MINSK, Belarus – When the United States Men’s Olympic team lost in 2004 Athens Olympics the focus was on redemption in Beijing in 2008. When the USA Youth Women lost in the 2015 U16 FIBA Americas and the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championships as defending champions it was a critical and reflective moment for USA Basketball and the overall girls youth basketball community.

An impressive and dominating 90-42 victory over a tall and talented France team in the finale of the 2018 FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup returns the gold back to where it  belongs. After the 2016 Bronze medal effort in Zaragoza, Spain blame flowed like a river, after tonight’s game in Minsk the kudos will be spread across the American girls’ basketball landscape. Pride is back. Smiles for everyone.

This final game was billed as one of the most anticipated FIBAU17 finals since both countries met in France way back in 2010. Unfortunately, the USA didn’t cooperate, jumping out with their signature defensive pressure and into a quick 16-2 start and ultimately a 23-12 lead after one quarter. The American pressure continued into the second with France’s point guard Marine Fauthoux (11 points) and shooter Zoe Wadioux (13 points) being the only players seemingly capable of scoring and subsequently accounting for 24 of France’s 28 first half points. Famed French center Iliana Rupert was held scoreless  in the half and limited to 4 rebounds. The USA crushed on the boards getting 12 offensive rebounds, 24 second chance points and 18 more off fast breaks across the first half.  At this point, the game was over as France had little left after their amazing semifinal comeback the evening before against eventual bronze-medalist Australia.

France Women’s U17  Head Coach Arnaud Guppillotte talks about his team after losing to the USA in the finals of the 2018 FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup.

In the second half both teams went to their bench as the game drifted when the USA lead ballooned into the mid-30’s by the end of the third quarter. USA Women’s Head Coach Carla Berube made sure everyone got minutes and onto the scoreboard in anticipation of the final buzzer.

USA Head Coach Carla Berube talks about the victory over France.

There are quite a few people sitting back in the United States, especially a number of high school players who tried out during the last two USA Youth cycle teams (U16, U17) watching this and seeing where they could have been on this roster. It must be noted that the USA Youth Selection Committee responsible for constructing this gold medal-winning team had a wealth of talent to pick from. The specter of 2016 was hanging all over American youth basketball. It was up to this USA selection in Minsk to show that they are the most dominating team in the world.

USA Head Coach Carla Berube discusses the journey and pressure from the last USAB youth cycle.

The player with the biggest smile belonged to Samantha Brunelle who was the lone returning player from the 2016 Bronze medal winner. She had to endure two years of waiting for this gold medal moment.

USA  Basketball forward Samantha Brunelle reflects about the two-year wait for redemption for herself and pressure on her teammates.

Another key happy face belonged to USA Women’s National Director Carol Callan who had the task of carrying around the FIBA World Cup trophy as players took pictures with family members. It was not lost on Callan how talented this 2018 team was to even say that it is just as impressive as the 2010 USA selection in Toulouse, France led by current WNBA All-Star Breanna Stewart.

The next generation of USA players to be selected will be the 2019 FIBA U16 Americas squad which should be another spectacular class of talent laden with Blue Star 30 level players.

The youngest and one of the most acclaimed players in the USA, Azzi Fudd was the last out of the locker room after being select as the random “drug-test” player. The mantle of being a key USA player is something she’s aware of.

Team USA had five players in double-figure scoring led by Aliyah Boston’s 16 points and 8 rebounds. Haley Jones followed with 14 points, Jordan Horston had 12 more while Azzi Fudd finished with 11 and Fran Belibi 10. In the end, all 12 players made the scoring list. USA scored 52 of their 90 points in the paint and has 28 second chance points. Fauthoux and Wadioux had 25 first half points for France yet could only muster five between them the remainder of the game.

GAME NOTES: Both the USA and France improved on the 2016 FIBA U17s showing with the USA moving from Bronze to Gold and France jumping to silver from 8^th place (losing to Canda). This is the USA’s 4^th FIBA U17 gold medal with others coming in 2010 (Toulouse, FRA), 2012 (Amsterdam, NED) and 2014 (Plzen, CZH). In the first U17s in 2010 a Breanna Stewart-led USA team faced France the finals. This was France’s second final four appearance since 2010.

BRONZE MEDAL: The defending FIBA U17 champion Australia, still reeling from their loss in the semifinals to Spain, looked determined against a similarly talented Hungary squad going up quickly 9-2 before the contest turned into a series of lead changes. Both coaches were looking to get everybody into the game and it wasn’t until the final quarter that Australia pulled ahead. A jumper by Shyla Heal (14 points in the final frame) at 1:03 gave them the lead (53-51) and eventual 57-51 victory. Hungary missed their last four shots in the final 38 seconds of play.

This was Australia’s second consecutive Medal round appearance claiming Gold in 2016, 5^th in 2014, 2012 and 7^th in 2010. Hungary’s last medal was a bronze in 2014 when it beat a team from neighboring Czech Republic. They did not make it to Zaragoza, Spain in 2016.

OTHER GAMES: In a very dull and boring 5^th place game Italy jumped out on Spain 13-0, lost the lead in the third quarter only to pull away in the end for a 65-58 finish. This was payback for the pre-tournament competitions which saw Spain beat the Italians. Both teams shot horribly from the three point line with Italy going 2-12 and Spain 1 for 13. The Italians did dominate on the boards getting 50 to Spain’s 35. In 2016 Spain finished 6^th to China

Canada continued its standard FIBA U17 performance over the past two cycles, this time playing an impressive and talented African Champion Mali for 9^th place. Canada’s depth and skill sets allowed it to get a 58-50 victory. USA college coaches have been all over both teams which features talent that starts to match that seen back in the USA at the lower BCS level. Mali has three talents in 6-3 Sika Kone, 6-2 Aminata Sangare and 5-9 Diarrah Sissoko.  Canada in 9^th place has gone 11^th, 3^rd, 6^th and 7^th since 2010.

ALL-TOURNAMENT: The team was Australia’s Shyla Heal, France’s Iliana Rupert, USA’s Haley Jones, Aliyah Boston and MVP Jordan Horston