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Yes, this will be a grudge match. Poland made (in the last seconds) a two pointer in Game #1, as noted
2024 FIBA Under-17 Women's Basketball World Cup - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
There's just one team left to be announced for next year's U17 World Championship in Mexico. The match in question will pit Croatia against Poland. Poland defeated Croatia in the championship curtain-raiser 67-65, so this will be a rematch.
On the inside, watch out for the battle between Olivia Vukosa (14) and #13 Wiktoria Haegenbarth (16), who is 19 months Olivia's senior, which is no mean feat at this age. Being 3 inches shorter than Olivia, she can compensate with a solid physique that's already matured. Hopefully, she'll still have a bit of fuel left, as she's been overused since the start of the tournament.
It's a real shame that one of these two teams won't be able to take part in the next U17 World Cup, as Europe will be entitled to 5 teams and as the Americas are hosting, there will be 5 teams from the Americas. In a way, I think it's a bit unfair for Europe. Europe's A championship is held with 16 teams, the Americas' with just 8, there's also a 20-team B championship in Europe and even an 8-team C championship, for some years now, after the USA and Canada, the other teams in the Americas league are at European B level, and even the last ones at C level, as shown by the latest results from the U19 World Cup, where Brazil and Argentina finished 14th and 16th. It is to be hoped that these two countries in particular will raise their game, otherwise FIBA may well review its requirements over the next few years.
Translated with DeepL
"FROM CANADA" (see above). For Poland: Wiktoria Haegenbarth with 12.8 ppg and three double doubles,
she is also #2 in rebounds at 11.5 rbpg. Wiktoria's teammate, Julie Rakowska also has 12.8 ppg with
three double doubles and she is #11 in rebounds at 8.5 rbpg, so together they provide 25.6 ppg and
20 rebounds per game. But Croatia has Olivia, plus Lena Bilic (high in and assists as well as 17.1 ppg) as well
as HANA Arnautovic (#4 in efficiency, #3 in assists, and #13 in three-point shooting. Croatia's Pavlic also
helps with being # 9 in three-point shooting. THEN THERE IS THE " BIG O"!!!!!!! Olivia's tournament
leading stats are: #1 in points 21.7 ppg; #1 in rebounds 17.3 rebounds per game; #1 in Efficiency
at 27.8 per game, and #1 in double doubles with 5. Olivia is also #3 in blocks with 2 per game.
This could go either way (OLIVIA STAY OUT OF FOUL TROUBLE!!). Croatia is starting to
really display a nice team chemistry, which has resulted in game totals of 86, 79, and 90 points
in the last three games. CROATIA has lost a total of two games by a cumulative THREE POINTS!!.
The game is tomorrow, Saturday, at 7 AM. If you get up for the Sweden vs Australia WORLD
CUP SOCCER consolation game ( 4 AM est ), you will be all set for this game = As "FROM
CANADA " tells us.... Win and you go to the U17 Women's World !!.... another excellent
showcase for Olivia Kristjana Vukosa!!! A workwomen's-like game should secure the "W" and secure
her Tournament leading stats (note; First among 184 total players). Go future HUSKY!! GO CROATIA!
