Under the guidance of head coach Roko Ukić, the Croatian cadet team continued their convincing run at the FIBA U-16 European Championship Division B, securing a quarterfinal berth before their final group game against Iceland.
Croatia's cadet basketball team continued its dominance at the U-16 Division B European Championship in North Macedonia. After a day of rest, Roko Ukić's squad steamrolled Ukraine by a staggering 56 points, winning 110:54. This result secured their place in the quarterfinals even before the last group-stage match.
Played in the 26 April Hall in Gevgelija in front of just 50 spectators, the game was effectively decided by halftime. Croatia took the first quarter 26:16 and then completely broke Ukrainian resistance in the second, outscoring them 30:14. The second half followed the same pattern, with quarters of 26:9 and 28:15. The referees were Poland's Skorek, Finland's Penttilä, and Romania's Stretea.
Ukić once again distributed minutes evenly among his players. The only one not to see action was Tin Jurić, while everyone else got on the scoresheet. Two statistics best illustrate the balance of power on the court: Croatia recorded 30 assists, while Ukraine turned the ball over the same number of times.
Croatia's defense was particularly impressive, allowing just 30 points in the first half, and their overall point differential in the tournament has now swelled to an incredible +239 after four games. "From around the 15th minute, Croatia shifted into a higher gear and, for the fourth time in the competition, surpassed the 100-point mark," the tournament report noted.
The most efficient player for Croatia was Luka Ukić, the head coach's son, who tallied 21 points and nine assists in just 25 minutes on the floor. Fran Strahija had a stellar shooting night, hitting five three-pointers and finishing with 16 points, while Nikša Zlopaša added 14 points and five steals. Ivan Ćošković was also in fine form, scoring 12 points and converting four of five attempts from beyond the arc.
Vidaković also reached double figures with 13 points, as did Vlaić with 13 points and six assists. For Ukraine, Šulha led the way with 11 points and five rebounds, while Bojko chipped in nine points and six boards.
This was Croatia's fourth consecutive win in Group B, following previous blowouts of Switzerland (+54), Cyprus (+74), and hosts North Macedonia (+55). With a 4-0 record, they share the top spot with Iceland, who are also unbeaten but have not been nearly as dominant. Ukraine sits at 2-2, while Switzerland (0-3) and Cyprus (0-4) are still winless.
The final group game against Iceland is scheduled for Tuesday, August 11, at 4:00 PM. Interestingly, Iceland's head coach is Dino Stipčić, which adds extra spice to this clash for first place in Group B. Although qualification for the quarterfinals is already secured, Roko Ukić's squad will be aiming for top spot to secure a better position for the knockout stages. The real challenge lies ahead, as two wins in the elimination phase and a top-three finish are required to earn promotion back to Division A.
