Game #3

Close game until the end, but Israel pulled it out, 61-58, over Austria.

Naama was in this game for 36min.,50sec, scored 9pts, 7 assists, 3 steals, 5 rebs, 4 fouls, and 4 t/o's. Naama is the only true ptguard for Israel, and has played over 30 min in all three games.

Really wish one could see these games in terms of #fouls called, or not, etc... but since not possible, our imaginations fill in the blanks.

Day off from play. Currently, in her Division, Naama is #1 in assists, averaging 5.3, #1 in steals, averaging 4.3 steals, and finally, #10 in pts, averaging 12.3 pts per game.

Although Israel is currently in 2nd place in their Division, with 2 wins and 1 loss, tomorrow will be a difficult game. Israel plays the Slovak Republic, who has two centers, both at 1.93 meters, and whatever we determined last yr that measurement equated to in ft and inches. (Anyone please feel free to work out the equivalents!)

Israel's tallest players are the two forwards, at 1.83 meters. Although ht could be meaningless if a smaller team compensates w/lots of completed treys, and 2 plus one scores, by scoring and drawing lots of fouls, ht will not be in Israel's favor in this game.

David has slayed Goliath before, however, and we know Naama will always give 150%.

GO NAAMA and Israel! Beat the Slovak Republic!

any word on the latvia player

Thanks for the ht info! Not as extreme as I thought.

Dutchman, our player from Latvia, Anna Sonka, is not playing for Latvia, this Summer, per an earlier report. Not sure exactly when she will be on campus. (If this is what you were referring to).

Israel made a competitive game of it, changing leads back and forth w/The Slovak Republic until about the 3 minute mark in the fourth. Slovak R. then pulled and stayed ahed to defeat Israel, 60-53.

Naama did not play at all in this game. There was no report of an injury, or anything at all about Naama not playing at the FIBA website, so will just assume the coach was resting Naama due to her extensive playing time to date.

The second pt of the competition will begin after today's games are finished.

Will continue to monitor FIBA site for any further reports regarding Naama.

After going to Israel's home pg, and utilizing the Google translator, it appeared Naama did not play due to 1)fasting 2) religious holiday(?) called Tisha B'Av. Further reading seemed to imply that Naama had reached a decision (with her religious leader/Israel team?) to go ahead and play today despite the religious concerns, but that her coach decided to give Naama the day off to rest, so she would be well rested come the play-offs beginning Friday.

This was per Google translator, so forgive any misinterpretations. Click on Israel's home pg website yourself, which is also that Israel One TV site as well, and read the game reports, using some type of Translator software.

In case you have not noticed, there are some great photographs of Naama, as well as her team, at the FIBA site. Check them out, if interested!

In the first game of the quarter finals, Israel was paired against Great Britain, who had only one loss so far in the FIBA games.

Great Britain came out strong, to establish a significant lead they would never relinquish. Israel had a poor shooting record during the first 2 quarters, resulting in a 20 pt lead for G.Britain at the halfway mark. A glance at G.Britain's scoreboard at game's end showed 14 of their 15 players contributing points.

Naama had several turnovers early on in the match, and seemed off her game until the second half, and then it was all Naama, all the time. In a game which had a 20 point difference as late as the 3rd quarter, Naama stepped it up, taking Israel with her, until shockingly at the 2 minute mark, only 8 pts separated the teams.

Not a sports writer here, so I'll just say I watched the Courtside feed and game plays transfixed throughout the 4th quarter, and especially during those last two integral minutes. Naama played her heart out, pouring in 23 pts, with 3 assists, 3 rebs, and 2 steals throughout her 32 minutes on the floor. The only downside was her game total of 7 turnovers.

Despite her and the Israeli team's valiant efforts in the fourth quarter, pulling the game to within 5 pts with 45 seconds left on the clock, Israel was unable to get any closer. When the score reached 71- 65, they began to deliberately foul, but to little effect. Great Britain would go on to defeat Israel 72-65.

Hopefully, Courtside or anyone else who "watched" the Internet play by play feed will add more sports writer insight and clarification to my very fan-only efforts!

In their last game of the FIBA Youth competition, Israel played Belgium for placement classification, for either 7th or 8 place in the Tourney.

In a turnaround from yesterday's game, Israel and Naama came out strong and intense from the first quarter on, with little let up on the gas peddle.

In the game w/G.Britain, poor rebounding had really taken it's toll on Israel's loss to England. Recognition of the fact spurred our own Naama Shafir, even as ptg, to set the tone in rebounding efforts. In a close, frequent lead changing game, Naama would contribute 7 rebounds, in addition to 15 pts, 2 assists, 2 steals, (and only 4 turnovers), during her 30 minute contribution.

Israel would go on to win the game over Belgium, 61-57. Fittingly, Naama's last two free throws put Israel up for good for the last 20 or so seconds of the game.

If I'm comprehending their placement system correctly, Israel will have placed 7th in overall performance in the Division B Youth Competition, with this their last game of the event.

When the Tourney is completed, and all stats are totaled, I will post Naama's final overall stats for the Tourney. For Israel, she will remain their #1 scorer, #1 in assists, and tops in steals, as well. Her rebound stats will have also improved, after this game is added to final Israel stats.

My error totally in comprehending the FIBA competition system, but Israel did play one more game, for 5th and 6th placement.

In an afternoon game, Israel played Hungary today. In reviewing the play by play and Israel website translation, Israel once again dug a shooting hole in the first 2 quarters, which appeared to be their undoing. They went into the half 50-26, advantage Hungary. While getting stops and increased scoring assisted them in the last 2 quarters, Israel lost to Hungary, 85-60.

An interview(google translation) with their coach also attested to the lack of energy and focus in that first half, but their belated turnaround in the second. She also noted, but did not blame, the general exhaustion of the team, in this their final game. She also spoke of the of the high level of competition of the teams they had faced, and alluded to Israel's positive performance, overall, in light of the teams they played.

Some quotes by Naama also acknowledged the strengths of the teams played, but their hopes to have moved on to Division A, dashed after the close loss to G.Britain, the suprising winner of the total Division B tourney. Naama spoke with pride that the Israel team continued to play hard despite that loss, and ending in a "respectable" 6th overall placement.(google translation, again).

Naama scored 9pts, 7 assists, 3 steals, grabbed 2 rebounds and totaled 2 turnovers in the farewell game, where she also played for 33.8 minutes.

Naama's statistical totals, derived from a total of 110 international FIBA Youth series players still seem remarkable for a team that won 3 games and had 4 losses.

Her stats are as follows; #4 in points, w/ an apg of 14 pts

                                        #2 in assists, 4.7 apg

                                         #2 in steals, at 3.3 apg

                                         #4 in minutes played per game, at 33.8 apg

                                         #2 in attempted and completed free throws

She did aquire the unfortunate position as #1 in turnovers, as well.

Israel ended #6, Hungary #5, out of a total of 10 teams. The first two teams move on to Division A.