The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SEBASTIAN Gray was the only player to score in double figures for the Bahamas, but it wasn’t enough to stop the United States of America in their 69-point massacre on day three of the 2013 FIBA Americas Under-16 Boys Basketball Tournament.

On Thursday in Punta Del Este, Uruguay, the USA routed the Bahamas 121-52 to remain undefeated at 3-0 in Pool A as they clinched one of the two spots for the 2014 FIBA Americas Under-17 Boys World Championship.

The Bahamas, coached by Quinton ‘Three Ounce’ Hall, Chevvy Simmons, Stephen ‘S’ Brown and Neville ‘Manny’ Adderley, finished 1-2 in the pool play and will now have to to play through the remainder of the tournament for a position between fifth and eighth over the next two days.

The Americans dominated from the opening tip and although the Bahamas team played with everything, they could not contain the power of their opponents, who took a 23-12 lead after the first quarter that they extended to 59-28 at the half.

In the second half, the Americans mounted a transition show, possession after possession ending with spectacular plays as they went on to their lopsided victory.

At the end of the third quarter, the Americans led 87-44. The Bahamas was held under 10 points as USA posted a 34-8 spurt in the fourth.

The United States, who played without Harry Giles, who injured his knee in Wednesday night’s 96-72 win over Argentina and will miss the rest of the championship, had six players in double figures and all 11 players in uniform scored.

The Bahamas played its entire team as well as they all scored. But it was Gray who provided the most spark with 12 points in 19 minutes on 2-for-6 shooting from the field and the three point. He was 2-for-4 from the free throw line. Gray also had six rebounds with a steal and a block.

The next best scorer for the Bahamas was Oswald Parker with seven points in 18 minutes. Both Shamar Burrows and Deondre Wilmar had six points in 23 and 20 minutes respectively. Marcian Higgins had four points in nine minutes.

The Bahamas opened play on Tuesday, losing 74-53 to Argentina, who on Thursday clinched the other spot for the World Games with their 81-51 win over Mexico. The Bahamas came back on Wednesday and beat Mexico 77-54.

The latter victory enabled the Bahamas to avenge their loss to Mexico at last year’s Centrobasket Under-15 qualifying tournament in El Salvador in which the Bahamas finished third. Puerto Rico were crowned champions followed by Mexico.