July 29, 2009
BANGKOK, Thailand – Behind a barrage of 3-pointers, the 2009 USA U19 World Championship Team (5-1) eclipsed Japan (2-4) 109-68 in FIBA U19 World Championship second-round action on Wednesday afternoon in Bangkok, Thailand. Every member of the U.S. team put points on the board, including six who scored in double digits as the Americans were on fire from 3-point land, hitting 52.6 percent (10-19 3pt FGs) from afar.
Taber Spani, who hit 3-of-6 from 3-point range, checked in as the USA’s top scorer with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting overall. Also scoring in double digits off the bench was LaSondra Barrett with 14 points, Kelsey Bone added 13 points, Shenise Johnson and Samantha Prahalis both hit a pair of threes and contributed 12 each, while Skylar Diggins went 3-of-4 from beyond the arc and finished with 11 points.
Owning a 5-1 record, the U.S. advances as the No. 2 seed out of Group F and will face France (3-3), the No. 3 seed from Group E, in the July 31 medal quarterfinals (4:15 a.m. EDT). Semifinal games are scheduled for Aug. 1 and the gold medal will be contested on Aug. 2.
The U.S. put the first points on the board after Nnemkadi Ogwumike, who finished with seven points and five boards, hit a pair of free throws at 8:52. Japan tied the game up at 2-all, but behind a Prahalis driving basket and two from Bone on the inside, the U.S. was up 6-2. Japan, which went 9-of-30 from 3-point range in the contest, hit a three to close to a point, 6-5, at 7:43.
Fourteen seconds later, Diggins found herself wide open with the ball on the outside and swished in the first of her threes. After a Japan turnover, Diggins was again allowed to take an uncontested shot from afar and after a Japan three, Diggins hit her third of the game at 6:47 to give the U.S. a 15-8 lead.
Diggins’ third trey kicked off a 12-0 run that was capped by a Prahalis three and left the United States in command 24-8 with 4:38 still to play in the first quarter. Continuing to overmatch Japan, the U.S. closed the period up 33-16.
The USA, which won all four quarters, went up 58-35 at halftime, 80-52 at the end of the third period and outscored Japan 27-16 in the fourth.
The U.S. finished the game shooting 52.3 percent (45-86 FGs) from the field, while limiting Japan to just 34.7 percent (26-75 FGs) shooting overall and an even 30 percent (9-30 3pt FGs) from beyond the arc. Not only did the Americans dominate the glass by a 49-28 margin, they dished out 19 assists on 45 baskets, scored 64 points in the paint and got nearly half their points, 54, from the bench.
Rateisa Fukano finished as Japan’s top scorer with 15 points, while Yukine Abe scored 12 and Yuka Mamiya and Kana Motoyama each added 10 points.
Story from USA Basketball
