Greece’s U/19 basketball team finished its warm-up tour of Australia with a strong win over France, trouncing them 84-65 in a one-sided match at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on Sunday.

The previous night, the Greeks went down to the Australian Emus by 22 points, 96-74, while on the opening night of the Four Nations Tournament, Greece easily accounted for Spain, winning 95-71.

The tournament was a warm up for the four sides ahead of this weeks World Championships which commence in Auckland on Thursday.

Greece 95 – Spain 71

Nikolaos Pappas to scored for Greece with 17 points, which included two 3-pointers and six from nine attempted field goals in a ‘man of the match’ performance.

Kostantinos Sloukas scored 16 while Vladimir Giankovits got 15 points in a match Greece dominated from beginning to end.

Greece took the early initiative though the match looked like it would finish closer than it actually ended.

Spurred on by a very vocal group of fans court-side, the young Greek side appeared to relish playing before an enthusiastic crowd.

Greece led by 9 points at the end of the first period, but it was the third period which saw Greece take complete control.

Greece scored 34 points in the ten minute period, with an impressively accurate 68.8 field goal percentage.

The young guns of Greece closed out the match with another dominant period, eventually winning by 24 points.

Australia 96 – Greece 74

The match that was anticipated to be the closest and most intriguing of the tournament ultimately appeared to be anything but, as the Emus thrashed Greece by 22 points before a large and vocal crowd.

Brock Motum top scored for the Emus with a game-high 23 points, including an impressive 83.3 field goal percentage as the big power forward dominated the paint, grabbing 10 rebounds in the process.

Pappas top scored again for Greece with 18 points, including two three pointers.

Greece lacked its offensive creativity and the ball handlers looked uncomfortable against the Australian defence.

Accuracy also let down Greece as the side barely shot over 20 per cent from the perimeter. The very large section of Greek fans never stopped cheering for their side, with a colourful and vibrant atmosphere.

Greece 95 – France 71

The final warm up match for Greece ahead of this week’s world Championship in Auckland will give the side confidence as they dominated against a very good French side.

Greece got off to an ideal start, leading at the first break 24-12, thanks to three 3-pointers and a dominant rebounding display.

Giankovits had a big second quarter, grabbing 11 points (including two 3-pointers) as Greece appeared to put the game out of France’s reach.

Alarmingly, Greece big man Zisis Sarikopoulos went down clutching his left knee, which was immediately treated by the Greek physicians.

By half time, Greece had established a commanding 50-33 lead, but the match changed completely in the third period.

France burst out of the blocks, claiming three turnovers and scoring a succession of quick baskets as they cut back Greece’s 17 point lead.

Utilising the speed of its front court and a half-court press, France forced Greece into numerous turnovers, restricting them to just two points in the opening five minutes of the period.

But Kostantinos Sloukas got a huge three point play, which restored Greece’s lead to eight points.

The play effectively shut down France’s third quarter progress, as the double digit lead was quickly restored.

By the fourth period, the result was elementary. Another big three point play, this time by Pappas, had the crowd in raptures as the Greek lead hit 26 points.

Some of the reserve players were given an opportunity to show their skills, and at one stage, in the final five minutes of the final period, the five Greek players on the court had only 2 points between them.

Ultimately, Greece ran out easy winners, defeating France by 19 points, with Pappas again top scoring for Greece with 17 points. Greece also dominated the rebounds, 41-28.

The tournament was a great opportunity of the sports-crazed Greek-Australian public to pay tribute to both the Greek and Australian sides ahead of the World Championships in Auckland this week.

Greece plays Angola on Thursday in the opening match of Group A.