In a pulsating contest at the FIBA U18 Women's European Championship Division B, Iceland U18 Women produced a dramatic late surge to edge past Greece U18 Women 78-77 on August 9, 2026. The one-point victory keeps Iceland firmly in the hunt for promotion places, while Greece will rue a series of missed opportunities in a game that swung back and forth until the final possession.

Match Overview

From the opening tip, both sides showed why they entered the tournament with real ambitions. Greece leaned on their size inside and crisp half-court execution, while Iceland countered with relentless perimeter pressure and transition scoring. The lead changed hands more than a dozen times, and neither team managed to establish a double-digit advantage.

Greece looked to have taken control late in the fourth quarter, stringing together defensive stops and pushing the lead to five with under two minutes remaining. However, Iceland's response was immediate — a quick 6-0 run flipped the score, and a composed free-throw shooting display in the final seconds sealed the narrow road win.

Key Moments

• Third-quarter push: Greece opened the second half with a 9-2 run, forcing Iceland to call an early timeout and reset their offensive sets.
• Clutch perimeter shooting: Iceland nailed back-to-back three-pointers in the final three minutes to erase Greece's biggest lead of the fourth quarter.
• Decisive stop: With the score at 78-77 in the final seconds, Iceland forced a difficult contested jumper that rattled out, sparking wild celebrations among the Icelandic bench.

Tactical Story

Greece's game plan revolved around feeding the post and creating high-percentage looks close to the basket. Their forwards consistently won positioning and converted second-chance points, which kept them in the game whenever Iceland's outside shots fell. Iceland, by contrast, spread the floor and used staggered screens to create open looks for their guards. As the game wore on, their willingness to push the pace in transition became a decisive factor, especially when Greece's rotations lagged after made baskets.

Standout Players

• Iceland's backcourt leader: Finished with a game-high 24 points, including three triples in the final quarter, and added five assists.
• Greece's inside presence: Dominated the glass with a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double, anchoring the team's second-half resurgence.

Season and Tournament Impact

This result gives Iceland U18 Women a vital boost in the Division B standings, strengthening their chances of advancing to the next stage with momentum. For Greece, the defeat is a bitter pill to swallow, but the team showed enough quality to suggest they can still bounce back strongly in their remaining group games. In a tightly contested championship, every possession matters — and this one-point thriller proved exactly why the tournament is so highly regarded across European youth basketball.