The USA and Canada will meet in the semifinals of the FIBA U19 World Cup on Saturday at 2:30 ET after both teams won their quarterfinal matchups Friday in Cairo, Egypt.
The U.S. defeated Germany, 81-59, after holding Germany to 28 points in the second half. The Americans led 33-31 at the break.
The Americans shot 45.3 percent (34/75) from the field in the win, while Germany hit 39.4 percent (26/66).
“Here’s what happens – you have teams that are going to play with such high intensity and focus, it’s just can they do it for 40 minutes,” asked USA head coach John Calipari of Kentucky. “The way we are doing this, when we are playing 10 or 11 kids and they are playing 22 or 18 minutes, you just keep coming at people in waves.
“We don’t have any weak links on this team. We just don’t. What I’m seeing right now is us pressuring them, and at some point, they will back off. Now, they (Germany) went zone, and it was bang, bang, bang with 3s.”
Auburn sophomore Austin Wiley dominated down low with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Purdue’s Carsen Edwards went for 12 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists and UNLV’s Brandon McCoy added 8 points and 7 rebounds.
“Carsen (Edwards) did a good job playing defense and giving us a lot of energy. Without him, I don’t know if we would have gotten over the hump like we did,” said Cam Reddish, who contributed seven points, six caroms, five assists and three of the team’s 14 steals.
“Carsen Edwards was the one guy that went in and changed the game because of his intensity, and he was dragging people with him,” said Calipari. “Payton (Pritchard) played well, I thought, in that group. In the second half, all those guys that have been starting, played well. I thought Austin (Wiley) rebounded and got baskets and did his usual thing. Cameron (Reddish) played better in the second half. I don’t think anyone played poorly.”
Hudson Catholic senior small forward Louis King went for 9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 assists. King is being recruited by Kentucky but has yet to earn an offer from USA and Kentucky coach John Calipari.
Kentucky’s Hamidou Diallo and P.J. Washington managed just 11 points between them while battling foul trouble.
Earlier Friday, Canada defeated France, 73-67, to secure that country’s first-ever birth in the medal round at the U19 World Cup.
R.J. Barrett led the way with 27 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists while incoming Oregon freshman Abu Kigab added 17 points and 15 rebounds. Grant Shephard chipped in with 12 points and 5 rebounds.
