FIBA U18 Championship: Goldsboro's White helps lead USA to gold medal

By USA Basketball
Published in Sports on June 18, 2018 5:50 AM

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By USA Basketball

ST. CATHARINES, Ontario -- Goldsboro native Coby White pumped in 11 points and earned all-tournament honors as the USA hammered Canada, 113-74, in the 2018 FIBA Americas Men's U18 Championship gold-medal game Saturday evening.

Seven USA players scored in double figures, led by all-tournament pick Cole Anthony with 18. Matthew Hurt added 17, followed by Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (14), Armando Bacot (13) and Ayo Dosunmu (10).

Quentin Grimes claimed the MVP award.

"It feels good," said USA U18 and University of Kansas head coach Bill Self.

"I think that we saved our best for last. I thought we played great the first half, and then kind of pieced together the second half. But, the guys played great. They played unselfish, they played hard and defended.

"And, we caught Canada on a night where they probably weren't as good as what they have been, obviously, but I do think our energy had something to do with that."

Down 12-7 in the opening period, White tallied five consecutive points which ignited a 12-0 USA run. The Americans led 29-20 after one quarter and extended the margin to 61-33 by halftime.

The USA shot 52 percent in the third quarter and limited Canada to just five made field goals. Self's team also coerced its friends from the north into four turnovers, which led to eight points.

The Americans claimed their fifth consecutive FIBA Americas Men's U18 gold medal and ninth overall in the past 11.

White shot 4-for-4 at the free throw line, pulled down six rebounds and dished out two assists in 26 minutes of action.

Argentina defeated Puerto Rico for the bronze medal.