University of North Carolina Athletics
Coby White scored 25 points in Friday's win over Argentina.
Photo by: USA Basketball
White Scores 25 In 104-92 Win Over Argentina in Semis
June 16, 2018 | Men's Basketball
by USA Basketball
ST. CATHARINES, Ontario - The USA (5-0) advanced to the FIBA Americas Men's U18 Championship gold medal game for fifth consecutive time after holding off a game Argentina (3-2) squad 104-92 on Friday. The USA winning effort was led by 26 points from Quentin Grimes (College Park H.S./The Woodlands, Texas) and incoming North Carolina freshman guard Coby White (Greenfield H.S./Goldsboro, N.C.) added 25 points.
The Americas will face Canada (5-0) in Saturday's gold medal game (8:15 p.m. EDT). Canada has earned two silver medals and three bronze medals at the men's U18s, and advanced to the gold medal game after putting away Puerto Rico (3-2) 95-89.
"I thought Argentina played very well and smart," said USA U18 and University of Kansas head coach Bill Self. "I think they exposed us in ways, because we've been able to be a little careless and loosie-goosey and not pay for our mistakes against some of our other opponents, and they made us pay for our mistakes when we weren't very sound.
"It was a good win. Argentina's really good. If they had their complete team (point guard Francisco Farabello was out), of course if we would have had (Tyrese) Maxey also, well ... that may be a wash because Maxey's playing so good. But, they've got a good team. Canada beating them the way they beat them in the first game, by 17, it may be as impressive a win that there's been in the tournament so far."
Argentina did what no other team had been able to do so far against the USA, keep it close. The U.S. led 24-18 in the first quarter and by halftime had expanded its advantage to 54-39.
Argentina outscored the U.S. 20-17 in the third to reduce the lead to 71-59 heading into the final 10 minutes, but the USA had an answer for every Argentina rally and for the fifth-consecutive game broke the century mark in recording a win.
"Our defense wasn't the best tonight," said White. "But, we'll get back to the drawing board and we'll be better defensively tomorrow."
Matthew Hurt (John Marshall H.S./Rochester, Minn.) assisted the U.S. to the win with 16 points, Ayo Dosunmu (Morgan Park H.S./Chicago, Ill.) added 13 points, while Cole Anthony (Archbishop Molloy H.S./Briarwood, N.Y.) and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (Bishop Miege H.S./Shawnee Mission, Kan.) each tossed in 10 points.
The USA dominated the boards, out-rebounding Argentina 47-28 as Grimes and Hurt each grabbed eight, and Josiah James (Porter-Gaud School/Charleston, S.C.) and Robinson each secured seven rebounds.
The U.S. made 51.8 percent of its shots and Argentina hit 50.0 percent of it tries. Argentina held the advantage from the foul line making 24-of-30 tries, while the USA was 11-of-16 from the charity line.
"Argentina was a tough team," said Dosunmu. "We know we're playing good teams out here in the FIBA (Americas U18) tournament. I knew and I tried to tell my team that it wasn't going to be easy in the final four. But, at the end of the day it's all about getting the W and we're onto the gold medal game."
The USA has captured the past five and eight of the 10 previous men's U18 gold medals, and currently owns a 58-2 all-time record at the event.
"We need to lock down on defense," answered Grimes of what it will take to win the USA's ninth men's U18 gold medal. "We gave up lot of fast 3s, we don't know who we play tomorrow but defensively we have to lock down a lot more tomorrow to win in the gold medal game."
ST. CATHARINES, Ontario - The USA (5-0) advanced to the FIBA Americas Men's U18 Championship gold medal game for fifth consecutive time after holding off a game Argentina (3-2) squad 104-92 on Friday. The USA winning effort was led by 26 points from Quentin Grimes (College Park H.S./The Woodlands, Texas) and incoming North Carolina freshman guard Coby White (Greenfield H.S./Goldsboro, N.C.) added 25 points.
The Americas will face Canada (5-0) in Saturday's gold medal game (8:15 p.m. EDT). Canada has earned two silver medals and three bronze medals at the men's U18s, and advanced to the gold medal game after putting away Puerto Rico (3-2) 95-89.
"I thought Argentina played very well and smart," said USA U18 and University of Kansas head coach Bill Self. "I think they exposed us in ways, because we've been able to be a little careless and loosie-goosey and not pay for our mistakes against some of our other opponents, and they made us pay for our mistakes when we weren't very sound.
"It was a good win. Argentina's really good. If they had their complete team (point guard Francisco Farabello was out), of course if we would have had (Tyrese) Maxey also, well ... that may be a wash because Maxey's playing so good. But, they've got a good team. Canada beating them the way they beat them in the first game, by 17, it may be as impressive a win that there's been in the tournament so far."
Argentina did what no other team had been able to do so far against the USA, keep it close. The U.S. led 24-18 in the first quarter and by halftime had expanded its advantage to 54-39.
Argentina outscored the U.S. 20-17 in the third to reduce the lead to 71-59 heading into the final 10 minutes, but the USA had an answer for every Argentina rally and for the fifth-consecutive game broke the century mark in recording a win.
"Our defense wasn't the best tonight," said White. "But, we'll get back to the drawing board and we'll be better defensively tomorrow."
Matthew Hurt (John Marshall H.S./Rochester, Minn.) assisted the U.S. to the win with 16 points, Ayo Dosunmu (Morgan Park H.S./Chicago, Ill.) added 13 points, while Cole Anthony (Archbishop Molloy H.S./Briarwood, N.Y.) and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (Bishop Miege H.S./Shawnee Mission, Kan.) each tossed in 10 points.
The USA dominated the boards, out-rebounding Argentina 47-28 as Grimes and Hurt each grabbed eight, and Josiah James (Porter-Gaud School/Charleston, S.C.) and Robinson each secured seven rebounds.
The U.S. made 51.8 percent of its shots and Argentina hit 50.0 percent of it tries. Argentina held the advantage from the foul line making 24-of-30 tries, while the USA was 11-of-16 from the charity line.
"Argentina was a tough team," said Dosunmu. "We know we're playing good teams out here in the FIBA (Americas U18) tournament. I knew and I tried to tell my team that it wasn't going to be easy in the final four. But, at the end of the day it's all about getting the W and we're onto the gold medal game."
The USA has captured the past five and eight of the 10 previous men's U18 gold medals, and currently owns a 58-2 all-time record at the event.
"We need to lock down on defense," answered Grimes of what it will take to win the USA's ninth men's U18 gold medal. "We gave up lot of fast 3s, we don't know who we play tomorrow but defensively we have to lock down a lot more tomorrow to win in the gold medal game."
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