CHEKHOV, Russia – It was USA Basketball’s last attempt to win gold this summer after going Silver (u18 3X3), Bronze (u16s), Gold (World University Games), Silver (PanAm Games) and finally Gold again after beating a very strong, physically tough and young Russia squad 78-70 to win their sixth consecutive gold medal.
USA Coach Dawn Staley discusses the impact of winning the Gold Medal at the U19s against Russia.
The USA scored as Aja Wilson attacked the basket for two but Russia’s captain Daria Kolosovskaia hit Russia’s first 7 points in the quarter and stars 6-4 Raisa Musina (8 points) and 6-4 Maria Vadeeva (4 reb) efforts gave Russia a 21-19 first quarter lead. The Russians jumped out 27-19 until the USA responded to get back 29-30
USA center Aja Wilson discusses they physicality of the Russian front line of players.
With 2:22 left in second Wilson drew Kolosovskaia’s third foul but surprisingly returned for the waning second of the second quarter. At 1:16 USA finally got short lead 35-34 in Auzra Steven’s foul shots in a Vadeeva foul for her third and the USA started to roll inside and get up 39-34 at half.
It was obvious in the third quarter that the USA needed to keep the half-court press on the Russians. A series of three’s from Musina and two from spectacular point guard Kseniia Levchenko prevented the USA from pulling away. Russia got within one point (53-51, 3:38 and 54-53, 1:40) but two Chatrice White foul shots (2:35) and a huge three with :04 left gave the USA a 57-53 lead.
The fourth quarter was a continuation of the game strategy of Head Coach Dawn Staley and assistant’s Jeff Walz (Louisville) and Kim Barnes-Arico (Michigan) of rotating full court pressure on Levchenko with Destiny Slocum (HS), Crystal Dangerfield (HS-UConn) and Gabbi Ortiz (Oklahoma) and making the Russians run the floor. It was apparent that they were tired and the long distance these in the third were not here in the fourth where Wilson went back to work getting 8 more of her USA record breaking 30 points Mariya Moore’s big three (9:21) opened a 7 point lead 60-53 as Russia tried to climb back, their best chance at 4:26 on a Musina bucket (68-65) but Team USA ran off 10 straight to blow open the game, 75-65, with 2:48 left. It was all over but the celebration before a packed house of home fans.
USA Coach Dawn Staley talks about her South Carolina player Aja Wilson after she is named the FIBA u19s MVP
Aja Wilson’s 30 points (4-10-8-8) breaks a record of 28 held by three other former USA Basketball players in the u19 Division: Jantel Lavender (2007), Candace Wiggins (2005) and Alana Beard (2001). Following Wilson’s lead were superior performances by Azura Stevens (18 pts, 16 in first half), Napheesa Collier (10 pts, 10 reb, 6 steals) and Chatrice White’s 10 pts off the bench.
USA center Aja Wilson talks about her experience after winning the Gold Medal and the MVP award at the FIBA u19s.
This was the USA’s seventh gold medal, sixth in a row in since 2005 when UConn coach Geno Auriemma took Bronze in 2001.
ALL TOURNAMENT: MVP Aja Wilson USA, Napheesa Collier USA, Maria Vadeeva, Daria Kolosovskaia Russia, Alana Smith, Australia
USA center Aja Wilson discusses talks about the Russian fans and atmosphere of the championship game against Russia.
FINAL FINISHES: The bronze game was a battle between two storied programs of women’s youth basketball Australia and Spain. Both teams arrived at this game playing poorly in the semifinals (Australia losing to Russia / Spain to the USA) in very physical games but turned a sloppy game into an entertaining 69-62 Australia win.
The Aussies took to their inside strength that didn’t keep Russia’s bigs in check by rolling to a fast 29-13 first quarter lead. Spain couldn’t hit a shot (0-5) from stars Laura Quevedo (0 pts.) and Angela Salvadores (2 pts) in the first quarter but got back to within 43-33 by halftime. Spain cut an 18 pt deficit and got to within 5 points a few times in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter but couldn’t hit a critical shot. Aussie guard Tahlia Tupaea’s (12 pts) 3-point shot with 3:59 opened their lead again to 62-54 and 6-4 post Alana Smith’s (20 pts, 16 reb) reverse layup with 1:29 was the decider (64-58). Spain’s Salvadores ended with 22 and Quevedo with 15 points but it was too much (35 pts in last three quaters) too late.
In the contest for 5th place, it took France three quarters to finally pull away from neighbor Belgium 53-40 for the win. It was a very boring, back-and-forth game through each quarter 10-8 / 18-18 / 29-24 until the last one when France’s guard Victoria Majekodunmi’s 7 points (17 pts.) made the difference and opened the game beyond Belgium’s reach and 6th place.
China made quick work in Canada in the 7th place game dominating from the start, leading 25-12 after one quarter and 42-19 at halftime. The rest of the game was just finishing and collecting a Jinbo Xing finished with a team high 11 points. Bridget Carlton was Canada’s only double-digit scorer with 12.
In the 9th-10th place bracket Netherlands beat Brazil 83-72 and in the 11th-12th placement game Serbia beat Mali 58-46. Argentina, Korea, Chinese Taipei and Egypt finished out of the rankings.
FINAL U19 THOUGHTS: It was considered a weak event where the best games were from the expected group of USA, Russia, Australia and Spain. This was the same thought from event experts about the 2014 u17 Worlds last summer. Not great competition until the final rounds. The u19 Championship game did not disappoint nor did the bronze game after a sloppy start for Spain. The Chekhov facility was excellent with great people, views, good crowds for the Russia games and the best Media and information setup yet at this level. While Moscow was a great place, the traffic to and from the gym anywhere outside of Chekhov is now legend. Even on a Sunday evening close to midnight the roads are packed with cars heading back from the far suburbs to inside the Moscow ring. If you didn’t find time to watch the game live, this one is worth watching at home. Don’t forget the Russian names as they will be factors in the future for any USA competitions moving on.
USA center Aja Wilson speak about her takeways from the 2015 FIBA u19 Championships at MVP.
