Game-related statistics that discriminate between winning and losing u-17 men's and women's basketball teams

<p style="text-align: justify;">The purpose of the present study was to compare game-related statistics between men's and women's under-17 (U-17) basketball teams and to identify game-related statistics that discriminate between winning and losing teams for both sexes. Games with a final score difference greater than 30 points were excluded from the analysis, so the final sample consisted of 196 games (109 men's and 87 women's games) from the 2022/2023 season of the Triglav Cadet League of Serbia. The following game-related statistics were gathered from the official box scores of the Basketball Federation of Serbia: 2- and 3-point field-goals (successful and unsuccessful), free throws (successful and unsuccessful), defensive and offensive rebounds, assists, steals, turnovers, blocks (committed and received), and fouls (committed and received). Men's teams had significantly better values than women's teams in successful and unsuccessful 2-point field-goals, successful 3-point field-goals, successful and unsuccessful free throws, assists, and turnovers. Women's teams had statistically better values than men's teams in unsuccessful 3-point field-goals, offensive rebounds, steals, and committed fouls. The discriminant factors between winning and losing teams in close games, were successful 2-point field-goals, defensive rebounds and assists for both sexes, and offensive rebounds for men's teams. In balanced games, discriminant factors were assists for both sexes and successful 2-point field-goals for women's teams. In unbalanced games, discriminant factors were assists for both sexes, defensive rebounds for men's teams, and successful 2-point field-goals for women's teams. These findings suggest that there are notable differences in game-related statistics for U-17 men's and women's basketball teams.</p>