Spain – USA to meet up in U17 Worlds Final

The finals are set for the U17 World Championships for Women. Spain, with a 91-62 win over Japan, will match-up with the US, by virtue of an 84-59 decision over Canada.

USA – Canada 84-59
The US used a balanced scoring attack nine players scored six or more points in their semi-final win over Canada, led by Linnae Harper’s 11 points. Canada got 14 from both Kia Nurse and Emma Wolfram.
Canada came out to play with very aggressive and physical play, but couldn’t take advantage of any situations were the US went into cold shooting streaks due to the US putting on an offensive rebounding clinic and getting multiple shots on many times down the court, many times ending in either baskets or fouls and free throws. The US out-rebounded the Canadians 69-41 in overall rebounding, but more impressively, the US hauled in 38 offensive rebounds.
Canada got the early lead, but only because the US couldn’t put the ball in the basket early. The US switched to a 1-3-1 trap that the set up very high and shook the guards and helped turn the score around. The US build a small 22-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Canada scored five unanswered points to open the second quarter, the US countered with four of their own and then Canada took the lead 28-26. The US scored six straight to go up 32-28, Emily Potter got the ball on the box, made a nice spin move and dropped in a left-handed layup to cut the gap to two. That’s the last time Canada would see a close margin as the US ran off nine straight points off steals and fast breaks and getting two and three shots due to offensive rebounds. The US held a 41-32 lead at the half.
Canada was getting good looks in the paint, but Grant-Allen couldn’t find the handle on the ball. Despite going 1/10 from the floor to open the quarter, the US was able to also hold Canada from scoring and Canada couldn’t keep the Americans away from rebounds. The US outscored the Canadians 18-8 through the end of the quarter to take a 59-40 advantaged into the final frame.
Canada never mounted any series challenge in the fourth quarter and the US squad opened the margin up to as high as 29-points.
With the victory the US moves to the U17 World Championship game against Spain on Sunday at 16:00 (GMT +2).

Spain – Japan 91-62
Behind a game-high 27 points from Leticia Romero and 21 points from Maria Arrojo, who played in her first full game of the tournament due to an injury, Spain avenged an 83-79 loss to Japan in earlier pool play. Spain was also able to keep the tournament’s leading scorer, Yunika Nakamura, to only 11 points in the contest.
Romero scored 13 in the opening frame to help set the tone for the contest, with her squad jumping out to a 21-7 advantage with 2:51 left in the quarter. Japan cut the margin to 26-16 at the end of the quarter behind two jumpers in the paint and a three-pointer at the buzzer by Yamada.
Japan was able to cut the led to six during the second quarter, but Spain pushed it back to nine as they went to the locker rooms at the half.
In the third Spain went off on an 11-0 run to extend their lead to 20, 64-44, and put the game out of reach. From there out, the lead never got below 15, with Spain extending it to 29 at the end.
The win sends Spain into a match-up with the US in the finals and Japan to the Bronze medal game against Canada on Sunday.