Wales U17 Girls v Zalgiris
Wales U17 Fall to Strong Žalgiris Side
Wales U17 faced a tough challenge against a well-organised Žalgiris team, eventually falling 80–42 in a game that highlighted key areas for development moving forward.
Žalgiris set the tone early, applying defensive pressure and pushing the pace in transition to build an early advantage. Wales found scoring opportunities hard to come by, particularly from the perimeter, and despite working hard to create good looks, shots did not fall consistently enough to keep pace with their opponents.
The Lithuanian side capitalised on turnovers and converted efficiently in transition, finishing with 30 points from turnovers and 26 fast break points. Their ability to dominate inside was also evident, scoring 60 points in the paint, which proved a decisive factor in the outcome.
Wales continued to compete throughout, showing resilience and moments of promise, particularly through their ball movement, which resulted in 15 assists. However, 29 turnovers and a difficult shooting night, including just one made three-pointer, made it difficult to build sustained momentum.
There were encouraging individual performances for Wales. Robyn Donnelly led the scoring with 9 points on efficient shooting and added strong defensive intensity with three steals. Hannah Reid impressed on the boards with a team-high seven rebounds, while Chloe Hall and Ava O’Sullivan added six points apiece. Off the bench, Nia Search provided a positive contribution, scoring five points with confidence.
Žalgiris were led by an excellent all-round display from U. Gotautė, who recorded 21 points and 11 rebounds, supported by a number of teammates in a balanced offensive performance.
While the scoreline reflects a difficult outing, the experience will provide valuable learning for the Wales group as they continue their development at international level.
FIBA Live Stats
https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/LKF/2834926/bs.html
