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Team USA Goes Undefeated at U.S. Men’s International Friendly

By NWBA, 07/14/16, 10:00AM CDT

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Colorado Springs, Colorado – The 2016 U.S. Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Paralympic Games Team won the U.S. Men’s International Friendly title in style, going undefeated in the five-day event, 6-0. Team USA faced both Spain and Great Britain on Wednesday at the Olympic Training Center. The U.S. Men’s Team has now collected two international event tournament titles, going 5-0 at the Challengers Cup in Leicester, England, and today’s success, for an 11-0 record in the last two weeks. 

Team USA was tested in the night cap against Great Britain, as both teams finished the first quarter tied at 15, where there were five ties and four lead changes. The U.S. Men started the second quarter on a 10-0 run that was spurned by Aaron Gouge of Wake Forest, North Carolina, who started the run, with four others contributing. The U.S. men were up 31-23 at the half.

Great Britain turned the tables in the third, eliminating Team USA’s lead, tying the game up at the 5:19 mark of the third on a Abdi Jama jump shot, and then taking the lead on an Ian Sager field goal, 38-36, with 4:02 left in the third quarter. The British continued to stymie the Americans and closed out the third with a 44-38 advantage.

The fourth quarter was a game changer for Team USA as they quickly erased its deficit, and countered with an impressive 24-7 run to finish the game on top, 62-51. Three-time U.S. Paralympian Josh Turek of Council Bluffs, Iowa, carried the squad during the first part of the run scoring eight of his 14 points in the first four minutes of the fourth. As Turek started getting double teamed, it was time for three-time Paralympian Steve Serio of Westbury, New York, to show his abilities at the foul line and mid-range jumpers collecting six of his 11 points. Jake Williams of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, closed out the scoring six of his 14 points in the fourth.

Team USA jumped out quickly against Spain in the first of its double-header games on Wednesday. Williams, who is going to his first Paralympic Games in September, scored eight of his 10 points in the first quarter, giving Team USA a 26-14 lead after the first quarter buzzer. Spain controlled the second quarter, outscoring Team USA, 14-11. After the half, Team USA was up 37-28.

Four-time U.S. Paralympian Matt Scott of Southfield, Michigan, brought the energy back in the third as he hit seven of Team USA’s 18 points, including a three-pointer, for a 55-38 lead. To close out the game, both team’s defenses shined holding only allowing 18 points to be scored (USA 9, Spain 7) to close out the game. The United States came out with the win, 64-46.

Team USA spread the ball around with 10 of the 12 athletes contributing, as Williams and two-time U.S. Paralympian Nate Hinze of Cedar Grove, Wisconsin, each scored 10 points.

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, 6-0

Great Britain, 2-4

Spain, 1-4

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

Tuesday, July 12

Spain def. Great Britain, 64-63, OT

Wednesday, July 13

USA def. Spain, 64-46

USA def. Great Britain, 62-51