International Sports Invitational Sports Daily - June 10
USA's Second Half Defense Smothers China, Leads To 88-50 Victory and Berth In Gold Medal Game (Basketball)
The USA (3-0) women remained unbeaten at the 2005 International Sports Invitational, but it took 16 points from Nicky Anosike (Tennessee / Staten Island, N.Y.) and a second half dominating performance that saw China (0-3) limited to 16 totals points as the USA rolled to an 88-50 win. In Friday's other women's game, Russia (2-1) got 27 points from Elena Danilotchkina and stormed to a 93-81 win over Australia (1-2) to claim a berth in Saturday's gold medal game.
The women's competition concludes Saturday with the undefeated Americans facing Russia in the 6 p.m. (PDT) gold medal clash. The U.S. and Russia played on the tournament's opening day (June 8) and the USA scored an 89-69 victory.
Australia and China will meet at 2 p.m. in the bronze medal game. The women's gold and bronze medal games are being held at San Diego State University's Cox Arena.
"We're going to have to play much better defense then we did in the first half today," said USA head coach Gail Goestenkors about Saturday's gold medal clash with Russia.
"We're going to have to have 40 minutes of great defense. If you make a mistake they always make you pay for it. They hit their open shots, they're very aggressive to the basket and they have so many kids that can hit the 3-point shot we're going to have to have a complete game on both ends of the floor."
After shooting just 41.7 percent in the first half, the American women, owning a 43-38 lead with 7:41 to play in the third quarter, cranked up the defensive intensity that resulted in a 30-1 run. The run, which saw the USA score 24 straight points, also included the U.S. holding China scoreless for a 10:36 span covering the third and fourth quarters. When China finally scored again with 7:05 left in the game, the U.S. was fully in command, 73-41.
The USA carried a 19-12 advantage into the second quarter and China fought back to tie the score 30-30 with 2:32 left before half. The U.S. reeled off six consecutive points to regain some breathing room, 36-30. The run started when Anosike scored on a turn-around jumper in the lane, then Candice Wiggins (Stanford / Poway, Calif.) made a steal that earned her a layup, and the run was capped when Marissa Coleman (St. John's College H.S. / Cheltenham, Md.) made a steal and sank two free throws.
China, which shot 48.4 percent over the first two quarters, managed just 22.2 percent in the game's final two periods. The Americans again dominated inside, outrebounding China 51 to 34, with 19 of their rebounds coming on the offensive end.
For the second time in three games, all 15 U.S. players scored. Crystal Langhorne (Maryland / Willingboro, N.J.) joined Anosike in double figures, recording 11 points, Courtney Paris (Piedmont H.S. / Piedmont, Calif.) finished with nine points and a U.S. high eight rebounds.
China was spirited by Wei Zhang's 16 points and eight rebounds, and by Xin Guan's 13 points.
Russia 93, Australia 81
Possessing a four point lead with three minutes left in the game, Russia converted 7-of-8 from the free throw line, including 4-for-4 in the final 26 seconds, to slip past Australia 93-81 in both teams' final preliminary round game that decided which team would earn a trip to the International Sports Invitational gold medal game. Russia's Elena Danilotchkina scored a tournament-high 27 points to lead her team to the victory.
The first half was a back-and-forth battle that saw 13 lead changes and seven ties, and it was Australia who took a 41-39 advantage into the half, thanks to 11 second-quarter points from guard Kathleen Macleod, who paced Australia with 23 points.
The two teams came out of the half and exchanged baskets before Russia went on a 12-4 run that saw them take charge 51-47 with 5:17 to play in the third quarter.
Australia battled back, putting together a 9-4 run that cut the Russian lead to just one, 57-56, with 2:12 left in the third and the quarter ended with Russia up 66-63.
That was as close as Australia would get. Russia built a nine-point fourth quarter lead, 76-67 with 6:45 left in the game, and was able to keep Australia at arm's length for the remainder of the contest with its accurate free throw shooting.
In addition to Danilotchkina's 27-point effort, three other Russians scored in double figures. Forward Natalia Bogdanova scored 17 points and led her team with eight rebounds, and guards Evgenia Belyakova and Anastasia Anderson added 16 and 11 points, respectively. Anderson also dished out five assists in the game.
Players in double figures for Australia included guard Renae Camino and forward Abby Bishop. Camino accounted for 22 points and seven rebounds, while Bishop added 10 points. Forward Michaela Dombkins recorded a game-high nine rebounds and finished with seven points for the Aussies.
USA in Position for Medal Sweep as White and Blue Advance to Gold Medal Game, USA Red to Play Russia for the Bronze
Following Friday's semifinal contests, the three U.S. teams are positioned for a possible red, white and blue medal sweep at the 2005 International Sports Invitational at San Diego State University.
The USA White Team (4-0) fought a tough Russian (1-2) squad and came out on top 105-86 for the right to advance to the gold medal game. The USA Blue team defeated the USA Red team 96-74 to advance to the gold medal game. In consolation play, New Zealand (1-2) advanced to the fifth place game by virtue of a 77-59 triumph over China (0-4).
The weekend concludes with all June 11 action taking place at Cox Arena. The final games begin at noon with the fifth place game between Canada (1-2) and New Zealand. The bronze medal contest, featuring Russia and USA Red, tips-off at 4:00 p.m., while USA White and USA Blue will face off for the gold medal at 8:00 p.m.
USA Blue 96, USA Red 74
Led by 29 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and eight steals from O.J. Mayo, the USA Blue Team (3-0) remained undefeated Friday night and earned a trip to the gold medal game against also unbeaten USA White (4-0) after posting a 96-74 victory over the USA Red Team (2-2). The Red squad will face Russia in Saturday's bronze medal clash at 4:00 p.m. in Cox Arena, while the White and Blue face off at 8:00 p.m.
It was USA Red who catapulted to 10-0 lead just 2:33 into the first quarter but it was only a matter of time before the USA Blue was back in the game. The Blue squad used the free throw shooting of Lance Thomas (St. Benedict's H.S./Scotch Plains, N.J.) to overcome their slow start and take a lead, 23-21 after one. Thomas went 6-for-8 from the line during an 11-2 run that cut the Blue lead to just one, 12-11 with 4:25 left on the first quarter.
The beginning of the second quarter was a reversal of fortunes for the teams, as the Blue squad opened the period on a 10-0 run of their own over the first two minutes of the period and by halftime had captured a comfortable 48-33 lead. In that second period, Dwayne Collins (Miami Senior H.S./Miami, Fla.) posted eight of his 13 points, extending the Blue cushion to 15 points.
"Once we got back in control, and once these young men were playing and running their stuff, we were very good," said Blue head coach Ron Crawford (Arkansas AAU Wings). "And when we are not, we're just like other teams, just about average, even with the talent. It is very hard to maintain a 27, 28 point lead in this kind of competition. It was a great effort by a great group of young men."
The Red offense stalled in the second quarter producing only 12 points on just 26.3 percent shooting (5-19 FGs), to a 75.0 percent shooting effort (9-12 FGs) by U.S. Blue. Overall, Blue outshot the Red squad 53.7 percent (36-67 FGs) to 36.0 percent (27-75 FGs) for the game.
Scoring woes continued for USA Red early in the second half, as the team fell behind by 25 points after a 16-6 run by Blue that lasted for the first 6:02 of the half. The deficit eventually grew to 28 points, 71-43, with 2:15 left in the third quarter and Red coasted into the fourth with a 74-49 lead.
Mayo, who had posted a double-double at halftime with 10 points and 10 rebounds, took over in the fourth quarter, shooting 5-for-5 and finishing with game-highs for points (29), rebounds (11), assists (6) and steals (8) and the Blue team coasted to a 96-74 victory.
In addition to Mayo's 29 points, four other players finished in double figures for USA Blue. Wayne Ellington (Episcopal Academy / Wynnewood, Pa.) finished with 18 points (8-13 FGs) and eight rebounds. Collins closed out the game with 10 points and eight boards, while Corey Stokes (St. Benedict's H.S./Bayonne, N.J.) and Thomas finished with 12 (4-5 FGs) and 10 (2-6 FGs) points, respectively.
Leading scorers for USA Red included Daequan Cook (Dunbar H.S./Dayton, Ohio) who posted 13 (6-for-20) and Gerald Henderson, Jr. (Episcopal Academy/Blue Bell, Penn.) and Brook Lopez (San Joaquin Memorial/Fresno, Calif.) who each finished with 11 points. Lopez's twin brother, Robin, posted six blocks in the game for the Blue team.
USA White 105, Russia 86
The USA White Team (4-0) fought a tough Russian (1-2) squad and came out on top 105-86 for the right to advance to the gold medal game. With four starters whistled for no less than three fouls apiece, the White looked to its bench and Javaris Crittenton (Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy / Atlanta, Ga.) and Kyle Singler (South Medford H.S. / Medford, Ore.) did not disappoint, combining for 40 points.
"It was a great team effort," said USA White head coach Pat Fitterer (Eisenhower H.S. / Seattle, Wash.). "Javaris was huge tonight, he came in and gave us a great spark. We didn't adjust to the officiating very well and Greg (Oden) got out of it early. You don't always get what you want but tonight we finally adjusted and got the job done."
Darrell Arthur (South Oak Cliff H.S. / Dallas, Texas) opened the scoring with a jumper 48 seconds into the game but Russia stayed close and took the lead on a three-point play by Maxim Sheleketo. The Russians fought for second-chance baskets, continued to build their lead thanks to six first quarter offensive rebounds, and earned their biggest lead, 24-17, on a Konstantin Berkov jumper with 2:25 left in the first. The U.S. closed the gap and Crittenton hit one of two free throws 3.9 seconds left in the period to cut Russia's lead to three (28-25) at the break.
Reynolds found Greg Oden (Lawrence North H.S. / Indianapolis, Ind.) for a layup after Paul Harris (Niagara Falls H.S. / Niagara Falls, N.Y.) stole the inbound pass 18 seconds into the second quarter to cut the Russian advantage to two, 27-29. Oden grabbed an offensive rebound and tied the game with a basket at the 8:06 mark and the teams were knotted at 29-29.
Two free throws by Singler gave the Americans their first lead, 31-30, since the 6:50 mark in the first frame. Russia tied the score on the following possession but Harris hit two free throws to put USA White ahead 35-33, a lead it never relinquished.
After a turnaround jumper from Artem Yakovenko brought Russia within one, 38-37, the White Team reeled off seven straight points, capped by a Scottie Reynolds (Herndon H.S. / Herndon, Va.) layup from his back court steal to up the American advantage to 45-37 at 5:00 left in the half.
Another 7-0 run, which included five points from Michael Conley (Lawrence North H.S. / Indianapolis, Ind.), gave USA White a double-digit cushion, 51-41, with 3:18 remaining in the half.
The Americans entered the locker room with a comfortable 56-43 lead after outscoring Russia 31-15 in the second quarter in large part to 87.7 percent (20-23 FTs) from the foul line in the half.
Singler and Crittenton scored 14 of the White Team's first 18 second half points to give the Americans a 22 point lead, 74-52, with 4:24 gone in the third. Russia never got closer that 16 points and the Americans eased into the gold medal game with a 19-point final margin.
USA White received a game-high 21 points from Crittenton. Harris posted a double-double with 12 points and 14 boards and added five assists and Singler notched 19 points on 5-of-6 field goal and 6-of-8 free throw shooting. Oden, despite playing only eight first half minutes due to foul trouble, scored 12, Arthur added 10 and Reynolds nabbed a game-high four steals.
Sheleketo led Russia with 19 points. Igor Smyghin scored 15, Anatoly Kashirov added 13 and Yakovenko had 10.
New Zealand 77-59
New Zealand (1-2) advanced to the fifth place game by virtue of a 77-59 triumph over China (0-4) on Friday afternoon at Cox Arena on the Campus of San Diego State University. The win advances New Zealand to the fifth place game against Canada, today at noon in Cox.
The game was a back and forth affair for most of the first quarter and at 2:53 China held its final lead of the game. Ten seconds later New Zealand went up for good, 9-8. Four different Junior Tall Blacks contributed points in a 12-4 run as New Zealand opened it up to 21-12 at the end of the first quarter. The Kiwis outscored China 20-16 in the second to take a 41-28 halftime lead.
New Zealand came out in the second half and went up by as many as 23 (57-34) at the 2:32 mark. However, in this win or go home game, China slowly scrapped its way back and with just under five minutes to play, pulled within 10 points, 65-55. However, New Zealand outscored China 10-4 to close the game and earn its first victory.
In addition to his 23 points, nine rebounds and two assists, New Zealand's Thomas Abercrombie filched one from China. New Zealand also received 19 points from Corey Webster and 14 from Benny Anthony.
Chen Jianghua scored 18 points in his team's losing effort, while Han Shou and Xu Lei each contributed 10 points.
Both squads had difficulty hitting their mark as New Zealand shot just 35.9 percent (23-64 FGs) from the field and China connected on a frigid 33.3 percent (23-69 FGs) overall, while the two sides committed a total of 49 turnovers. The Kiwis won the battle on the glass 56-42.
Mendoza leads U.S. in 7-0 run rule against China (Softball)
A triple shy of the cycle, USA's Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) had a stellar 3-for-3 afternoon leading Team USA to a 7-0 rout of China on day two of the International Sports Invitational. The USA is now set to take on undefeated (2-0) Australia on Saturday at 11 a.m. Playoffs will begin Saturday afternoon followed by the grand final game on Sunday.
"Jess did a fantastic job for us today," said head coach Mike Candrea (Tucson, Ariz.). "She has really come into her game and is swinging the bat well. I thought all our pitchers did a great job today and the team performed well."
"I have really been trying to work on things," said Mendoza. "Before I was a new kid on the block, and now I am a little more relaxed because I am older and more experienced. I am beginning to fit into my own."
The Red, White and Blue offense exploded early in the first inning with five runs on three hits and two Chinese fielding errors. Mendoza led the hitting parade with a one out RBI single up the middle plating Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.) who reached on a bad throw by Yu Yanhong. A Mendoza stolen base, a walk to Kelly Kretschman (Indian Harbour Springs, Fla.) and another fielding error loaded the bases for a sacrifice flyout by Tairia Flowers (Tucson, Ariz.) for the 2-0 lead.
Vicky Galindo (Union City, Calif.), who has yet to make an out for Team USA in the tournament, then beat out an infield base hit to score Kretschman followed by a double to left center from Jaime Clark (Tustin, Calif.) to push the 5-0 lead.
A Mendoza solo home run to centerfield in the second continued the U.S. advantage before an RBI double from Jenny Topping (Whittier, Calif.) allowed Mendoza to score the U.S. 7th and final run.
Galindo contributed a 2-for-2 outing with an RBI and Clark added one hit and two walks.
The U.S. defense remained solid throughout the game allowing the only Chinese hit of the game on a bunt single from Xin Minhong in the first inning. Retiring seven straight, the only other Chinese player to reach base was in the fourth on a hit batsman.
Left-handed pitcher Leigh Ann Ellis (Barboursville, WV) earned the win for Team USA while starting pitcher Jamie Southern (Clovis, Calif.) made her U.S. National Team debut with two scoreless innings allowing one hit and adding a strikeout.
Australia 4, Canada 1
Australia improved its record to 2-0 at the International Sports Invitational with a 4-1 win over Canada to lead off day two of competition. Catherine Bishop recorded her second win of the event after working five innings in relief for the Aussies.
Australia took advantage of costly walks in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Following a single by Natalie Titcume that loaded the bases, Amanda Doman walked to drive in the first run of the game. A single by Belinda Summerville scored Titcume for the other run in the inning.
Canada responded with a run in the bottom of the first when Rachel Schill led off with an infield single, stole second and third and scored on a throwing error by Kym Tollenaere.
Australia extended its lead to 4-1 in the fourth inning with two runs on two hits. Following an intentional walk to Australia's top slugger Stacey Porter to place runners on the corners, Titcume came through with a two RBI single to extend the lead.
Porter is now hitting .833 for the event with two home runs and four RBI.
USA Men Defeat China in Four to Wrap up ISI Pool Play as No. 2 Seed (Volleyball)
In a match that meant nothing in the standings and everything on the court, the USA Men's National Volleyball Team emerged victorious in its final pool play match of the International Sports Invitational at the University of San Diego Friday night.
Curt Toppel (Pacific Palisades, Calif.) scored a match-high 19 points and Dave McKienzie (Littleton, Colo.) added 18 points in Team USA's 3-1 win over China at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. Toppel had 16 kills, two blocks and one service ace in the 25-21, 20-25, 25-19, 25-18 victory as the United States wrapped up the No. 2 seed after finishing the preliminary round with a record of 2-1.
"Tonight we all just jelled together as a team," said Toppel, a three-time American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American at Stanford. "We had a lot of players come in. I clicked with the setter (Chris Seiffert), and when that happens, good things happen."
The United States and China entered Friday's final pool play match already knowing that they would meet again in Saturday's second semifinal pitting the No. 2 seed against the No. 3 seed. With nothing at stake except for the victory, it allowed both teams to give some reserve players a chance to see what they could do.
"There were a couple of objectives for us tonight, certainly," said Team USA head coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand). "Anytime we step on the court, we're trying to win. I think what we were trying to do was give some guys that haven't had a chance to play chances to play, but not in the sense that we're throwing them a bone. We have a lot of faith in our squad. We've got depth; we've got a lot of talent. It was really nice to see some of our less experienced players come in and play well."
McKienzie had 16 kills, one block and one ace as the United States improved to 4-2 overall this season. Middle blocker David Lee (Alpine, Calif.) added 10 points on seven kills and three blocks and posted a hitting percentage of .700 (seven kills, zero errors, 10 attempts).
Jim Polster (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) scored seven points for the Americans, as did his replacement in the final set, Pieter Olree (Reading, Pa.). Each had six kills.
Shi Hiarong scored 16 points on 16 kills while Tang Miao chipped in with 14 points on 12 kills and two aces for China, which finished pool play with a record of 1-2.
Netherlands def. Australia, 3-0
Kristian van de Wel scored a match-high 18 points to pace three players in double figures as the Netherlands defeated Australia, 3-0.
van de Wel had 17 kills and one block in the 25-22, 25-18, 25-19 victory as the Dutch finished pool play unbeaten at 3-0. Holland thus earns the No. 1 seed for the tournament semifinals that begin Saturday night.
With Australia finishing pool play with a record of 0-3 and earning the No. 4 seed, these same two teams will meet again in Saturday's first semifinal at 5 p.m. (Pacific Daylight Time).
Joram Maan scored 13 points on 11 kills, one block and one service ace while Rob Bontje added 10 points on eight kills, one block and one ace for the Netherlands, which defeated the USA (3-2), China (3-0) and Australia (3-0) en route to a perfect pool play mark.
Nathan Roberts, Andrew Earl and David Ferguson each scored seven points for the Aussies in the loss.
**Reprinted with permission from the United States Olympic Committee
