International Sports Invitational Sports Daily - June 7
USA Red, USA White And Russia All Record Impressive Wins in International Sports Invitational Opening Day Action
The 2005 International Sports Invitational kicked off in Peterson Gym on the campus of San Diego State University with a bang Tuesday as the two USA teams in action earned wins with impressive showings. In first day action of the five-day tournament, the USA Red Team (1-0) behind 15 points from Gerald Henderson Jr. (Epipsocal Academy / Blue Bell, Pa.) rolled past Canada (0-1) 82-64; while the USA White Team (1-0), with the help of 21 points from Bill Walker (North College Hill H.S. / Cincinnati, Ohio) and 20 from Kyle Singler (South Medford H.S. / Medford, Ore.), had no trouble defeating China (0-1) 112-59. In the day's first game, Russia (1-0) upended New Zealand (0-1) 78-59.
The tournament's preliminary round action continues Wednesday with the USA Red facing China at 4 p.m. in Cox Arena (all times local), followed by New Zealand - USA Blue at 6 p.m. in Cox and the day's action will be capped with a Canada versus USA White Team contest at 8 p.m. in Peterson Gym.
USA Red 82, Canada 64
The USA Red Team, relying on relentless end line to end line defensive pressure that forced 35 turnovers, defeated Canada 82-64. The United States never trailed in the contest and led for all but 1:37.
Owning a 25-16 lead after the first quarter, the USA Red squad began the second quarter with a 9-1 run and held Canada without a field goal for the first 4:23 of the period. The USA Red's defense was just too much for the Canadian team as the U.S. held Canada to only 11 points in the quarter to take a 17 point lead, 44-27, at the break.
Canada kept the U.S. Red team from blowing the game wide open. The Canadians cut the U.S. lead to 14 points halfway through the third quarter, however, the USA refused to relinquish momentum or the lead, and extended its advantage to 24 points after posting a 7-0 run just before the end of the third quarter.
"They are a very well-coached team," said U.S. Blue's Henderson, a 6-5 guard from Blue Bell, Penn. "They played hard. We got on them defensively which I thought rattled them early, so we were able to get off to a quick lead."
Henderson and Canada's Scott Brittain led all scorers in the game with 15 points. Two other players, forward Bryan Davis (Grand Praire H.S. / Grand Praire, Texas) and Brook Lopez (San Joaquin Memorial H.S. / Fresno, Calif.) also scored in double figures for the U.S with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Lopez was also tied for the team lead with Damion James ((Nacogdoches H.S. /Nacogdoches, Texas) with eight rebounds each.
"Our effort was good," said Red head coach Otis Hughley (LeFlore H.S. / Mobile, Ala.). "Gerald did a good job tonight. He's just steady. That's 15 (points) I didn't know he had. He's just steady and solid. He's a guy you never worry about."
Forward Olu Ahaolou and guard Junior Cadougan also scored in double figures for Canada, totaling 12 and 11 points, respectively, while center Robert Sacre pulled down nine boards to lead all rebounders.
USA White 112, China 59
The USA White Team used a strong defense, hot shooting and an 18-0 second-quarter run to breeze past China 112-59 in a game in which the Americans forced 25 turnovers and shot 58.8 percent from the floor.
Already ahead 30-16 at the end of the first quarter, thanks in part to Walker's 11 points, USA White kept up its stingy defense and lights-out shooting in the second quarter and reeled off 18 consecutive points. The 18-0 run was capped by a Singler break-away dunk that pushed the lead to 52-23.
The U.S. White team entered the locker room at the half ahead 57-27 behind 58.5 percent shooting from the floor, while forcing 15 China turnovers. The USA defense, behind Greg Oden's (Lawrence North H. S. / Indianapolis, Ind.) four blocked shots in the first half, limited China to 33.3 percent shooting.
"It starts with defense," said USA White head coach Pat Fitterer (Eisenhower H.S. / Seattle, Wash.). "This group is so good defensively. We put so much pressure on China we got them on their heels. Our goal was to come out and play really well and win each quarter."
USA White came out at the start of the second half playing as well as it had in the first. Walker sparked a 9-0 run, scoring six points on three dunks to put the Americans ahead 70-31 with 6:01 remaining in the third. The USA White Team improved its field goal shooting to 59.0 percent in the second half while out-rebounding the taller Chinese squad 47-27 for the game.
"The team came out with a lot of intensity from the start," said Oden. "My mind set coming into the game was just to play hard. Blocked shots come along, rebounds come along when you play hard."
Walker scored his team high 21 points on 10-of-12 shooting and grabbed six rebounds to led six USA White players in double figures. Singler posted 20 points, Oden had 16 and a team high six blocks, Darrell Arthur (South Oak Cliff H.S. / Dallas, Texas) added 11, while Michael Conley (Lawrence North H.S. / Indianapolis, Ind.) and Javaris Crittenton (Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy / Atlanta, Ga.) each scored 10. Paul Harris (Niagra Falls H.S. / Niagra Falls, N.Y.) and Bryce Webster (St. Thomas Academy / St. Paul, Minn.) grabbed eight rebounds apiece.
Chen Jiangua, a 6-2 guard, led China with 14 points. Zhou Peng, a 6-10 center, De Lehei, a 6-11 forward and Han Shuo, a 6-6 guard, scored 12, 10 and 10 points, respectively.
Russia 78, New Zealand 59
New Zealand men jumped out to an early lead over Russia, staking to a 15-5 advantage halfway through the first quarter. However, the Russian team rattled off 11 of the next 13 points and trailed by only one point after the first quarter. Russia then outscored New Zealand by a 25-12 margin in the second quarter and never looked back.
Leading the way for Russia was 6-2 guard Artur Urazmanov who totaled team highs for both points and rebounds with 18 and eight, respectively. Other top performers included New Zealand's Thomas Abercrombie, a 6-6 guard from Auckland, who led all scorers with 19 points.
Preliminary Round Standings (Through games of June 7)
Group A W-L
USA Red 1-0
USA White 1-0
Canada 0-1
China 0-1
Group B W-L
Russia 1-0
New Zealand 0-1
USA Blue 0-0
No Time for Tee
Gerald Henderson knows pressure. The 6'5" guard is familiar not only with last second shots on the basketball court but also final putts to win a golf tournament. Henderson is as talented on the course as he is on the court, proved by him leading Epipsocal Academy (Pa.) in lowest scoring average during the 2003 golf season. But don't worry about golf getting in the way of basketball for one of 11 players selected to USA Today's list of the nation's top juniors. Henderson now focuses primarily on basketball.
His dedication has paid off. Henderson is the only 2005 Men's Youth Development Festival participant with USA Basketball experience after playing for the bronze medal winning East Team in 2004. The rising senior from Blue Bell, Pa., who averaged a team best 13.6 ppg. and tied for a team high 6.4 rpg. at last year's Festival, hopes to improve on the East Team's 2-3 record and show the international competition what the U.S. teams are made of.
Henderson translated his 2004 Festival experience to Epipsocal last season and led the school to a 25-3 record with averages of 18.5 ppg., 8.6 rpg. and 4.1 apg. USABasketball.com talked to the USA Red Team member after his fourth practice to learn the inside scoop.
You participated in last year's Festival. How does this year compare so far?
There is the same kind of talent. Last year I was an underclassmen so it was all new to me and I played with guys who were better than me but I thought I held my own. This year we've had some good practices but are looking forward to the games.
Do you think last year's experience will help you this year?
Definitely. I thought I held my own, like I said before. A lot of the guys were older but I actually started a few games so that was good experience.
What do you think of the Festival featuring foreign teams this year?
I think it makes it better. We talk about these (foreign players) and how they are fundamentally sound and how they are supposed to be better than us so it will be good to see how it plays out. Most of us haven't played foreign players so it's nice how it worked out.
How is your team coming together so far?
We're coming together nicely. We have few injuries but we can't make excuses. We have to go out and work with what we have.
What part of your game will most help the team?
Just me playing within the game and within the team. We have a whole bunch of guys who can do so many things.
You've already verbally committed to Duke University, as has your Red Team teammate Jon Scheyer. Had you met Jon prior to the Festival?
Yeah, I knew Jon. I met him in Arkansas earlier this year. He told me he was interested in Duke and the University of Illinois and I guess Duke was what he wanted. He's a great player, a great team player, great point guard, very smart and poised. I'm looking forward to playing with him and seeing how it works out.
I heard you were quite a golfer. How did you get into that?
I've played ever since I was little. I decided to put it down two years ago because I decided (basketball) was what I wanted to pursue. But it's always a sport you can go back to, it's a lot of fun.
Which sport is harder to play, basketball or golf?
Definitely golf. Especially with the hand-eye coordination. And mentally golf takes a lot more out of you.
What's harder: Making a putt to win or sinking a last second shot? I've experienced them both. I think probably the putt because you have so much time. You have to think about lining up the putt. With basketball, you just react to it.
Your father played 13 seasons in the NBA. What was it like growing up with a father in the league?
It's the best thing I can imagine. He's always there for advice and there is no better source to hear advice from than an NBA pro because he's been there before.
Did he give you any advice before you came out here?
He told me to hold my own and don't take a backseat to any of these guys but I think it's important that we play as a team.
I heard you wear two pairs of socks on the court.
How'd you hear about that?
It's in the Festival media guide. How did that get started?
Really so I don't hurt my feet. I have pretty big feet, size 15, so I have to protect them.
Don't your feet get hot?
When I take them off they're a little hot and a little stinky but I've been doing it for awhile.
One of your high school teammates, Wayne Ellington, is here on the Blue Team. How will that help your team next season?
Wayne is a great player. Ever since I met him he's been great and had a lot of potential. The last couple years he has busted out for the team. We have good chemistry. I was an established player and he came in and we made it work so well. Next year it will only be better.
If you could be anyone for the day, who would you be?
Shaq.
Who do you model your game after?
No one really but my favorite player is Dwyane Wade.
Q&A USA Softball's Dana Sorensen (San Diego, Calif.)
USA Softball sat down with pitcher Dana Sorensen to ask the San Diego native her thoughts leading up to Team USA's first game Thursday against Canada at 4:00 p.m.
What does mean for you to wear the Red, White and Blue for the first time in front of a hometown San Diego crowd?
"Wearing the Red, White and Blue at anytime is a true blessing either on or off the field. My first USA team camp was in 2001 & 2003 and it was hard not to make those teams and then I battled injuries so to be back at this point is huge, let along being home in front of my friends and family. I really think I am still in the 'I don't believe it stage.' It's a dream come true."
Tell us a little about the strong competition you will face this weekend at the International Sports Invitational?
"I think it's great that we are playing these tough, competitive teams right away. China and Australia have always been at the top of the game and Canada gets better every year. All of us (Team USA) are either coming off pro league training or college seasons so I know we are ready to go. It's going to be a great tournament."
Did you ever think as a child that softball would provide you with the opportunities it has today?
"Throughout my career in softball I have suffered from two eight-month injuries that really halted my progression. I feel like I have been on the outside looking in, but now things have come full circle. I am 24-years-old and I am just excited to be in the dugout, let alone put on a uniform. Maybe it will be real when I get in the games this weekend."
In 2004, you ended a great four-year career at Stanford; tell us a little about what you are doing now?
"Well, I graduated from Stanford a year ago this weekend and will now be entering my second year of school at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. I am studying for my masters in sports science with an emphasis in sports administration. It's a great two year program and the first year consisted of classes and graduate teaching. Next year I will begin my internship as an academic advisor for Tar Heel Athletics."
USA Men Ready for International Sports Invitational Opener
After opening the 2005 season with two wins in three matches against the Netherlands, the USA Men's National Volleyball Team hopes to notch another one Wednesday night as the two teams square off on the opening night of the International Sports Invitational.
The four-team tournament, which also features Australia and China, will take place in the Jenny Craig Pavilion on the campus of the University of San Diego.
With long-time setter Lloy Ball (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and libero Erik Sullivan (Encinitas, Calif.) retired from National Team competition and a number of other Olympians missing from the roster, a young Team USA contingent posted a set of bookend 3-0 wins over the Dutch last week on the Pacific Northwest Tour.
First-year head coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) is now hoping the United States can build on last week's success on the eve of the International Sports Invitational.
"I was pretty happy with the way we started," said McCutcheon. "I think the guys are trying to do the things we want them to do and they're playing a style of volleyball that we're very happy with. We're not making a lot of mistakes; the guys are trying to play in system a high percentage of the time. I think a lot of players have done a nice job for us so far.
"I think Rich Lambourne (Tustin, Calif.) is really doing a nice job as the libero," McCutcheon added. "Riley Salmon (League City, Texas) and Jim Polster (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) have gotten off to good starts for us on the outside. Our setters are doing well. Chris Tamas (Santa Barbara, Calif.) played his first match for us on Sunday night and set us to a 3-0 win. A lot of guys are doing well."
Last year, Team USA posted a record of 20-9 and finished fourth at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. The men, ranked No. 5 in the world to start the 2005 season, showed glimpses of its potential to return to the upper echelon of the volleyball world last season, posting wins over three of the top four teams in the world (No. 1 Brazil, No. 3 Serbia and Montenegro and No. 4 Russia-twice).
The Dutch, who finished tied for ninth at the Athens Olympics, begin the year ranked No. 11 in the world. The Netherlands captured the gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta after earning a silver medal at the 1992 Olympics.
Australia is bringing eight players from its 2004 Olympic Team to San Diego. The Aussies, ranked No. 22 in the world, finished in 11th place in Athens after posting an eighth-place finish in 2000 in Sydney.
China is gearing up to host the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The Chinese, who are ranked No. 15 in the world to start the year, have made just one Olympic appearance in their history: they finished 8th at the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
"Holland is good; we know that," said McCutcheon. "Certainly Australia is going to be a good team; they're the Asian Olympic Qualifier from last year and they have eight of their 12 players from Athens here for this tournament. China is a bit of an unknown quantity, but traditionally they're one of the strongest teams in Asia.
"We are in no position to take any of these teams lightly, and hopefully our work ethic and the things our guys are doing will pay off here in San Diego."
**Reprinted with permission from the United States Olympic Committee
