A new edition of the Nordic Championships started yesterday in Solna, Stockolm (Sweden). The U-16 and U-18 national of five countries will fight till Sunday for the titles: Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Denmark. The nordic market is hot, and many european teams follow the prospects who are shining there. The paper of swedish Jonas Jerebko ('87) this year with Detroit Pistons (9.3 points and 6.0 rebounds) feeds this interest. Let's check what happened yesterday, with great performances of icelandic Haukur Palsson ('92), swedish Marcus Eriksson ('93) and danish Kevin Larsen ('93), Rasmus Larsen ('94) and Peter Moeller ('94).
About U-18 tournament. Icelandic forward Haukur Palsson ('92), committed to Maryland (NCAA), made the best individual show of this first day. The prospect, who has played this season with Montverde Academy, in Florida (USA), poured 35 points (8/12 twos, 5/12 threes and 4/5 ft), pulled down 7 rebounds and had 5 steals, but his team lost in the overtime against Denmark (74-82). His teammate Kristofer Acox ('93) added 16 points (7/10 FG), 9 rebounds and 4 steals. Denmark was led by 2.03 forward Kevin Larsen ('93), who nailed 23 points (10/18 twos), grabbed 8 rebounds and distributed 3 assists. Guard Soren Dossing ('92) shined behind the arc: 21 with 5/9 threes.
In the other U-18 game Sweden beat Norway easy (49-69) with Marcus Eriksson ('93) finishing as the best scorer of the winners with 17 and 5/9 behind the arc in only 16 minutes. Forward Viktor Gaddefors ('92) poured 13 in 15'. Swedish squad is the favorite, with talented players like William Magarity ('93) and Jonathan Person ('93). Ar norwegian side Aly Hudgins ('93) scored 10 with 6 rebounds in only 15 minutes.
In the U-16 competition Denmark started strong, crashing Finland (98-67). Peter Moeller ('94) and Rasmus Larsen ('94) were unstoppable, with the guard nailing 23 and grabbing 8 rebounds and the forward pouring 17 and pulling down 10 boards also. Larsen was tested this season by DKV Joventut (ACB) in a tournament, showing great potential. At finish squad guard Severi Liljeberg ('94) was the only one who nailed more than nine points: 16 with 4/6 threes.
In the other game Sweden win Norway (57-69). Papy Ndiaye ('94) led the winners with 14 points, 4 assists and 4 steals, while Nicholas Spires ('94) finished as the best valorated: 9 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Espen Fjaerestad ('94) didn't rest for norwegians, with 15 points and 2/4 threes.
