Greece U18 81 – 53 Austria U18
Europe U18 Championship Division A | 26 July 2026, 21:30 local time

The Greece U18 national team made a powerful statement in their opening game of the Europe U18 Championship Division A, dismantling Austria U18 with a commanding 81–53 victory. From the opening tip, the Hellenic side displayed superior size, ball movement, and defensive intensity, turning the contest into a one-sided affair before the first quarter was even halfway done.

Match Overview

Greece imposed its will early, racing to a 22–10 lead after the first ten minutes. Their frontcourt dominance was evident, with multiple players attacking the offensive glass and converting second-chance opportunities. Austria struggled to find rhythm against the length and agility of the Greek defense, committing turnovers that led to easy fast-break points. By halftime, the margin had ballooned to 42–23.

The second half offered no respite for Austria. Greece continued to execute crisply in the half-court, while their full-court pressure forced additional errors. Austria managed a brief spurt in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 15, but a quick 8–0 run from Greece extinguished any hopes of a comeback. The final quarter was largely academic, with both benches seeing extended minutes.

Key Performers

• Greece U18: The Greek backcourt duo of point guard Dimitrios Papadopoulos (16 points, 7 assists) and shooting guard Yannis Makris (14 points, 4 steals) set the tone on both ends. Forward Nikos Karalis added a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, anchoring the paint.
• Austria U18: Forward Lukas Steiner led Austria with 15 points, showing toughness in the post, but received little support. Guard Thomas Berger chipped in 10 points but struggled against the Greek pressure.

Tactical Story

Greece head coach Georgios Kalogeras employed a switching defense that neutralized Austria’s pick-and-roll offense. Offensively, Greece used high-low actions to exploit mismatches, often finding Karalis at the high post for quick passes inside. Austria’s zone defense was picked apart by crisp perimeter passing and timely cuts. The final shooting percentages told the story: Greece shot 48% from the field and held Austria to just 32%.

Tournament Impact

This win places Greece U18 atop the Group A standings with a +28 point differential, a crucial factor in tie-breakers later in the tournament. Austria, now 0–1, will need to regroup quickly for their next group-stage match against Sweden. The result also sends a clear message to the rest of Division A that Greece is a legitimate contender for the title.

Next up for Greece is a clash with Spain U18 on July 28, while Austria faces a must-win scenario against Sweden to keep their knockout hopes alive.