In the opening game of preliminary play at the FIBA U17 World Championship in Lithuania, California sharpshooter
Stephen Domingo provided a team-high 17 points as the United States downed Australia, 89-67.
It was the USA's second win over the Aussies in under a week as the two teams also met Monday in the final of the Gran Canaria International Invitational in the Canary Islands.
Stephen Domingo
Photo by Steven Maikoski/USA Basketball
Domingo, a 6-foot-7 small forward from
St. Ignatius (San Francisco), knocked down five 3-pointers. He committed to Georgetown in May.
Jahlil Okafor (16 points),
Conner Frankamp (13 points, 5 assists),
Jabari Parker (11 points, 8 rebounds) and
Joel Berry (10) joined Domingo in double figures.
Both Parker and Berry were returning from injuries that kept them out of the Canary Islands event.
The United States led by just six at halftime, but exploded for 36 points in the third quarter to break things open.
"I think the familiarity from the Canary Islands benefitted them in the first half," Domingo said. "But once we realized that we were the better team and that we had more athleticism and energy, we really got them on their heels in the second half."
The USA continues preliminary play in Lithuania on Saturday against the Czech Republic – a 70-64 winner of France on Friday.
"They’re very good. They play very hard," USA head coach Don Showalter said of the Czech Republic. "They know how to move the ball real quick and they have some really 3-point shooters."
