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Team USA Drops to 0-4 at U23 Men’s World Championships

By NWBA, 06/11/17, 8:00PM CDT

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Photo Courtesy of Wheelchair Basketball Canada

TORONTO, CANADA – The 2017 U.S. Men’s U23 National Team has dropped to 0-4 in pool play, with one game remaining against South Africa on Monday, at the 2017 IWBF U23 Men’s World Championships. The United States, who got down in the first quarter, were never able to get on top to Japan. Team USA lost 64-57 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in downtown Toronto.

Japan started off hot in the first quarter with an 18-6 lead to close out the first, and then Team USA came back in the second quarter with 23 points, to be behind, 36-29. The next two quarters belonged to Japan scoring enough to come away with the victory.

Leading the way for Team USA was Kyle Gribble of Elmhurst, Illinois, with 19 points on the day. Fabian Romo of Marshall City, Texas, and Marshall Lindsay of Stansbury Park, Utah, tabulated 12 and 10 points respectively.

Takuya Furusawa paced Japan with 21 points, with Renshi Chokai contributing 13 points.

Up next, the United States will tip-off on Monday against South Africa at 12 p.m. EDST.

Paralympic medalist Jeremy Lade of Whitewater, Wisconsin is the U23 Men’s Head Coach and is his first international coaching assignment. Joining Lade on the sidelines are assistant coaches Christian Burkett of Seattle, Washington, and Scott Meyer of Columbia, Missouri. Kelly Fischbach will serve as the Team Leader, with Mike Lenser of Whitewater, Wisconsin working at the athletic trainer.

The United States was drawn into Pool B for the 12-team World Championships. Quarterfinals for the World Championships is slated for June 14, followed by 5th-10th place games and semi-finals on June 15. The gold and bronze medal games scheduled for June 16.

The U23 men’s wheelchair basketball program is an international development team that serves as NWBA pipeline to the U.S. Men’s National Team. This program provides elite youth athletes the opportunity to compete at the international level. Team USA has reached the championship game in three of the last five U23 World Championships, having won in 2005 and 2009. The United States claimed a bronze medal in 2001, and did not participate in 2013. 

2017 IWBF U23 Men’s World Championships Results

Toronto, Canada, June 8-16

Pool Play – USA record, 0-4

Great Britain def. USA, 87-50

Germany def. USA, 75-51

France def. USA, 62-54

Japan def. USA, 64-57

2017 IWBF U23 Men’s World Championships Schedule

Toronto, Canada, June 8-16 (All Times EDST / Home Team Listed Last)

June 12 at 12 p.m.

South Africa vs. USA

June 14

11th/12th Place Game at 10 a.m.

Quarterfinals at 12 p.m.; 3 p.m.; 6 p.m.; 8 p.m.

June 15

9th/10th Place Game at 10 a.m.

7th/8th Place Game at 12 p.m.

5th/6th Place Game at 3 p.m.

Semi-Finals at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

June 16

Bronze Medal Game at 10 a.m.

Gold Medal Game at 12 p.m.

2017 IWBF U23 Men’s World Championships Pools

Toronto, Canada, June 8-16

Pool A: Turkey, Iran, Brazil, Australia, Canada, Italy

Pool B: Great Britain, Japan, United States, France, South Africa, Germany