LEON, Mexico – The 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup finals had two winners, the USA defeating Canada 84-64 for their third straight and sixth overall championship and Canada just being in the final.
This was no walk over despite the end score mirroring the contest last summer. This Canadian team came to play as shown by it’s early wins over traditional medalist round team Australia (5th) and Spain (3rd).
Canada attacked the rim and played physical defense to keep the USA close throughout the first quarter (up 17-16) but fell behind slowly in the 2nd quarter as the Americans went up 11 at halftime on McKenna Wolcizko’s six of her 19 points.
The Canadians cut the USA lead three times to within three points but could never catch up as Jerzy Robinson and Wolcziko took over the third quarter for a 59-51 lead the extended until the final buzzer and the gold. Jordyn Palmer missed her foul shots that prevented her from a double-double (9 points, 12 rebounds). Super 6-1 Canadian guard Agot Akol Makeer had a dub (10pts/10reb), Savannah Swords 15pts, Deniya Prawl 13pts, Jordyn Wheeler 10pts.
TEAM USA CELEBRATES THEIR GOLD MEDAL PERFORMANCE
Despite the loss, this was a huge win for Canada making history getting to its first FIBA World Cup finals and claiming their first World silver medal. Their last gold was in the 2015 U16 Americas when they beat Brazil and the USA took bronze. In the FIBA U17s their only medal was a bronze in 2012. In the FIBA Americas Canada has 6 silver mostly to the USA and their single gold.
CANADA TAKES THE PODIUM FOR THEIR FIRST FIBA WORLD CUP SILVER MEDAL
EURO BRONZE
When you see powerhouse program like Spain and France step on the floor you expect a battle with great play and effort. Unfortunately, this was an ugly game that Spain took from the French and win the bronze 47-39. Usually for these two that’s a halftime score.
Spain trailed 18-14 after the first quarter but hit three 3s to take a 28-24 halftime lead. The ugly came in the third quarter as both teams combined to score only 11 points (Spain 6, France 5). The French continued to mass substitute players as they did against the USA and could never get an offensive flow to get back in the final quarter.
Two superstar players, Spain’s 6-4 post Sara Okeke and France’s 6-2 post Sarah Cisse (10pts, 8reb) both played better in this contest compared to the semifinals performaces. French star 6-2 guard Ainhoa Risacher was held to six points but grabbed 10 rebounds. In the end, the French lost the game to their nemesis and lost the bronze too.
INCREDIBLE SEMIFINALS
This FIBA World Cup final and third place was viewed as cross-boarder battles with the USA facing Canada and France again facing Spain. All four teams met in their respective zone finals last summer. The USA won by 20, France won by four.
Both the USA and Canada almost didn’t make it to the finals after semifinal nailbiters.
The USA got to their eventual gold medal moment after surviving a somewhat determined Euro champion French team in the semifinal overcoming a 16-point deficit.
France jumped out quick getting past the American’s full court press for layups and drives to the basket. This French squad was taller and as athletic the USA. The Americans who usually get a ton of offensive rebounds off their drives were limited to those shots. Everyone in the gym was stunned as the USA trailed after the first quarter 24-14 and held onto a 40-30 halftime score.
The USA team fell behind 50-34 with 6:44 left in the third quarter when France subbed out most of their on-court roster. The Americans took advantage of the changes and clawed back to a short lead and 55 all going into the fourth quarter. The French continued to substitute and were outscored 54-26 in the second half to win by 18 points. Jerzy Robinson led the USA with 29pts / 11 reb and McKenna Woliczko 14/10.
Afterwards there were rumors of the France coach telling his team the night before that he was going to substitute in mass as he didn’t think they would win the semifinal. No wonder the game was a 34-point swing to the American side and give them their shot at the gold again.
The other semifinal was just interesting as a disciplined Spain team was facing an upstart, new-faced Canada team that looked more American or French than prior Canadian teams. This squad avoided their traditional cross bracket semi with the USA by beating Australia in pool play to set up this Spain game.
The experienced Spaniards jumped out quick 20-11 first quarter lead despite losing star post Sara Okeke (4 points) in the first 5:16 of play and only three minutes in the second quarter. Canada took advantage and clicked off 5 points in :47 to cut the deficit to 39-34.
Both teams subbed multiple times with Spain was up 3 at the start of the fourth quarter 57-54. A 60-60 tie lasted for a while before Canada ran off seven points in two minutes to go up 67-60 with 5:21 left to play and never trailed after that. Canada which got balanced scoring down the roster was led by super point guard Agot Akol Makeer with 21 points, 12 rebounds and vet Savannah Swords 16 points.
PLAY IT AGAIN
All three final day 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup games featured contest between the teams that competed in the 2023 FIBA U16 Regional Finals with the USA beating Canada 79-59 in the Americas, Australia beating Japan 80-74 in the Asias and France beating Spain 67-63 in Europeans.
FIFTH PLACE
It’s a shame to come all the way to Mexico and the Worlds to end up playing your constant competitor. The non-medal 5th place game between Australia and Japan was another close battle with the Aussies taking the win, 67-64. Another heartbreaker for Japan as they trailed 56-52 but 6-1 Aussie wing Madison Ryan came in at the 7:20 mark holding a 56-55 lead and ripped off eight points of her game high 25 points in the quarter along with 5-8 Ruby Perkin’s three for all 11 fourth quarter points to hold onto the win. Japan’s 5-3 guard Nanano Hamada had 23pts.
ALL-STAR FIVE
The All-Star Five consists of MVP Jerzy Robinson (USA), Agot Akol Makeer (Canada), Ainoha Risacher (France), Sara Okeke (Spain), McKenna Woliczko (USA).
Agot Akol Makeer, MVP Jerzy Robinson, McKenna Woliczko, Ainoha Riscacher, Sara Okeke (l to r)
MISSING THREE
The three missing out on the All-Star Five were Croatia’s 6-5 center Olivia Vukosa (Christ the King HS, USA) who hit the first 50 in the FIBA performance efficiency valuation category with 31points, 24 rebounds, 6 blocks, 3 steals, 2 assists in their win over Chinese Taipei for 9th place. Their only losses were to the USA and France in pool play and hence their missing bracket play. The second was 6-1 Australian Madison Ryan and the third was New Zealand’s Bailey Flavell.
STATS
Jerzy Robinson 20.9ppg (USA), Olivia Vukosa 19.4 (Croatia), Bailey Flavell 18.9 (New Zealand), Agot Akol Makeer 17.7 (Canada) and Savannah Swords 16.3 (Canada) were the top five scorers.
Olivia Vukusa 15.6 (Croatia), Nicole Ogun 11.3 (Finland), Emma D’Este 9.7 (Italy), McKenna Woliczko 9.6 (USA) and Assan Bagnine Mariko 9.0 (Mali) were the leading five rebounders. Vukosa also lead the blocks category with 2.6, Sara Okeke 2.0 (Spain) and Sitaya Fagan 1.9 (Australia).
YOUTUBE
The USA-France U17 World Cup semi-final game on YouTube had over 43K viewers while the Canada-Spain semi-final has 27K viewers.
ROSTER CHANGES
The USA changed out half its roster with five new players added for the World Cup but then made it four with the addition of Kelsey Andrews during training camp. Being added to the USA were Emilee Skinner, Ivanna Wilson Manyacka, Jordyn Palmer and Alex Eschmeyer.
Spain added three (Elena Casetllanos, Ines Monje, Noelia Freira). France added three with star center Sarah Cisse, Chloe Rousseliere and Alicia Tournebize.
Australia added three in Emilija Dakic, Madison Ryan and Erica Finney. Japan also added five new players: Arisa Ihara, Yuina Sugiura, Yuri Seito, Anna Ishii, Rui Makino.
Canada changed out their guard line and brought in super guard 6-1 Agot Akol Makeer, with Yohana Fami, Brooke McLeod and Emilia Krstevski.
The most impactful additions to the top six teams were in order: Agot Akol Makeer (Canada), Sarah Cisse (Spain), Jordyn Palmer (USA), Madison Ryan (Australia), Yuri Seito (Japan). Another name to remember: Italy’s 6-0 forward Isabel Mohamed Hassen.
(Photos courtesy of FIBA Media)
