ISTANBUL (Türkiye) - Mission accomplished for United States after they rolled past Italy 129-88 for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024 title and the country's seventh straight undefeated run to the trophy.
The Americans improved their all-time record in the competition to 51-0 dating back to 2010. The 41-point victory left their average winning margin for the 2024 edition to 64.3 points - obliterating their previous best of 53.7 points difference in 2018.
The Americans have been breaking records all tournament and the Final was no different.
Records set
Here are the U17 World Cup Final records that were snapped:
129 - Most points (111 was previous mark in 2010) 44 - Most assists (26 in 2010) 52 - Most field goals made (47 in 2010) 73 - Most points in a first half (58 in 2010) 41 - Most points in a quarter (33 in 4th quarter in 2010)
Turning point
Italy had the early lead 3-2 after an Achille Lonati three-pointer but the Americans unleashed a 21-2 run to lead 23-5 midway through the first quarter. That was for all intents and purposes the ball game.
Game hero
It was an all-out assault on Italy but Koa Peat was especially dominant scoring 26 points to go with 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Peat set a new USA record for most points by a USA player in a Final, besting the previous mark of 22 by Conner Frankamp in 2012.
Peat also made history as he became the first player to win two U17 World Cup crowns after being named to the All-Star Five in 2022.
Stats don't lie
Italy could not stop the USA offense with 129 points while shooting 70.6 percent on two-pointers and dished out 44 assists. The Americans also forced Italy into 21 turnovers.
They said
"We call it pay day. All the work that you put in. I told them when you work a job and you work every day, by the time you get to the end of that week or month, it's pay day. We put in a lot of work this last month or so, and today we wanted to get paid. These guys came out lazer focused and executed the game plan. They played together and for each other, and they did it the right way. We are just extremely proud of them and proud of our USA Basketball junior national team program. It gives them that stage to showcase their talents as a group. So I am proud of them." - USA head coach Sharman White.
FIBA