To say my first trip to a USAB event was bittersweet would be an understatement. Many of you may not be aware, but one of my high school players, Tori McCoy, actually made the squad back in May. It was a proud moment and a great memory for her family and our program. When we arrived back home after tryouts, her teammates and family were there to welcome and congratulate her at the airport. Unfortunately, after returning to Colorado Springs to train with the team just a few weeks later Tori was forced to withdraw due to recurring symptoms from the concussion she suffered during the team trials.
Obviously, I had already booked tickets for my wife, and myself, along with my parents to join us down in Cancun, Mexico. All of us hoped to surprise and support her and Team USA as they represented our country.
So, while I hoped to be sitting in a gym in Mexico cheering on one of my own girls, I am instead getting my first taste of FIBA basketball in person watching USAB march through the FIBA Americas U16 Championship for Women.
My flight didn’t arrive in time to catch this first round game, but it seems Asia Durr didn’t feel any jet lag pouring in 20 points while every player got into the scoring column. The USA’s pressure defenses apparently were far too much for Brazil.
In game two you could hear Coach Sue Phillips in game two preaching “inside-out” basketball, yet due to Argentina’s lack of pressure on defense it was easy for our girls to become complacent and just shoot the easy perimeter shots outside the arc with little contesting from their opponents. Breaking the record for 3-point shots attempted in a game most likely wasn’t the game plan going in, but USA continued to want to shoot it from the outside racking up a new standard of 31 attempts. Fortunately they were able to connect on 12 of those (40%) in the 70 point 98 – 28 win. When you see an opponent pumping her fist after a single made free throw, you pretty much know the opposition had little to celebrate.
The second half saw the USA focus and execute rather than settling which certainly had to keep the coaching staff much happier. As the lead was extended you could see the body language of our players change. No doubt, it’s a challenge staying motivated every possession when you’ve scored five time as many points as your opponent, but still…you’re wearing red, white and blue. There was an air of boredom from the team up until we were knocking on the door of 100 points and the intensity picked back up. In reality, had they played with that passion from the tip they would have hit the century mark midway through the second half.
Coaching Team USA is a challenge in and of itself trying to combine and maximize the strengths of each and every roster member. One reality in Mexico was the fact established, high caliber athletes were playing “garbage time” with a lead of over 50 points for one of the few times in their young careers. Keeping them focused and sharp throughout the entire game is no easy task for the person leading this group.
I stuck around and caught a little bit of the Mexico/Venezuela game. Mexico won the warm-ups and after watching the beginning of the first quarter, it appeared that maybe they had two or three mid-major level prospects. Explosiveness and physicality would be a challenge for them, but their skills sets warrant having a chance with them still having a couple more years to develop. Venezuela never looked comfortable as a whole while controlling the basketball. One guard was active with a solid perimeter shot and some players were gifted physically, but their skills were not remotely the caliber of many of our players back home.
After three quarters of the USA – Costa Rica match up I began wondering when the last time was that I sat through an entire lopsided game. Having scheduled our cab to pick us up following the game we were treated to what appeared to be a glorified CYO squad trying to compete with our young women as they locked up the number one seed in their pool. A 35 – 4 first quarter set the tone for the 106 – 19 final margin with the USA shooting over 50% from the floor and 45% from long range. The Costa Rican squad utilized a low pressure zone which afforded Katie Lou Samuelson and Arike Ogunbowale to combine for 7 of 11 from three point distance all by themselves. (That’s 21 points to Costa Rica’s team total of 19 for the game!)
I stuck around and watched Puerto Rico for a little bit as they faced Venezuela. This competition solidified my thoughts on the Venezuelan players, but Puerto Rico did have some prospects. At least three or four appear to be division I low major to lower level with a couple more years to develop their games. The challenge for them is that we have so many players in the States of similar caliber. As a recruiter you would compete with less competition pursuing some of these players should they happen to meet NCAA eligibility requirements.
Knowing the USA – Mexico semifinal would most likely not be a close game, I chose to spend some much needed sun time to burn off the ‘gym rot’ (my pet name for being pasty white from being in a gym so long with USJN events and my own high school team). The White and blue rolled 101 – 29 while I cornered the market on the “red” getting burnt to a crisp.
The final opponent standing between the USA and Gold would be Canada. During my coaching days, I was a part of a few different staffs that signed ten Canadians over a span of five years from Vancouver to Toronto to Calgary to Montreal. In my experience I found Canadian basketball at the National team level to be at the division I level throughout the roster with a sprinkling of BCS level prospects. Leaving the Canadians alone on the catch is an invitation to a problem but Team USA should be able to finish off their mission on the basis of depth of talent alone with BCS talent at every spot on their roster.
Delayed by a cab, ride we walked in to a one point game with three minutes left in the first period. The environment was finally what you would expect with an enthusiastic crowed including a large contingent from the Great White North. This was the first time that Team USA demonstrated any level of uneasiness in their play. Whether it was because this was the championship, the increased number of spectators, or just the fact that this opponent had a team full of Division I level prospects that could challenge them, something had the USA off of its rhythm. Of course it may well be simply that the Canadians were the first opponent to grasp what their offensive opportunities might be.
A 27 all standoff at the half may have had the folks in Vegas getting nervous. After only 5 minutes in the locker room Coach Phillip’s sent them back out to get some extra warm-up time. Additionally, sometime during the break, she and her staff made the decision to stay with their starting five for the quarter (with only one substitution Arike Ogunbowale for Sabrina Ionescu), and it paid off.
The ensuing 31 – 7 third quarter removed any doubt about the dominance of the United State and began the last period count down to the top of the medal stand. Tournament MVP Asia Durr had a 12 – 0 run of her own in the decisive stanza on her way to a game high 26. Katie Lou Samuelson added 24 in the final highlighted by a ultra-impressive 8 for 8 effort from three point range. The Canadians entered the game undefeated before ultimately falling 92 – 48 to claim the silver.
The USA is now lifetime 15 and 0 in FIBA Americas competition and has claimed all three gold medals. Congratulations to the participants, coaches and USA Basketball on their success and representation of their country.
