HAMBURG (FIBA U17 World Championship) - In a rematch of last year’s FIBA Americas U16 Championship final, the Americans used some stiffling defense to hold off Argentina 82-70.

The teams met in the day’s last game of Group A play. Nineteen players who had done battle last summer in the FIBA Americas U16 Championship met again in Hamburg in a game that for the most part lived up to the hype.

The USA led 24-17 after a poor-shooting first quarter. But the Argentinians quickened the pace early in the second period and that seemed to work to their advantage as they went on a 10-2 spurt and were within 41-35 at halftime.

The USA scored 13 unanswered points midway through the third period to regain a double-digit lead, but they could not hold on to it.

Down 63-56 heading into the final frame, Argentina fought their way back into the game but were ultimately beaten because of their inability to break an effective American full court press defense.

The USA stretched their lead in the closing stages of the game.

Quotes:

Don Showalter, USA head coach: "Our players really improved since last year's FIBA Americas. We had to many turnovers to really put Argentina away early. Overall I like the way our team played together as a unit."

Enrique Tolcachier, Argentina head coach: "This has been an intense game for both teams. As for today, the U.S. players backed us down under the basket – they simply were stronger."


FIBA