PUEBLA, MEX – It was the greatest game in FIBA Americas youth basketball history and perfect happenstance it happened to be the Gold Medal final as Canada prevailed over Brazil 72-71 in an overtime thriller to take the u16 championship.
This game had everything in it. Drama, comebacks, holdons, amazing three-point shots. rebouding, emotion, a loud crowd and star power.
It was a back and forth battle as Brazil pushed from behind multiple times ending the first quarter tied, down 6 at halftime and trailing11 halfway through the third quarter standing at minus 7 by the start of the 4th period The last 10 minutes of regulation was to become a roller-coaster of daredevil shots and relentless rebounding.
Brazil came out firing hitting long distance threes and acrobatic shots to cut their deficit from 10 to 6 to 3 with 7:12 left in the game. From there on out it was a back and fourth battle with Brazil pulled tiein the game at 51 with 5:40 remaining. Another Izabela Leite 3-point bomb with 4:27 left in the gave Brazil their first lead since the first quarter, 54-43 with 4:27 to go. Brazil kept taking shots and on defense couldn’t keep Canada off the boards, fouling them, sending them to the line throughout the final three minutes. Sarah Donovan put Canada up by three at 61-60 with a minute left hitting a foul shot. Both teams missed shots and squandered possessions in the final second before Leite hit an amazing 3-point bomb to force overtime after a Canada foul shot at 63 all.
Canadian Coach Caroline Clarke discusses Brazil’s play and their comeback to force overtime
The overtime was same as the closing minutes of regulation with Canada hitting the boards, getting second shots and fouls and being forced to the line. Canada had its biggest lead and looked like it was going to pull away with 2:06 with at 69-64. More missed shots (Brazil missed two at the :27 mark) and foul shots had Canadian MVP Alyssa Jerome at the line putting Canada up 71-68 with :23.7 left. Canada got a bucket with :15.2 for a 72-68 lead but Liete again hit an amazing shot to push the game back to one with :04.2 left. Canada missed a free throw at :02.9 but grabbed the decisive rebound to hold onto the victory. It was an amazing single person effort by Brazilian superstar Izabella Liete who finished with 32 points, shot 7-17 from the three to offset a huge team game by Canada which outrebounded Brazil 74-50.
Coach Clark reflects on the impact of the win on the Canadian Women’s Basketball program and how many other events Canada is involved in this year
Brazil has nothing to be ashamed of as both teams qualified for the 2016 U17 FIBA World Championships at a site to be determined. These are up for bid and the draw will take place on Jan. 1, 2016 at FIBA Headquarters in Switzerland.
The bronze medal game had an unfamiliar ring to it as the usually dominate USA, after losing to Brazil the night before in a game closer than the final 72-63 score indicated, faced Mexico again, this time for a medal. Unlike their first meeting earlier, an 85-44 US win, this one was different from the start. The USA went against form coming out scoring and overpowering a smaller but still competitive Mexico team in the first quarter, going up 22-6. Far better than the 16-10 score after one in the earlier contest. After the stinging defeat, it was apparent this team was prepared to bounce back and play harder.
American Coach Dori Oldaker discusses the quick start for this game unlike their other four games.
Working with a lead and a motivated group, Coach Oldaker was able to change lineups and sub with more frequency ultimately getting everyone into the flow. Ten of the players produced no less than five points and no one finished with more than 11 (Alexis Morris 11, Jade Williams 11, Destiny Littleton 10, Andra Espinosa-Hunter 10) to showcase team balance. Guard Desiree Caldwell got 12 rebounds as did Williams. Lauryn Miller and Valencia Myers did not play due to physical ailments. The USA forced 28 turnovers from Mexico and outrebounded them 71-49 but was still only 43% from the foul line. It was still good to get a medal and know they qualified for the FIBA U17 Worlds following this and despite their Brazil loss.
Coach Oldaker compares the second performance against Mexico to the earlier pool game
After the game the American team had to sit and wait another two-plus hours for the medal ceremony and got to witness the Brazil-Canada overtime battle. These two opponents are not going away. Right now, they are the equal to the USA regardless of how disrespectful a lot of American fans back home would want to be. In the FIBA game you get to see the same players each year regardless of breaks for college. When you become a pro or an Olympian you’ve seen these same players every step along the way. The France team which lost today to Serbia for the FIBA Europe Women’s Championship are the same players who played Candace Parker in France when she was a U16 and with her in the pros, both WNBA and in Europe. This U16 USA team will need to retool, get serious and learn from a dissapointing experience.
Oldaker talks elaborates on the lessons learned and takeaways for her team players from this experience
The USA team players get to return home and face the questions from everyone back home about their play and obvious disappointment. The first answer needs to be that the competition has arrived and everyone, including us, has a year to prepare for the FIBA U17 Worlds.
For Canada, it’s a different tale as they are hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup now (with the USA still playing), the PAN-AM Games in Toronto in a few weeks and the FIBA Americas Women’s Championships to see who qualifies for the 2016 Rio Olympics The USA Women’s National Team does not have to play in that due to their victory in 2012 London. The USA will have a squad in Toronto for the PAN AMs and both Canada and the USA will field teams later this month for the U19s in Moscow. Regardless of all the events for Canadians, this team is the unforeseen bright spot for Canadian women’s sports.
Canadian Coach Caroline Clarke talks about how fun it is for this team to win and be the stars of the moment in Canada
There was no all-star selection from this event that I was aware of it but there was an MVP for the tournament which was given to Canada’s Jerome who had 17 points and 12 rounds in the Gold Medal game.
Overall the shooting in this tournament from all teams, especially from the foul line, was not high quality despite the surprising upgrade in team talent from top to bottom.
The star of this tournament was no one else but Brazilian star Izabela Leite who has Nicoletti on her jersey which the host Mexico fans chanted during the game and afterward during the award ceremonies.
My personal “courtside” all-star team would consist of the following:
MOP – Brazil / Izabela Nicoletti Leite
Canada / Alyssa Jerome
Canada / Hailey Brown
Cuba / Eli Armentero
Canada / Shaina Pellington
Honduras / Danna Jackson
Venezuela / Luisanny Zapata
Cuba / Daymaris Millet
Brazil / Obalunanma Ugwu
Cuba captured 5th place with a 68-54 win over Argentina in a game that was close thoughout the first half. Venezuela captured 7th place in another battle of smaller teams squeaking past Honduras 66-64.
