointers made and four steals. Laura Vilcinskas added 17 points and seven rebounds; Annie Kibedi chipped in 14 points and a team-high six assists. The ball moved, the effort was genuine, but the third-quarter hole proved too much.
Ana Mutavdzic was the margin-maker for Serbia — 22 points on an efficient 7-of-13, including a perfect 5-for-5 from distance. Anastasija Jovanov's 15 points and six assists steadied the second half. Belgium's perimeter discipline didn't hold when it mattered most.
Eight points final. A hard-fought loss, and one that stings on the back of how tight the fourth quarter felt. Our Cats keep moving.
Laura Vilcinskas has been our young Cats' engine in the early rounds of Division A, running 16.8 points per game at a 70.8 TIB efficiency rating. Serbia's Anastasija Jovanov brings different tools—a 12.7-point scorer who orchestrates from the perimeter at 4.3 assists per game—but Vilcinskas's scoring volume and efficiency give Belgium the sharper statistical edge heading into tipoff.
The matchup hinges on whether our Cats can maintain their pace and decision-making while pressing Jovanov's distribution. Serbia's playmaker will look to create rhythm for teammates; Vilcinskas will need to stay aggressive and efficient to set the tone early.
This is a Division A battle where marginal advantages compound. Tune in to see which side controls the tempo.
Laura Vilcinskas put our young Cats firmly in control against Czechia, finishing with 22 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks in a 72–57 victory at FIBA U18 Women's EuroBasket Division A.
The dominant rebounding and defensive numbers tell the story: Vilcinskas controlled both ends, forcing turnovers and cleaning the glass when it mattered most. On a night when our Cats' offense needed that kind of anchoring presence, she delivered without forcing the issue. Czechia never found a rhythm, and Vilcinskas's ability to impact the game beyond scoring—her steal and block total, the gap in rebounds—meant we controlled the tempo and the boards.
It was exactly the kind of all-around showing a young player needs at this level, and it carried us to a convincing win.
Belgium's young Cats took control early and never loosened their grip, dismantling Czechia 72–57 in Division A action. A devastating 14-0 run in the second quarter—sparked from a 10-10 tie—turned what had been a close opening into a rout; by the third quarter, the lead swelled to 24 points at its widest.
Czechia mounted no serious second-half rally. Belgium's lead dipped slightly in the fourth, but the margin stayed comfortable throughout; Czechia finished 57–54 on the scoreboard's running total before the final tally settled at 15 points clear.
Laura Vilcinskas anchored the win with a double-double: 22 points and 14 rebounds on efficient 7-of-10 shooting, plus four steals and a pair of blocks. Romane Kirsch added 10 points on near-perfect 3-of-4 from the field and a 4-assist night, while Aurelie Vanderstraeten chipped in 9 points and five boards despite a streaky 3-of-12 shooting line.
Bohdana Metysova led Czechia's offense with 17 points, including both of her three-point attempts, but her teammates could not generate enough complement; Anna Belacova managed 12 points on 6-of-15 shooting.
The young Cats move forward with momentum. Next up: the next group stage fixture.
Laura Vilcinskas carries a 56.2 TIB Efficiency rating into this evening's clash, averaging 15 points per game as our young Cats prepare to face Czechia in Division A of the U18 Women's EuroBasket. On the other side, Karolina Tausova anchors the Czech attack at 20.2 TIB EFF, running the offense at 2.3 assists per game while chipping in 8.7 points.
The matchup is cleaner than the raw scoring lines suggest. Vilcinskas's efficiency—built on solid shot selection and tempo control—will be tested against a Czechia side that leans on Tausova's playmaking to generate rhythm. Our Cats need the Belgian to stay aggressive without forcing; Tausova's low assist-to-point ratio hints at a Czech offense that hasn't quite found its flow, and Belgium can exploit that unevenness.
Tipoff is in three hours. Follow it live.
Annie Kibedi steered our young Cats to a one-point win over Italy with a composed all-around display: 16 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals in a 62–63 victory at FIBA U18 Women's EuroBasket Division A.
The margin never widened beyond a possession or two. Italy fought hard throughout, but Kibedi's decision-making in the final stretches—moving the ball, keeping the tempo controlled—proved the difference when it mattered. She didn't need to dominate the scoreboard; the assist total and the turnover discipline did the talking instead.
One win in a tournament like this sits light. Our next test comes soon, and Kibedi will be central to how the team's form develops from here.
One point. That's all that separated our young Cats from Italy at the U18 EuroBasket, with Belgium U18 Women holding on for a 63-62 win in a game that swung back and forth nine times before the final whistle.
Italy controlled the opening quarter, building a lead as large as 11 (15-4), but our Cats clawed back steadily. Belgium trailed 27-29 at halftime, then took the game by the scruff in the third. A devastating 12-0 run — from 34-32 down to 34-44 up — put our side in front by 10 heading into the fourth. Italy, though, would not fold. The Italians scored 20 points in the final quarter to force a one-possession finish, but Belgium's defense held just long enough.
Laura Vilcinskas was immovable in the paint: 18 points on 5-9 shooting, 9 rebounds and a game-high 5 blocks. Annie Kibedi ran the offense with 16 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds, her court vision the difference when Italy tightened the screws late. Francesca Baldassarre led Italy with 22 points (4-9 from three), but it was not enough.
This is what U18 basketball looks like — tight, urgent, decided by inches. Our Cats face the next test knowing that margins this thin demand precision.
#FIBA U18EuroBasket #BelgiumWBB #YellowRedsCats #U18Women #EuroBasket #BEL
Aurelie Vanderstraeten's 21 points per game this tournament have made her the most efficient scorer on our young Cats' roster — and Italy's Sofia Zuccon will feel that weight tonight.
Zuccon brings real craft to the Italian side: 11 points and 2.5 assists a night, sitting at a 58.8 TIB Efficiency rating that marks her as their engine. She can thread a pass and put the ball in the basket in rhythm. But Vanderstraeten is operating on another plane right now — 73 TIB Efficiency, 21 PPG — the kind of form that can carry a group-phase game.
This is about more than one duel, of course. Italy U18 Women and our Cats meet with Europe's youth tier watching. Both sides need the result. But in the first 20 minutes, watch how our young Cats' perimeter defense sets up around Vanderstraeten's scoring; watch whether she gets clean looks or finds herself working harder than usual. Zuccon's passing could unlock Italy's spacing — if our guards give her room.
Tip-off in about three hours. 🏀
Laura Vilcinskas carried our young Cats to a 86–79 win over Sweden U18 Women with 22 points and 12 rebounds, anchoring both ends of the floor when it mattered most. The Belgian forward's interior presence — four blocks and a steal — made the difference in a tournament where controlled paint play decides tight games. At this level, a double-double on decent volume is the foundation of a win, and Vilcinskas built one.
Sweden stayed within reach throughout, but our Cats closed it out. Next up for Belgium U18 Women in Division A play is the chance to string back-to-back victories and build momentum deeper into the tournament.
Belgium's young Cats controlled this one from start to finish, but Sweden made them sweat in the final stretch. Our girls led wire-to-wire and built a commanding 22-point cushion at 71-49 midway through the third quarter, only to see Sweden rip off a 12-0 run in the fourth that cut it to 84-77 with time running short. The lead held. A hard-fought seven-point win.
The first half set the tone. Belgium built a 27-18 lead after one and extended it to 42-31 by the break, then pulled away further in the third with a 21-13 quarter that felt like the game was done. Turns out Sweden's Nyomi Hahn and company had other ideas — Hahn finished with 23 points on 8-of-17 shooting, and Linnea Norberg added 15, but it came too late to complete the comeback.
Laura Vilcinskas was the anchor for our Cats, posting a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds on 8-of-17 shooting. Aurelie Vanderstraeten chipped in 16 points and six rebounds, knocking down three three-pointers, while Jada Lynch contributed 16 points and four assists. That balance across three scorers is what held up when Sweden pressed in the fourth.
Next up: Italy U18 Women on Monday, August 3rd.
Aurelie Vanderstraeten has been unstoppable in the lead-up to this one: 26 points per game on elite efficiency (76 TIB rating) to anchor our young Cats' offensive engine. Sweden will counter with Linnea Norberg, who orchestrates play from the perimeter—17 points and 4 assists per game (64 TIB)—a more measured distributor tasked with slowing Belgium's scoring surge.
The matchup hinges on whether our Cats can maintain their scoring discipline while tightening the gaps around Norberg's playmaking. Vanderstraeten's volume is the story here: she's a genuine weapon in transition and in the half-court, and Sweden's perimeter defense will face a real test.
Belgium vs Sweden tips off in about three hours in Division A. Watch live.
Aurelie Vanderstraeten carried our young Cats to a narrow win over Finland, dropping 26 points on efficient shooting to edge past the Finns 65–69 in Division A play at the U18 EuroBasket.
The Belgian forward was the difference in a tight contest, dictating tempo and working inside when Finland's defense compressed on the perimeter. Four rebounds and a steal rounded out her evening — a complete performance in a game that could have tipped either way in the final moments.
It was the kind of statement a prospect makes when her team needs one most. Our Cats face their next group assignment with momentum now, though the margin reminds us how thin these margins are at this level.
Belgium's young Cats held off a late Finnish surge to secure a four-point win in a back-and-forth FIBA U18 Women's EuroBasket contest. Wire-to-wire control proved decisive, even as the final quarter threatened to undo the work done earlier.
The gap widened in the first half. Belgium built a 15-point lead at its peak (36-21) and took a comfortable 40-32 margin into the break. Finland tightened things considerably after the interval — outscoring the Cats 20-12 in the fourth quarter, including an 8-0 run that cut the deficit to a single possession with under two minutes left. Too little, too late: Belgium's foundation held.
Aurelie Vanderstraeten was the engine, pouring in 26 points to carry the offensive load. Annie Kibedi orchestrated from the floor with 9 points and 7 assists, while Romane Kirsch added 10. For Finland, Anna Gardziella's all-around game (17 PTS, 9 REB, 5 AST) kept her side competitive, but it wasn't quite enough.
Sweden awaits next Sunday. Another group-play test in what remains a tightly contested tournament.
