United States will head into Friday's quarterfinals with momentum after crushing China by 69 points in final preliminary contest in Lithuania.
Perhaps inspired by a significant date in history, the United States crushed China 116-47 on Wednesday on the final day of group play at the FIBA U17 World Championship. The competition is being played in Kaunas, Lithuania.
The USA ran through its group with ease, going 5-0 and winning by an average margin of 40.6 points per game. Croatia was the only other country to emerge from the prelims unbeaten.
Conner Frankamp
Photo by Steven Maikoski/USA Basketball
On the Fourth of July against China, the United States led 77-34 entering the final stanza, then erupted for 39 fourth-quarter points – its best single-quarter output in Lithuania.
"We tried to give 100 percent because it’s July fourth," guard
Kendrick Nunn of
Simeon (Chicago) said. "But we also had to come out with the win because it’s the game to decide the first place in our pool."
Seven Americans scored in double figures, led by Kansas Jayhawk commitment
Conner Frankamp with 17. Frankamp's running mate at the point guard position,
Tyus Jones of
Apple Valley (Minn.), handed out 11 assists.
Stephen Domingo (16 points),
Stanley Johnson (15), Nunn (13),
BeeJay Anya (13 points, 10 rebounds),
Jahlil Okafor (13 points, 9 rebounds) and
Justise Winslow (12 points, 12 rebounds) joined the parade of players hitting double digits in the scoring column.
"There's nothing better than representing your country, especially on a day like Independence Day," Domingo said.
With a spot in the quarterfinals already secure, top-rated Class of 2013 prospect
Jabari Parker sat out to rest an injured toe for the second time in as many days.
Dakari Johnson, a 6-foot-10 center from
Montverde Academy (Fla.), also sat out of Wednesday's blowout.
"We had two of our really good players out tonight, but we subbed five for five almost every time," Domingo said. "We have two equal lineups and that's how we did it. Because you put one team in, then the other team gets tired out there and you put in another one with high energy, they get layups and steals, there's no letdown."
The 69-point winning margin for the United States was the largest of any game played in the event and a bit shocking considering China arrived in Lithuania ranked No. 14 (of 79 countries ranked) in the world by FIBA. The Chinese squad is 3-2 at the FIBA U17 World Championship and finished third in Group A to earn a spot in the quarterfinals.
Despite not having a player in the top eight for individual scoring through five games at the event, the United States is averaging 99.4 points per game and has topped the 110-plateau twice. Frankamp leads the team at 14.2 points per game.
Australia and Czech Republic also advanced from Group A, while Croatia, Spain, Argentina and Canada – who will face the USA on Friday – will represent Group B.
