Bosnia and Herzegovina U18 Triumphs Over North Macedonia U18 in Division B Opener

The Bosnia and Herzegovina U18 national team began their Europe U18 Championship Division B campaign with a hard-fought 86-75 victory over North Macedonia U18 on July 26, 2026. In a contest that showcased both the promise and the competitive edge of young European talent, Bosnia’s disciplined offense and timely defensive stops proved decisive in the second half.

Match Overview

From the opening tip, Bosnia and Herzegovina set the tempo with aggressive drives to the basket and crisp perimeter passing. They established an early lead, capitalizing on a balanced attack that saw three players reach double figures by halftime. North Macedonia, however, refused to back down. Fueled by a vocal home crowd and quick transition baskets, they trimmed the deficit to just four points late in the third quarter. Bosnia responded with a 12-2 run spanning the third and fourth quarters, building a cushion they never relinquished.

Key Moments

• First-quarter surge: Bosnia jumped out to a 22-15 lead behind three consecutive three-pointers from their starting guards.
• North Macedonia’s third-quarter rally: A 10-0 run early in the third period, sparked by fast-break layups and a steal-and-score, pulled North Macedonia within 55-51.
• Bosnia’s decisive push: With the score 63-59 in the fourth, Bosnia’s bench provided a spark—two quick buckets and a block on the defensive end extended the lead back to double digits.
• Free-throw clinic: Bosnia converted 18 of 22 free throws in the final six minutes to ice the game.

Standout Players

For Bosnia and Herzegovina, forward Marko Petrović led all scorers with 22 points and added 8 rebounds, showing versatility in the post and facing up from mid-range. Point guard Adnan Kovačević orchestrated the offense with 14 points and 7 assists, often breaking the North Macedonian press with smart outlet passes. On the North Macedonia side, center Dimitrija Nikolovski had a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds, battling inside against Bosnia’s bigger frontline. Guard Filip Stojanovski chipped in 16 points but struggled with foul trouble in the second half.

Tournament Context

This opening result places Bosnia and Herzegovina U18 in a strong early position in Division B pool play, where every win is vital for promotion to the top tier. For North Macedonia, the narrow margin against a quality opponent shows they can be competitive, but they will need to tighten their defensive rotations and manage fouls better as the tournament progresses. Both teams are set to face additional group-stage opponents in the coming days, with the top finishers advancing to the knockout rounds.

The victory also highlighted Bosnia’s depth—nine players entered the scoring column, and their bench outscored North Macedonia’s reserves 28–14. As the tournament unfolds, Bosnia’s balanced attack could make them a tough matchup for any team in Division B.