United States and Dominican Republic advance as group winners

BUENOS AIRES (Argentina) – United States and Dominican Republic won again during Wednesday’s action at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup 2024 to finish the Group Stage with perfect records atop their respective zones (check the standings here).

Canada and Argentina also came out victorious on the last day of the Group Stage to earn the second spot in their respective zones, and with these results the Quarterfinals matchups are set. These will be played on Friday in the following fashion:

Dominican Republic (1st in Group A) vs. Belize (4th in Group B)
Canada (2A) vs. Brazil (3B)
United States (1B) vs. Puerto Rico (4A)
Argentina (2B) vs. Venezuela (3A)

See the schedule here.

The four winners will advance to the Semifinals and qualify for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in 2025. The losers will play seeding rounds for the 5th to 8th spots.

Here’s the best from Wednesday’s action:

VEN  53 – 89 CAN 

Tristan Beckford scored 17 points to guide a comfortable win for Canada (2-1) over Venezuela (1-2) in Group A. The North American squad steadied the ship after losing in their inaugural game, having now put on 2 solid showings to finish in second place in their zone.

The team coached by Ramón Díaz of Spain imposed their size and tough defense to control their opponents. They broke the game open with a 28-10 run in the second quarter to go up 51-27, and then extended the lead with another 23-9 run to push the score up to 74-36. They finished with 18 steals, unleashing their powerful transition game. Canada had a 33-7 edge in fast break points and won points off turnovers by 29-9.

All 12 Canadian players scored points and none of them saw more than 24 minutes of action. Justus Haseley (5 assists) and Olivier Rioux scored 10 points apiece, while Spencer Ahrens finished with 9 points and 9 rebounds.

 

For the Venezuelan outfit, who finished in 3rd place in the group, Estoyan Vargas (6 rebounds) and Anthony Reyes scored 11 points each.

DOM  63 – 52 PUR  

Fernando De Los Santos (4 steals) and Adrián Brito (6 rebounds) generated 14 points each and led the offense for Dominican Republic (3-0) in their win over Puerto Rico (0-3) in the latest edition of the Caribbean derby.

 

With the win, the Dominican squad finished unbeaten and atop Group A, while the boricuas ended up in 4th place.

This wasn’t the most efficient game for either team, but the Dominicans took control from the jump with a 19-11 first quarter and never looked back. Despite just shooting 32 percent from the field (20/63), they came out on top because Puerto Rico shot an even colder 27 percent (20/74). The Dominicans also made 8 three pointers to only 3 for their opponents.

Lucas Morillo was another bright spot with 8 points and 12 rebounds. For Puerto Rico, both Isaiah Brown (15 points and 11 boards) and Alejandro Avilés (14 and 15) collected double-doubles.

BRA  57 – 88 USA 

United States (3-0) once again looked unstoppable and finished unbeaten in Group B after comfortably beating Brazil (1-2). For the third consecutive day, all 12 of their players scored and 5 of them finished in double digits.

John McKenney III (7 rebounds) and Jasper Johnson (4 three-pointers) paced the offense with 12 points apiece. Nikolas Khamenia (5 assists and 5 rebounds) and Derrion Reid followed with 11 points each, while Shelton Henderson added 10 points.

After an even first quarter (19-19), the second period saw the Americans break free in transition and take control of the game. They went up 50-33 at halftime and that was enough to keep their opponents at bay during the rest of the night.

United States handily won on the boards (60-32) and did most of the damage with a 31-2 edge in fast break points and a 25-9 advantage in second chance points.

 

Patrick Perna led Brazil with 10 points, while Gabriel Ferreira (7 rebounds) and Nolan Junior Kemm added 9 points each.

ARG  109 – 73 BLZ 

Host country Argentina saved their best for last in the Group Stage, enjoying their full roster for the first time in the tournament and categorically defeating Belize to finish in second place in Group B – this after earning the best point differential in a triple tie with Brazil and Belize.

 

Tyler Kropp, who’d been carrying their offense, shined once again – popping off for a 30-point, 14-rebound double-double. This time he also had plenty of company as Felipe Minzer (28 points and 14 rebounds), who missed the previous game with a cut on his forehead, and point guard Thiago Sucatzky (24 points and 8 assists), who couldn’t play the inaugural game due to injury, also enjoyed great performances.

The trio led an Argentinian squad was still winless but proved that they’re a strong candidate to make it to the Semifinals.

A single quarter was enough for the South Americans to solve Belize. After tying at 23 at the end of the first 10 minutes, they controlled the second quarter by a score of 34-19 (to go up 57-42 at halftime) and then extended the lead with a 32-21 third period (making the scoreboard 89-63) to essentially put the game away.

Mauro Polla’s team shot 51 percent from the field (37/73), including 11/24 from beyond the arc and 24/31 at the free throw line. They also won the rebounding battle (48-31) and dominated in points in the paint (52-30) and second chance points (22-8).

Belize, who finished last in the group, was led by Josiah Moseley’s 23 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 blocks. Douglas Langford (13 rebounds) and Elijah Favela added 18 points apiece.

Daily statistical leaders

Minutes: Douglas Langford (BLZ) - 37:15
Points: Tyler Kropp (ARG) - 30
Three-pointers: Jasper Johnson (USA), Felipe Minzer (ARG) - 4
Two-pointers: Tyler Kropp (ARG) - 10
Free throws: Felipe Minzer (ARG) - 8
Rebounds: Alejandro Avilés (PUR) - 15
Assists: Thiago Sucatzky (ARG) - 8
Steals: Felipe Minzer (ARG) - 6
Blocks: Daniel Jacobsen (USA) - 4
Efficiency: Felipe Minzer (ARG) - 41

FIBA