Yunyang, China – The NetScouts Basketball USA All-Stars won the title in Yungang by defeating China 94-75 in a game that was not as close as the score indicated. Point guard Diante Watkins led six Americans in double-figures with 15 points. The game was played before a close to capacity crowd of 4,893.
The USA got off to 17-9 lead before China tied the game at 17. The USA then scored the last four points of the quarter to take a 21-17 lead at the break. The Americans then put away the games with a 30-10 second quarter advantage. They extended their lead to 81-47 before coasting to the 19-point victory.
Six Americans scored in double-figures. Besides Watkins, Javier Carter scored 14 points, connected on 2-of-3 three-pointers and had two highlight dunks. Thomas Bropleh, James Crowder and Julius Brooks all added 13 points. Will Artino contributed a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out midway through the fourth quarter. The Americans were 12-of-30 (40%) from long distance with Watkins (3-of-4), Crowder (3-of-6) and Artino (2-of-4) being particularly effective. The USA shot 54% on their two-point attempts and played solid defense throughout the game holding China to 34% shooting on two-pointers and 22% (6-of-27) from long distance.
Once again the USA All-Stars had problems at the foul line. They shot only 6-of-13 (46%) and overcame a 23-shot disadvantage in foul shot attempts as the Chinese connected on 27-of-36. The USA was solid on the boards ending the game with 13 offensive rebounds and a +10 overall rebounding advantage.
Lithuania (1-2) defeated Canada (0-3) 84-77 in the opening contest of the night. Next up is a travel day as all the teams will head to the second city, Dazu, which is about a 6-hour bus ride from Yunyang. The tournament continues in Dazu on Monday evening.
NetScouts Basketball USA All-Stars
Diante Watkins (Robert Morris/Germany) 15 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals
Brandon Clark (Santa Clara) 0 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists
Mikey Thompson (Boise State) 6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assists, 1 steal
Aaron Rountree (Wake Forest/Iona) 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block
Thomas Bropleh (Boise State/NBA D-League) 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
James Crowder (Pfeiffer/Finland) 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Javier Carter (South Alabama/NBA D-League) 14 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks
Julius Brooks (Loyola-MD/Latvia) 13 points, 5 rebounds
Will Artino (Creighton/Estonia) 12 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists
Mardracus Wade (Arkansas/NBA D-League) 6 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals
Media inquiries can be directed to Carl Berman at carl@netscoutsbasketball.com.
Information on NetScouts Basketball can be obtained here. Detailed articles on the tour will be found on the NetScouts Basketball Blog. Email carl@netscoutbasketball.com to get on the mailing list for tour related articles, information and photos
