USA fight back, pull away from Canada for FIBA Americas U16 title

BAHIA BLANCA (2015 FIBA Americas U16 Championship/2016 FIBA U17 World Championship) - Thee United States secured their fourth straight FIBA Americas U16 Championship title by coming back from an early 20-point deficit before pulling away late for a 77-60 victory over Canada. 

In a battle of teams qualified for the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship, FIBA Americas U16 MVP Gary Trent Junior and Jarred Vanderbilt combined for all 17 points in a 17-1 USA run in the final four minutes to blow the game open. 

Trent scored all 19 of his points in the second half and Vanderbilt finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds as the USA struggled mightily in the early going. They made just 1-of-17 shots and watched Canada build a 19-3 lead after 10 minutes. And the Canadian advantage was 23-3 early in the second quarter. 

Canada, who were led by 18 points, 14 rebounds, six steals and three blocks from Simisola Shittu, still led 37-27 at the intermission before USA went ahead 43-41 midway through the third quarter. Canada - playing in their first FIBA Americas U16 Final after three straight third-placed finishes - had built the lead up to 56-51 early in the fourth quarter and were up for the final time at 56-55. 

The USA closed the game strong with Trent nailing two three-pointers in scoring 10 points and Vanderbilt threw down two dunks among his seven points in a 17-1 surge in the final four minutes to open an 18-point lead inside the final minute. 

"They [Canada] were making their shots that first quarter. It kind of woke our players up a little bit. As the game went on, we showed what we're really made of," said USA coach Don Showalter, who improved his record at the helm of the USA U16 and U17 national teams to 43-0 and four FIBA Americas U16 titles and three crowns at the FIBA U17 World Championship. 

"It was a tough game. We were down by 20, but we stuck together. That was our first time really facing adversity and for us to play together and stick it out to the end really shows how good we are as a team," said Vanderbilt.

Argentina and the Dominican Republic - who joined the USA and Canada as the first teams to qualify for the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship by reaching the Semi-Finals in Bahia Blanca - squared off in the Third-Place Game. 

The hosts finished on a high note by beating the Dominicans 74-59, thanks to 15 points each from Franco Baralle and Lautaro Lopez.

 Alanzo Frink scored 26 points in the loss for the Dominican Republic, who led 30-19 in the second quarter. 

Argentina used a 14-2 run at the start of the fourth quarter to open a 14-point lead and Dominican Republic never got closer than six points the rest of the way.

FIBA