Recap and results of the 5 regions tournament

From December 27th until December 29th, our U14 teams played the 5 regions tournament in Vittel (France).

Here are the rosters of team Luxembourg:

U14 girls:

Coaches: Mariusz Dziurdzia and Laure Diederich

U14 boys:

Coaches: Christophe Toussaint and Mike Baseggio

Kiné: Géraldine Reitz and Tanja DeRond

Results:
Girls:
Luxembourg – Alsace 58:44
Coaching staff: The U14 girls won their first game of the 5-region-tournament against the Alsace team 44-58. One could notice that the girls were returning from Christmas-break and that the team had not practised for several days. The girls gave their all during the game and deserved to win the match.

Luxembourg – BaWü 91:40
Luxembourg – Calor 66:39
On day 2, the U14 girls played two games. In the morning they won 91-40 against BaWü and in the second game the girls beat Calor (66-39). The performance was better on the second day of the tournament: the girls defended better and made fewer mistakes in offense. TOn Sunday in the last game, the U14 will play against the Berlin selection.

Luxembourg – Berlin 53:44
On day 3, the girls were able to win their last game against Berlin on Sunday (53-44). They had a hard time for a long time against the bigger players from Berlin, partly because they were less focused and did not implement the game plan. After the break, the team defended better again and won the game through fast breaks and team play.

Conclusion: Even though they were the smallest team, the girls won the 4 games. Nevertheless, the team still has a lot of work to do. Work will continue on this from January onwards. The girls behaved in an exemplary manner, gave 100% and never let their heads down.

Boys:
Game 1 : Luxembourg 57 – 60 Calor (9-7, 12-19, 18-15, 18-19)

The U14 boys began the tournament on a promising note, demonstrating determination and resilience against a physically strong opponent. Both teams exchanged leads throughout the game, showcasing their ability to adapt to the aggressive style of play. The defense worked hard to limit the opponent’s scoring opportunities, keeping the game competitive. However, a lack of efficiency on offense, including a poor shooting percentage, ultimately proved to be the deciding factor, as the team struggled to capitalize on their chances.
Game 2: Luxembourg 30 – 46 Baden-Württemberg (9-18, 6-10, 10-10, 5-8)
In their second game, Luxembourg faced a strong Baden-Württemberg team from Germany. The Germans started fast, taking an 18-9 lead after the first quarter.
Luxembourg’s strong defense kept them in the game, allowing fewer than 10 points per quarter for the rest of the match. However, offensive struggles were a big issue, with the team scoring only 30 points overall. Missed opportunities and turnovers made it difficult to catch up, and the gap couldn’t be closed.
Game 3 : Luxembourg 51 – 70 Alsace (8-20, 18-20, 11-16, 14-14)

In the third game, Luxembourg faced a physically strong team from Alsace. Although the boys matched their intensity, the speed of the French team led to too many easy points, especially in the first quarter. Once Luxembourg adjusted to the pace, we became more competitive. However, it wasn’t enough to close the gap as the game went on.

Game 4 : Luxembourg 38 – 50 Berlin (16-5, 3-14, 7-13, 12-18)

In the final game, the boys faced the tallest team in the tournament. They came out strong, playing at full speed and taking a commanding 16-5 lead by the end of the first quarter. However, their shooting percentage dropped significantly in the second quarter, with the team scoring only 3 points. This allowed Berlin to close the gap and tie the game by halftime. The size difference became a key factor throughout the game, as rebounding struggles gave Berlin multiple second-chance opportunities. These extra possessions ultimately made the difference, helping Berlin secure the win.

Conclusion
The tournament leaves a mixed impression. On the positive side, the team showed a strong aggressive defense and great intensity. The boys played with heart and energy, never giving up despite the challenges. However, on the offensive end, they missed to many good opportunities, which prevenetd them from rewarding themselves for their effort.
Although the team did not manage to secure a victory, they competed on an equal level with their opponents for most of the games—something that hasn’t always been the case in the past. The players have seen that their work and effort is starting to pay off. Now, the focus must remain on practicing with the same intensity to reduce the difference between them and other regions.
A big thank you goes to the physio team, who did an excellent job taking care of the injured players. We also want to express our gratitude to the organizers for a flawlessly executed tournament and their wonderful hospitality.