Lithuania guard Aurime Rinkeviciute was named Most Valuable Player of the U18 European Championship for Women after leading her team all the way to the gold medal with a 63-57 win over Russia in Sunday's final.

The 1.79m guard saved her best for last by scoring a game-high 27 points - her best offensive output in the tournament - and added eight rebounds and four assists as Lithuania won their first ever U18 competition.

The Czech Republic held off a resurgent French side in the second half to edge them out 70-61 and take third place at the U18 European Championship for Women.

Afterwards, Czech head coach Romana Ptackova expressed her delight at the team's performance and their ability to focus on the game after a tough loss to Russia in the semi-finals.

The Slovak Republic finished the U18 European Championship for Women on a high note, crushing Poland 76-46 to take seventh place, much to the delight of their home fans.

The hosts jumped out to a 15-7 lead after the first quarter and were in command at the half, up 15 on a score of 37-22. They  were able to cruise to victory in the second half as Klaudia Lukacovicova had an impressive stats line with game-highs of 25 points and 23 rebounds and Veronika Cernakova added 24 for the home side. Klaudia Sosnowska and Olivia Tomialowicz had 12 and 11 points respectively, but shot a combined nine for 32 from the field.

Spain held off a furious third quarter comeback by Serbia to beat them 69-64 and thereby finish fifth at the U18 European Championship for Women.

In the tournament's second re-match of last year's final - Spain beat Serbia 76-64 on Tuesday in the Qualifying Round - the Spaniards once again toppled the 2007 champions to clinch the fifth and final berth for next year's U19 World Championship for Women.

Lithuania reached their first ever U18 European Championship for Women final by beating France 68-45 in their semi-final to set up a showdown with Russia on Sunday.

The Lithuanians extended their unbeaten run in the tournament (7-0) and are now just one win away from claiming their maiden title at this level since the country became the first Soviet state to declare its independence from the Soviet Union in 1990.

France will look to bounce back from their most lopsided defeat of the tournament to finish third in the U18 European Championship for Women on Sunday.

In what was arguably their worst - and only their second - defeat of the tournament, the French fell behind early on and appeared to be a shadow of their former dominant/confident selves as they were humbled 68-45 by Lithuania, the last undefeated team in the competition.

Russia will return to the final of the U18 European Championship for Women for the first time since 2004 after edging out the Czech Republic 62-60.

Tatiana Petrushina coolly sank two free-throws with 12 seconds left to play to break a 60-all tie and propel Olga Shuneykina's side to Sunday's decider.

Lithuania raced to a 20-3 first quarter lead and never looked back as they routed France 68-45 to reach their first ever final at the U18 European Championship for Women.

Afterwards, assistant coach Dalius Ubartas talked about the keys to victory for his team.

Spain needed a near flawless fourth-quarter display to shake off Poland 77-62 and book their place for Sunday's 5th-6th place game in the U18 European Championship for Women.

Trailing 48-44 to start the final quarter, last year's runners up used some of their effective pressure defense and dead-eye shooting by the pair of Cristina Ouvina and Alba Garcia as they went on a 25-3 run that put them comfortably ahead 69-51.

Defending champions Serbia beat the Slovak Republic 68-67 to earn their place in Sunday's 5th-6th place game in the U18 European Championship for Women.

Tina Jovanovic hit a pair of free-throws with five seconds left to play and the hosts couldn't get a decent shot as the clock ran out.

If all coaches could clearly and concisely express what their intentions, hopes and expectations are as well as Gregory Halin does, basketball would be far simpler for a lot of players.

The French head coach, who last year led the national team to the U16 title in Latvia, has a credo he abides by.