MINSK, Belarus – While traveling all over the world the past year watching three of the four FIBA Zone U16 women’s basketball championships, it has been apparent that there are three superstar teams at this level: Australia, France and the USA. These three blockbuster teams feature lots of future WNBA, Olympic and FIBA World Cup players.
None disappointed last night as both France (2017 FIBA U16 Europe winner) and the United States (2017 FIBA U16 Americas winner) advanced to the 2017 FIBA World U17 Championships tomorrow evening. Both are juggernauts that look like mirror images of each other’s roster: long, athletic and talented.
The road to the U17 World Cup finals proved easy enough for the home team as Team USA defeated Hungary (2017 U16 runner-up to France) in another defensive beat down 84-39. This came a day after the USA held Spain to an all-time low of just 31 points. Jordan Horston’s (Columbus, OH) 18 points led 11 USA players in the box score. Two back-to-back defensive lock-downs was not lost of USA’s U17 Head Coach Carla Berube.
(USA Women’s Head Coach Carla Berube reflects on her team’s win over Hungary in the FIBA U17 semifinals and the defensive effort they produced.)
The United States gets the team in the finals most observers feel is the closest team to matching up player to player, position by position to France. But, it almost didn’t happen.
The French had endured a great first two minutes, then a disappearance until halftime before conjuring up an unexpected and amazing 15-point comeback to catch and finally defeat the 2016 defending U17 World Champion and 2017 U16 Asia Champion Australia, 68-58 to advance to the gold medal game against the United States.
The Aussies were spectacular in the first half taking an impressive 35-21 halftime lead on the backs of 5-10 captain Isabel Palmer’s 14 points (11 in the 1st quarter) and 12 more from 5-9 wing Lilly Scanlon. France was flat after a quick 3-0 lead and two steals. Their stars, 6-4 center Iliana Rupert (2017 U16 Euro MVP) scored 12 points but only had 4 rebounds while 5-10 shooter Zoe Wadoux was 1 of 7 finishing with just 5 points. The French team shot a miserable 21.9% in the first half. Australia outrebounded France 28-15 including 11 on the offensive glass. It was the start of a blowout.
At halftime I tweeted that this game was “over” and that France would have a hard time climbing back against a seasoned and experienced Aussie team. Geez, was I wrong. In speaking afterwards with French Coach Arnaud Guppillotte even he thought it might not happen.
(France U17 Head Coach Arnaud Guppillotte discusses his French team’s stunning halftime comeback in the FIBA u17 semifinals against Australia.)
Over the years French teams have been known for folding and don’t usually have that certain competitive fire to do comeback games. Last year many people thought this edition might be different. The roster is loaded with impressive NCAA BCS Division 1-level and Euro-pro athletes like (#4), 5-9 point guard Marie Pardon, (#5), 5-9 point guard and Captain Marine Fauthoux, (#8), 5-11 Yohana Ewodo, (#9), USA-schooled 5-11 Anaia Hoard, (#11), 6-1 Kendra Chery and (#13), 6-2 Janelle Salauin to go with Wadoux and Rupert who is considered the top youth center in the world.
This game flipped in the 3rd quarter as France came out in a zone press, attacked the basket and created numerous opportunities as Chery and Wadoux got five each while Rupert and Fathoux scored four points during a 19-1 third quarter run that ended in a 43-41 French lead after the period. Australia didn’t adjust to the press at halftime and lost their initiative.
(France Head Coach Arnaud Guppillotte talks the impact his two stars, Iliana Rupert and Zoe Wadoux has in the second half against Australia in the FIBA U17 Women’s World cup semifinals.)
Even in the final four minutes with the Aussies down 5 the game could have changed leads again. It took a Fauthoux 3-point shot with 1:14 left (61-53) to seal the win. No matter what, the French stars and a zone press won this day.
(France Head Coach Arnaud Guppillotte talks about the effectiveness of the French zone press in the third quarter on Australia.)
Since the Americans played Hungary following the France-Australia semifinal game the USA U17 Women’s Coaching staff had to prepare for both potential outcomes with the first semifinal game swinging like a weather vane.
(USA Women’s Head Coach Carla Berube talks about planning for both France and Australia.)
What comes next is one of the most important FIBA youth basketball games over the decade. This “U17 World Cup Game” is a critical jumping off point for both teams. The United States did not win either the 2015 U16 FIBA Americas crown in Mexico nor the 2016 U17 FIBA World Championship in Spain during that cycle. This USA edition easily won the 2017 U16 America in Argentina. This U17 World Cup would place them back on top.
(France Head Coach Arnaud Guppillotte talks the preparation by the French Federation for the FIBA U17 Women’s World cup showdown with the USA.)
For the French beating Team USA would be a true departure from prior history as this is France’s second FIBA U17 title shot since 2010 when they were runner-up to the USA Breanna Stewart-led team. In 2014 and 2016 the French ended up in the lower 7-8 classification games. In 2012 the French claimed their first Olympic medal losing to the USA in the Olympics. It’s simple to see how many players from both teams will continue to see each other in either NCAA competition or later in FIBA-level match ups until they eventually move to the professional level.
MATCHUPS: What makes this game – “The Game” – is the exciting matchups. The French have a dynamic set of world class point guards in Fauthoux and Pardon. They will face USA depth in an experienced guard line of 5-11 Azzi Fudd (Arlington, VA), 5-11 Paige Buechers (St. Louis Park, MN) and 5-9 Zia Cooke (Toledo, OH). The other USA perimeter spots feature 5-11 Celeste Taylor (Valley Stream, NY), 6-0 Horston, 6-1, Haley Jones (Santa Cruz, CA) and 6-1 Fran Belibi (Centennial, CO). They’ll be facing France’s 5-11 Ewodo, 5-11 Hoard, 6-1 Chery and 6-2 Salauin. Look for USA defensive stopper Taylor to spend a lot of time on French scorer Wadoux.
The featured battle will be in the post as the world’s top center Rupert will go against America’s best in 6-4 Aliyah Boston (St. Thomas, VI). Both are a strong inside presence and effective rebounders. After watching both in person numerous times, I would give the defensive edge to Boston. If either are in foul trouble look for Belibi and Chery or Salauin to face each other.
Expect to see a number of these same face and names again next year when both teams will compete in the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup.
GAME TIME: The United States vs. France for the 2018 FIBA Women’s U17 World Cup will be played on FIBA TV and back in the United States on ESPN. Game time 1:30 pm. The bronze medal game between the similar-style teams of Australia and Hungary will tip at 11:00 am.
(USA Women’s Head Coach Carla Berube talks about the Big Game with France.)
