Damian Jennings full of praise as GB U-20 women claim Euro crown

Great Britain's under-20 women sealed the European Championship Division B title with a thrilling 47-46 victory against Slovak Republic on Sunday evening.

Damian Jennings' side had already clinched promotion to the top flight, but their success in the final in Macedonia saw them become the first GB age group team to clinch a FIBA Europe title.
Led by 13 points and eight rebounds from Mairi Buchan plus 12 points and six boards from Mary Durojaye, the GB side led for most of the game after a strong second period put them in the driving seat.

GB didn't shoot the ball well inside the arc, managing only 28 percent of their two-point efforts, but hit half of their three point attempts and out-rebounded the Slovaks 48-35.

Kristie Sheils added nine points and five boards, with Rebecca Allison finishing with nine rebounds and three assists for a GB team that gave at least seven minutes of action to all 12 of their roster.

Slovakia were led by 16 points from Klaudia Lukacovicová and 14 from Veronika Cernáková, and will be consoled by the fact that they will join GB in Division A next season.

"I am really proud of all the players and their commitment to this result - all 12 played with class and determination," Jennings said.
"You are never going to get a one sided affair when the stakes are so high, and Portugal certainly reminded us frequently what we were all fighting for.

"The manner in which the players and staff have operated since the beginning is testimony to how seriously we take representing our country and it was incredibly pleasing to see everyone from GB staff back home, my staff team and the players rewarded for their efforts with this history-changing promotion."

.

Damian Jennings looking for progress as GB Under-20 women begin Euro campaign

Great Britain coach Damian Jennings admits he is taking a trip into the unknown when his young women’s side face Belgium on Friday in the opening game of the European Under-20 Championships in Macedonia.

Jennings’ prospects, bidding to earn promotion to Division A, have impressed in their build-up to the tournament with a series of solid performances, sparked by a six-strong group of players with senior experience including Charlotte Stoddart and Mairi Buchan.

Despite the loss of probable starter Georgia Jones to injury, GB go into the event looking to improve on last summer’s ninth place finish – with the initial aim of ending up in the top four of a five-team group which contains Belgium and Hungary – who inflicted defeats on the British 12 months ago – as well as hosts Macedonia and the Czech Republic.

“We won four of our five warm-up games and we showed growth over each of them,” Jennings said. “We have 12 players with fantastic attitudes. The chemistry was instant. I didn’t have to do much to generate that. But the truth is I don’t know how we’ll do. Youth basketball is so cyclical. I can’t be sure what the other teams will be like because last year’s Under-20s change as players move up into the senior teams.

“It’s a tough group. Belgium and Hungary were strong last summer. You have the hosts there who we don’t know much about. And the Czechs have come down from Division A. So we’ll see how it goes and try to do the best we can.”

.

Jennings names Great Britain Under-20 squad

Great Britain Under-20 coach Damian Jennings has named his final 12-woman squad for the European Championships which start in Kavadarci in Macedonia on Friday.

Katrin Chiemeka
Josephine Salmon
Hannah Shaw
Mary Durojaye
Renee Busch
Rebecca Allison
Ella Clark
Charlotte Stoddart
Mairi Buchan
Kristie Sheils
Tamzin Barroilhet
Kashmere Joseph
:
Damian Jennings - Head Coach
Matt Johnson - Assistant Coach

.