Two wins in two days: Golnoor youth beat Andisheh Shahrekord 95-52
Sanandaj, 6 and 7 Aban. Golnoor's young Caracals came through the first leg of their national youth league group with two wins: 78-62 on Wednesday against hosts Khane Basketball Kordestan, then 95-52 on Thursday against Andisheh Shahrekord.
Game one: beating the host in their own hall
The opener was played on Wednesday 6 Aban at 16:00 in Sanandaj, and Golnoor won 78-62 while the home crowd of Khane Basketball Kordestan cheered their own team. A 16-point win in the first competitive game of the season was a steady start.
Game two: 95 points and a 43-point margin
The next afternoon, Thursday 7 Aban at 15:00, Andisheh Shahrekord were the opponents and the game finished 95-52. Golnoor scored 95, more than in the first game, and gave up only 52. The 43-point margin was the wider of the two and took the combined margin to 59 points.
Three teams, two games, top of the group
Golnoor's group has three teams, and the first leg ended with these two games. With two wins from two, the young Caracals finished the first leg top of the group. Iran's league organisation will announce the date and venue of the return leg.
A league of 51 teams and 306 games
The boys' youth league is one of the busiest age-group competitions in Iran this season: the league organisation has announced 51 teams and 306 games at this level. In the official draw, the first division has 24 teams in eight groups of three and the second has 27 teams in eight groups of three and four, which adds up to the announced 51. The boys' youth league began on 6 Aban, the same day Golnoor played its opener in Sanandaj.
Bench and squad
Alireza Aghili is the head coach of Golnoor's youth team, working with technical director Alireza Najafi, team manager Ali Yedi, coach Mehrshad Tizro and fitness coach Mohammad Hajipour.
The squad named before the trip to Sanandaj: Kiarsh Najafi, Amir Ali Parand, Mani Mazouchian, Ramtin Davi, Mohammad Javad Khodabandeh, Bardia Norouzi, Pouria Omid, Mehdi Mehrabi, Parham Navai, Masoud Mouzani, Aryan Saadati, Shahab Najafi, Aria Valikhani and Ramtin Halakouei.
Next step
For Golnoor these two wins continue the path the club has followed in its youth setup: developing players from the academy towards the senior team. The return leg is still to come, with the league organisation to set the date and venue.