Basketball On The Internet.

THE Sapphires tonight will battle France for a chance to finish as high as fifth at the FIBA World Under-17 Championship in the Czech Republic.

Beaten 61-50 by the hosts earlier today has knocked Australia back into the 5-8 classification but a win tonight would lead to the fifth place playoff against the Canada-Japan match winner.

Australia was led by Tahlia Tupaea’s 14 points, but she also had four boards, three assists and three steals.

Chloe Bibby paired nine points with seven rebounds, Alexandra Sharp with seven and 10.

Anneli Maley again reinforced she is the best rebounder in the Maley family, with an equal-game-high 10.

The Sapphires jumped out to lead 16-13 at the first break, endeavouring to take the partisan home crowd out of it.

But by halftime the Czechs had it tied at 25-25 and their 27-15 third period set up the Czech-mate for Australia.

The Czechs will face Spain in one semi final while the USA takes on Hungary in the other and needs to be well-prepared for the Magyars, especially Dorottya Nagy. (Just sayin’)

Australia is 4-1 in the tournament.