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United States U16 team advances to FIBA Americas gold medal game

McKinley Wright, Tre Jones

McKinley Wright, Tre Jones

AP

Entering the FIBA Americas U16 Championships the United States was expected to dominate, and to this point in the competition that’s been the case. Saturday night Don Showalter’s team advanced to the gold medal game, beating host Argentina by the final score of 119-76 in Bahia Blanca.

The Americans were balanced offensively, with 2018 guard Tre Jones and 2017 guard Markus Howard leading seven players in double figures with 19 points apiece. Also reaching double figure were 2018 forward Jordan Brown (17 points), 2017 guard Gary Trent Jr. (15), 2017 forward Jarred Vanderbilt (15), 2017 forward/center Wendell Carter Jr. (12) and 2017 forward Kevin Knox II (12).

As a team the United States shot 50 percent from the field, and against a smaller Argentine squad scored 60 points in the paint. The United States finished the first quarter with a 33-17 lead and removed any doubt regarding the outcome in the second stanza, outscoring Argentina 27-9.

Next up for the United States is Canada, which has also won each of its games by comfortable margins. Canada blew out the Dominican Republic 95-49 in the first semifinal, with 2018 forward Simi Shittu leading five double-digit scorers with 19 points.