Alma Kapetanovic supplied 19 points, 11 rebounds, 8 steals and 4 blocks in 38 minutes, but Switzerland U16 Women could not find a way past Slovakia U16 Women in the 3rd Place Game at the FIBA U16 Women's EuroBasket Division B, falling 49–61 in Piestany. Kapetanovic shot 9 of 16 from the field and anchored both ends of the floor — her eight steals led the defensive effort, and she cleaned the glass on both sides to keep her team in a game that Slovakia controlled through much of the second half. The 11 rebounds reflected the work required just to stay competitive; the efficiency of her shot selection (56 percent from two) kept Switzerland within reach longer than the final margin suggests. The 12-point deficit at the end marks fourth place for Switzerland in the competition. Kapetanovic's two-way display was not enough to overturn Slovakia's rhythm, but it ensured the Swiss had a genuine presence in a contest where the outcome was decided by execution and intensity in the final stretches. The campaign closes here.
Lily Jans ran the offense cleanly in Piestany, dropping 14 points and 6 assists to steer our young Cats past Switzerland 70–54 in Group A play. The Belgium U16 Women guard made her shooting nights count — 3-for-6 from three, 5-for-6 from the line — even as she worked through a heavy load with 33 minutes and 6 turnovers that spoke to the pace she was asked to manage. A 16-point margin away from home is the kind of control performance that builds tournament momentum. Jans's ball movement and decision-making held up under pressure, and her four steals showed the defensive intensity underneath her playmaking. Not a flawless night — the shooting efficiency outside the three-point line wasn't there — but in a youth competition, a floor general who keeps the tempo right and limits mistakes when it matters is exactly what you need. Next up: another Group A fixture as we build toward the knockout rounds.
Our young Cats dominated the first half and never looked back, holding Switzerland to 18 points through 24 minutes before pulling away for a commanding 70–54 victory in Group A play. Belgium built separation early, tearing off a 10-0 run in the opening quarter to establish control at 6–16. By halftime, the lead sat at 38–18 — a gap Switzerland could not close. The hosts dug in during the third, outscoring our side 21–20 and trimming the margin, but Belgium's cushion proved too deep. A lead that peaked at 24 points left no drama in the final period. Lily Jans orchestrated the offense with 14 points and 6 assists on efficient shooting (3/10 FG, 3/6 from three, 5/6 FT), while Loane Roba added 11 points on 3/7 shooting and Charys Eva Fogue contributed 8 points and 4 steals. Alma Kapetanovic led Switzerland with 14 points and 7 rebounds, but the Swiss struggled overall — 39 percent from the field and 22 percent from three told the real story. Our young Cats host Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday. That one shapes up as another chance to tighten rotation minutes and build rhythm heading deeper into the tournament.
Annie Kibedi sits atop the efficiency charts for our young Cats here in Piestany, and she'll walk straight into Evi Anne Josephine Bartel — the standout Switzerland has leaned on all week. Both players are rated 37+ in TIB Efficiency, a rarity at this level, and both have grown into their respective offenses over recent games. Kibedi has been the primary initiator for Belgium, averaging 11.5 points and 2.4 assists per game. Her court vision and willingness to attack downhill have become the connective tissue in our group-play setup. Bartel, meanwhile, is Switzerland's steadier presence: 8.8 points nightly with a tighter offensive load, but her defensive positioning and floor craft have kept the Swiss competitive. The math here is clean. Whoever controls the tempo and forces turnovers will likely control the win. Kibedi's assist rate suggests Belgium wants to play freely; Bartel's scoring efficiency says Switzerland won't break in easy. Switzerland vs Belgium tips off in Division B. This is the kind of young-player matchup that shapes how both nations build over the next cycle — watch it unfold.
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