Latvia U18 basketball team relegated after narrow loss to Austria
Latvia's men's under-18 basketball team lost a decisive European Championship match in Italy, falling 71:73 to Austria and ending 14th, which means relegation from the elite division.
Latvia's U18 men's basketball team has suffered a painful setback at the European Championship in Italy. In the match for 13th place, Sandis Buškevics' side put up a fight but went down 71:73 to their Austrian counterparts. The narrow defeat leaves Latvia in 14th place overall and costs the team its place in the top division.
Relegation to the First Division
With the loss, the U18 squad will be forced to compete in the First Division in the coming years. Although the game was closely contested and the margin was minimal, Austria held on to secure the result. Latvia now faces the task of climbing back to the elite tier through the lower division.
Tournament outcome
The final standings reflect a frustrating campaign for the young Latvian team. Despite competitive performances, the decisive placement matches did not go their way. The 14th-place finish marks a significant step down, and the team must now regroup and aim for promotion in future tournaments.
