USVI U-18 team falls to Brazil at FIBA Americas
Published: June 18, 2012
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Despite a tremendous scoring output from Khalid Hart, the U.S. Virgin Islands Under-18 men's basketball team fell behind early, and then the host crowd took over.
Hart knocked down four 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 29 points, but Brazil rolled to an 84-65 victory over the USVI in both teams' second game at the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship tournament in Sao Sebastian do Paraiso, Brazil, on Sunday.
The USVI fell to 0-2 and will meet Mexico (0-2) at 2 p.m. today. These teams met two years ago at the same tournament when the USVI recorded its first win ever at the FIBA Americas Championships.
On Saturday, the USVI also dropped its tourney opener to the United States, 105-42.
The tournament's semifinal round begins Tuesday, and the USVI was drawn in Group A with the USA, Mexico and host Brazil for the five-day tourney. Group B includes Canada, Puerto Rico, Argentina and Columbia. Each team will play in the semifinal and final rounds this week.
USVI coach Jareem Dowling was not available for comment.
Justin Gray finished with 11 points and a team-high six rebounds for the USVI, while Rasheed Swanston added six points and four rebounds.
Lucas Dias Silva notched 21 points and led four double-digit scorers for Brazil, which topped Mexico on Saturday, 79-69.
In Saturday's other action, the USVI went up against the top-ranked team in the world, the United States. It was the second time in two years Team USA had topped the USVI in this tournament.
Hart finished with a team-high 12 points for the USVI while Swanston converted two 3-pointers and added 11 points. No USVI player recorded more than three rebounds as a steady USA front court dominated in the paint.
After it fell behind, 48-24, at halftime, the USVI notched only eight points in the third period.
University of Memphis recruit Shaq Goodwin made all 12 of his field-goal attempts and all six free throws to lead the Americans with a game-high 30 points. Goodwin was one of four double-digit scorers for the USA, and his performance was the third-highest scoring output ever for Team USA in an Under-18 event.
In the hunt for its sixth gold medal, the USA are a combined 40-2 overall at this tournament and have won the gold medal in 1990, 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2010.
The top Under-18 players from the territory make up one of the eight teams vying for a spot in next summer's 2013 FIBA Under-19 World Championship. Only the top four teams will advance.
- Contact sports writer Aaron Gray at 714-9102 or email agray@dailynews.vi.
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