The Montenegrin junior national basketball team has been eliminated from the semifinals of the European Championship B Division taking place in Romania.

In a quarterfinal match held last night in Pitesti, the Montenegrin players faced defeat against Estonia, with a final score of 79:74.

Montenegro demonstrated a commendable effort in the second half but fell just short of achieving a complete comeback.

Estonia established a dominant presence right from the start, controlling the game’s pace in the first quarter.

The Estonian team, effective in their shooting and speedy in transitions, began the match with a flurry of points, ending the opening period with a strong 27:12 lead.

The Montenegrin side struggled to find offensive solutions, and disorganization further hindered their efforts to close the gap.

As the second quarter unfolded, Montenegro sought to gain momentum and chip away at the deficit. However, Estonia maintained disciplined play on both ends of the court.

At halftime, the score reflected a significant gap, with Estonia ahead 50:30.

The third quarter, however, brought a renewed energy for Montenegro.

The national team displayed competitive spirit, operating with better organization and determination.

Guided by the outstanding Vuk Ivelja and Danilo Nikezić, they fought back vigorously, narrowing the gap with a scoring spree.

Montenegro dominated that period 25:8, entering the final quarter just three points behind at 58:55.

The last ten minutes were fiercely contested.

With six minutes remaining, Montenegro nearly completed the comeback, closing it to 63:62, but Estonia quickly responded with a run of their own to extend the lead by five.

Even as Montenegro held a tight score of 74:70 with a minute and a half left, lapses in concentration and execution on crucial plays allowed Estonia to secure the victory, finishing with a score of 79:74.

Oliver Kulamae led Estonia in scoring with 22 points, followed closely by Kaur Toman with 20 points.

On the Montenegrin side, Vuk Ivelja was the standout performer with 17 points, while Danilo Nkezić and Đorđe Gulić contributed with 16 points each.

Montenegro will continue its campaign in the tournament, now competing for fifth to eighth place.

The next challenge for the Montenegrin players will be against the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina today at 14:30.

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