Donovan guides Team USA U18s into FIBA Americas medal round
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 | Men's Basketball, Football, Chris Harry
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Medals are now on the line after another convincing victory for Billy Donovan and his Under-18s in the FIBA Americas championship tournament.
Tennessee power forward Jarnell Stokes scored 22 points -- the third different leading scorer for the Americans in as many games -- to pace Team USA to an 83-64 defeat Monday of host Brazil at Sao Sebastiao do Paraiso.
After sweeping the U.S. Virgin Islands by 63, Mexico by 51 and Brazil by 19 in Group A pool play, Team USA looks like the prohibitive favorite as the tournament moves into the medal round Tuesday. The Americans (3-0) will face Argentina (2-1), which finished second in the Group B pool behind Canada (3-0).
The Canadians will play the Brazilians (2-1) in the other medal-round semifinal. The winners facing off Wednesday for the gold.
“All four of those teams have a unique style and some things they can hang their hat on,” said Donovan, who is coaching his first USA Basketball squad. “I think Argentina hangs their hat on execution and being a physical, tough team.”
Stokes, who joined the Volunteers midway through the 2011-12 season and is the only player with collegiate experience on the USA roster, went 11-for-14 from the floor and also grabbed eight rebounds in 22 minutes.
In addition to advancing in this tournament field, the win also qualified the Americans for an automatic berth in the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championships next summer.
