Gordon Hayward scored a team-high 20 points and Seth Curry and Howard Thompkins had 12 apiece as the U.S. routed Canada 93-73 in the quarterfinals of the FIBA U19 World Championship in New Zealand.
Tyshawn Taylor and John Schurna added 10 points apiece for the Americans (7-0).
The U.S. set a record for most 3-point field goals made and highest single game 3-point shooting percentage, making 14-for-26.
“We didn’t play well in our last game and that may have been understandable as it was our sixth game and we had our spot (into the quarterfinals) clinched. But I thought today we played with a real sense of focus and urgency, especially offensively. I thought we were unselfish,” said USA and University of Pittsburgh head coach Jamie Dixon
Texas-bound wing Tristan Thompson led Canada 18 points and 8 boards.
The U.S. will face Croatia (6-1) Saturday.
Croatia downed Puerto Rico 91-78 despite Mike Rosario’s 25 points and 7 rebounds and Jio Fontan’s 20 points, 4 assists and 3 steals.
“We gave our all,” Fontan said. “Croatia’s a tough team to play and they run good sets, their big guys shoot the ball from the outside and finish on the inside, so they’re a real good team and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them take out the gold medal.
Greece (5-2) will face Australia (7-0) in the other medal semifinal game Saturday. Winners of the semifinal match-up advance to Sunday’s 7:30 p.m. gold medal game.
COBBINS INJURED AT REEBOK
It was tough to see Michael Cobbins, a 6-9, 210-pound big man from Amarillo, Texas, laid out on the floor at the Reebok All-American Camp.
Cobbins injured his knee cap and was taken away on a stretcher to Temple University Hospital. His father and camp director Chris Rivers are with him.
“We’re sitting here waiting for a prognosis from the doctor,” Rivers said.
The game involving his Baller Circuit team was suspended.
We hope he’s OK but it didn’t look good.
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