2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women

[carlo]

The 2012 U18 FIBA Americas Women's championship will be held Aug 15-19 in Puerto Rico.
Participants: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and USA.
The tournament will qualify the top three teams for the 2013 U19 World's championship.

USA list of 26 players that will attend the trials for the final team (May 19-21) has been announced:
http://www.usabasketball.com/womens/..._invitees.html

US hopefuls roster is headed by nationally and internationally super decorated Breanna Stewart (3-time gold 2009 through 2011) and by ex gold medalists Bashaara Graves (2009 & 2010), Imani Stafford (2010) and Morgan Tuck (2010 & 2011).
To remark the absence from the roster of former gold medalists Jordan Adams and Alexis Jones.

[carlo]

USA Basketball has announced the 12 finalists.
Among them, some confirmations of experienced players (Stewart, Graves, Tuck, Stafford from previous teams and Mo Jefferson from previous trials) and some new players. Three finalists come as unselected from the U17 trials (Kendall Cooper, Allysha Gray and Jannah Tucker who was also a member of the 2011 U16 team). Like it has been the case of the U17 finalists, some players are quite low in the top rankings, but as the selection Committee Chair declared, "it was not so much taking the 12 best players, it was taking the 12 players that can come together to make the best team".

[carlo]

Groups composition of the 2012 Tournament (Gurabo, Puerto Rico, 15-19 Aug):

Gr A - Argentina, Colombia, Dominican Republic, USA
Gr B - Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico

The top-4 finishing teams will qualify to the 2013 U19 World's championship.

[carlo]

USA U18 team scrimmaged with the World's championship U17 team and won 73-66.
https://twitter.com/usabasketball/st...72499772801025

[JGX]

USA beat Brazil 97-36 (or maybe 98-36, the official score and the score on the broadcast were different). Brazil played with the same team that played the U17 earlier so not surprisingly they were tired and unenthusiastic. US scored the first 31 points of the game.

[Ballgirl21]

Looks like USA Crushed Brazil.... The final score 97-36. OUCH! Will anyone be able to beat this team at the FIBA Americas?

http://www.fullcourt.com/kelly-kline...in-over-brazil

[carlo]

US U18 girls are surely super-favorite to win the tournament. Some of them, like Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck, Bashaara Graves and Mo Jefferson are world-class players in their age class.
Probably Brazil (if the roster presented at the Orlando training is reinforced) and Canada will be the only serious contendants for the American girls.

[carlo]

Argentina has named 14 finalists for the next training session.
Players have been training since february to prepare for the U18 Americas tournament.

[tmlouk]

BRAZIL

Carolina dos Santos Ribeiro - 18yo - 1,65m - A.E. São José Basketball (SP) - SP
Ana Carolina Calixto Demori 17 yo - 1,64m - ADCF UNIMED Americana (SP) - SP
Alana Gonçalo da Silva - 17 yo – 1,63m – ABC Bradesco (Osasco-SP) – SP
Estela Arantes Gregório - 17yo - 1,78m - A.E. São José Basketball (SP) - SP
Maria Cláudia Fonseca Teixeira - 18 yo - 1,79m - Divino/COC/Jundiaí (SP) - MA
Bruna Werberich - 18 yo - 1,75m - ADC Bradesco (SP) - PR
Isabela Ramona Lyra Macedo -18 yo - 1,80m - Divino/COC/Jundiaí (SP) - RJ
Ana Carolina da Silva Borges -18 yo - 1,78m - A.E. São José Basketball (SP) - SP
Vanessa Fausto Gonçalves - 17 yo - 1,86m - A.D. Santo André (SP) - SP
Thamara Silva de Freitas 17 yo - 1,91m - Divino/COC/Jundiaí (SP) - RJ
Maria Carolina Ferreira de Oliveira - 17 yo - 1,88m - ADCF UNIMED Americana (SP) - SP
Martha Silva Imoniana - 18 yo - 1,85m - ADC Bradesco (SP) – SP

Brazil with few new face in comparision to last years Sudamericano U17

[carlo]

Having another team competing at the same time at the U17 World's, Brazil had to build-up a team with players from the 2011 U17/U19 NT and some new entries.

Returning from last year's U17 (just 3rd at the South American tournament) are:
Ana Carolina Da Silva Borges
Carolina Dos Santos Ribeiro
Maria Cláudia Fonseca Teixeira
Alana Gonçalo da Silva
Martha Silva Imoniana

From 2011 U19 World's brilliant bronze team are:
Vanessa Fausto Gonçalves
Isabela Ramona Lyra Macedo
Thamara Silva de Freitas

Top players should imo be Isabela Ramona, Thamara Silva, Vanessa Fausto Gonçalves and Maria Claudia Fonseca.
Without great talents, but with a respectable size and experience Brazil is one of the 4 candidates to qualify.

[carlo]

Argentina

Aispurúa Sofía – 1995, 1.85, C (2011 U16, U17)
Armesto Julieta - 1994, 1.78, C (2011 U17)
Armesto Magalí – 1995, 1.65, G (2011 U16)
Chelini Sofía – 1995, 1.68, G (2011 U16)
García León Zulema – 1994, 1.85, C (2011 U17)
Jerez Macarena - 1.60, G
Jourdheuil Agustina – 1994, 1,75, Fw (2011 U17)
Larriestra Naomí – 1994, 1.75, F/C
LLorente Victoria – 1996, 1.84, F/C (2011 U16, U17)
Marchizotti Mara – 1994, 1.89, C
Martínez Florencia – 1994, 1.70, G (2011 U17)
Sancisi Micaela – 1994, 1.68, G (2011 U17)

Argentinian team is a mix of U18/U17 players forming a good team and is one of the candidates to qualify to next year’s U19 World’s. Best players Micaela Sancisi (2011 U17 team’s high scorer), young Victoria Llorente (2011 U16 team’s high scorer) and Julieta Armesto.
Argentina has recently beaten host Puerto Rico in two exhib games, 51-40 and 59-58.

Canada

Byrne Renee – 1994, 1.78, G
Campbell Taijah – 1994, 1.90, FW (2011 Pan Ams, 3x3)
Cooper Samantha – 1995, 1.85, G/F
Crozon Paige – 1994, 1.83, G (2011 U19, Pan Ams, 3x3)
Halvorson Kaylee – 1994, 1.80, G (2010 3x3)
Hamblin Ruth – 1994, 1.96, C
Hill Sami – 1994, 1.78, G
Hudyn Michelle – 1994, 1.87, FW
Lukan Kaili – 1994, 1.78, G
Marois Sarah-Jane – 1.67, G
Purkovic Isidora – 1994, 1.80, G (2011 U19, Pan Ams, 3x3)
Roger Cheyanne – 1995, 1.86, FW (2011 U16)

With another team engaged at the U17 World’s championship as Brazil, Canadian selection is made of some 1994 experienced players (Purkovic, Crozon, Campbell, Halvorson) and borrows from the U17 team Cheyanne Roger, one of the best at last year’s U16 Fiba Americas.
With no great names but the usual big size, Canada is another candidate for the qualification.

[carlo]

Some important updates on USA team:

1) Final roster is reduced to 10 players, as Allysha Gray and Brittney Sykes, both guards, withdrew respectively for injury and for personal reasons. Wonder why at least the injured player wasn't replaced.

2) At the post position, Candice Agee will replace Imani Stafford due to injury. Agee (1.97 m) is currently ranked #35 in the 2012 class (Stafford is #11). It's the second time for Stafford to withdraw from the NT for injury, as it already happened prior to the 2010 U17 World's championship when she was replaced by Malina Howard.

All in all, the US team's level is still far above the other competitors, but entering an international tournament with a roster already reduced by 2 units is imo at least bizarre. Maybe USA representatives are so sure to win ?

http://www.usabasketball.com/womens/...012_08_14.html
http://www.usabasketball.com/womens/...econvenes.html

[carlo]

More exhibition games:

Brazil routed Dominican Republic 79-32
Canada edged Argentina 49-44, led by Samantha Cooper (1995).

[carlo]

USA-Dominican Republic 99-26, the result is just for stats.
For what I could watch (part of 2nd half), found impressive Morgan Tuck, Bashaara Graves, Breanna Stewart and also Candice Agee. Some long distance shots forced too much by US players and the team didn't fight hard on def rebounds, while was very efficient on blocks. Moriah Jefferson very quick as expected, but penetration by US backcourt not optimal and Michaela Mabrey (10 ast !) missing the easiest lay-up all alone under the basket.
Of course, USA to be watched again vs stronger opponents.

[carlo]

USA-Argentina 35-10 at halftime.
North American girls defending very well, are led by Breanna Stewart and Morgan Tuck. Again the US back court has some probems to drive to the basket through a tight defense.
Jannah Tucker injured early in the game and was unable to get back to the court. USA have now just 9 available players !

[tmlouk]

IMO this is the worst USA team over the last years. Just 68 Points in a game is kind of an blame and not typical usa style.

[CKR13]

68 points is still respectable for USA. Defense has been good so far. Argentina scoring only 28 points is a let down to me, considering their fluid offensive pacing.

Argentina's Llorente, Sol Sancisi and Jourdheuil were contained. I also credit the defense for trying to disrupt the ball reversal plays and pacing of Argentina.

Up next is Colombia (1-1).

[carlo]

In fact, it was a defensive game, where USA were excellent stopping any offensive effort of Argentina but shot very poorly (worse from 2-pt than from 3) but it's maybe too early to come to any conclusion- Stewart and Tuck are top world players in their age.
For sure the fact that USA started with a roster of 10 now reduced to 9 doesn't help !

[CKR13]

USA winning against Colombia 87-36. Morgan Tuck lead the team with 17 points on 7-10 shooting. U.S. will next square off against the second-placed team in Group B on Aug. 18 at 8:15 p.m EDT. At stake is the gold medal game.

[carlo]

Watched the game and appreciated:
1) Fine US shooting from 3pts by Michaela Marbrey and Alexis Prince (yesterday's best imo)
2) Finally two excellent penetration through the basket by Mo Jefferson
3) Some incredible 3-pointers by Colombia Maria Tapias (one reminding ... Celine Dumerc)
5) US team consistent defensive effort, surely much better than offense
4) Bashaara Graves, on paper one of the top players, below the average

Breanna Stewart dnp the 2nd half (not sure if whole or part).