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Team USA Pulls Away in Second Half to Remain Perfect at U.S. Men’s International Friendly

By NWBA, 07/11/16, 10:15PM CDT

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Colorado Springs, Colorado – The U.S. Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team, who will be competing at the Rio Paralympics in September, were tested by Spain on the third day of the U.S. Men’s International Friendly at the Olympic Training Center. After being knotted up at halftime, 20-20, Team USA rolled to a 63-35 victory, and kept its record impeccable at 4-0. 

The first half was a see-saw affair that witnessed four ties in the 10-minute quarter. Two-time U.S. Paralympian Nate Hinze of Cedar Grove, Wisconsin, gave Team USA a 10-8 with 35 seconds left in the first, and then a last second shot by John Gilbert of Fairfax, Missouri, put the United States up 12-8 after the first. Gilbert will be making his first Paralympic Games this fall.

Spain’s Jordi Ruiz opened up the second half scoring six points, and forcing another three tied in the second quarter, and took a two-point advantage, 20-18, with 20 seconds remaining until three-time U.S. Paralympian Josh Turek of Council Bluffs, Iowa, tied the score with a jumper to close out the half, 20-20.

At the intermission, Team USA re-grouped and took control with the fourth lead change of the game at 9:08 of the third quarter and never looked back as they embarked upon an impressive 15-2 run over the next seven minutes for a 37-22 lead. This run was sparked by three-time U.S. Paralympian Steve Serio of Westbury, New York, who scored all nine of his points in this stretch, which included a devastating three-pointer.

To close out the third quarter’s last 2:12, Turek contributed six of his 12 points in the game, 43-27.

The fourth quarter, Team USA continued its fast pace and stingy defense with four-time U.S. Paralympian Matt Scott of Southfield, Michigan, scoring his total 10 points in the last quarter. Jake Williams of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who will be making his first Paralympic Games in September, scored 12 points in the game.

Great Britain closed out the third day by edging away from Spain in the second half, 76-60. Both squads played to a 28-28 tie after the first two stanzas. Great Britain controlled the tempo for the last two quarters, outscoring Spain 19-16 in the third, and then 29-16 in the fourth quarters. Terry Bywater and Abdi Jama were the top two scorers for Great Britain, with 20 points and 17 points, respectively. Great Britain’s Ade Orgbemi also found double digits by sinking 12 points. For Spain, Alejandro Zarauela scored 14 points, while Jordi Ruiz contributed 10 points.

Tuesday, both Great Britain and Spain will tip off in the only game of the day at 6 p.m. MDST. Team USA returns to the hardwoods on Wednesday with a double header against both Great Britain and Spain, at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively. All games are free and open to the public.

During the July 4th weekend, the U.S. Men’s Team went a perfect 5-0 in Great Britain to win the Challengers Cup, which included victories over 2014 World Champion Australia, and a defeat of host Great Britain on July 4. To win the Challengers Cup, USA edged out the Netherlands, 63-61.

The U.S. team will open the Rio 2016 Paralympics on Sept. 8, against host country Brazil in the Rio Olympic Arena. The U.S. men’s team qualified for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games by winning the 2015 Parapan Am Games in Toronto, Canada. The U.S. men outscored the competition by 36 points per game.

The U.S. men’s team finished with a bronze medal at the London 2012 Paralympics and look to improve in Rio de Janeiro. The men’s team finished seventh in 2004 and fourth in 2008, following bronze-medal performances in 2000 and 1996.

U.S. Head Coach Ron Lykins of Columbia, Missouri, will be joined on the sidelines will be assistant coaches Robb Taylor of Auburn, Alabama, and John Sikora of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Scott Meyer of Columbia, Missouri, will serve as the Team Leader, with Mary Vacala of Savannah, Georgia, filling the athletic trainer position. Also assisting in preparations are strength coach Michael Cohen of Savannah, Georgia, and team psychologist Dr. Roberta Kraus of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The officials for the competition will be Beth Uhlrich of Denver, Colorado, Buddy Barnes of Decatur, Alabama, and Joe Sloan of Columbia, Missouri.

Records

United States, 4-0; Great Britain, 2-2; Spain, 0-4

Results

Saturday, July 9

USA def. Great Britain, 72-59

USA def. Spain, 66-46

 

Sunday, July 10

Great Britain def. Spain, 67-52

USA def. Great Britain, 67-43

 

Monday, July 11

USA def. Spain, 63-35

Great Britain def. Spain,76-60