US wins bronze at AmeriCup

Gary Clark

USA Basketball didn't head home from AmeriCup empty-handed. Gary Clark (6'6''-SF-1994, college: Cincinnati, agency: Pensack Sports) scored 18 points, and the U.S. rallied in the final minutes to top Canada 84-80 in the bronze-medal game on Sunday. The Americans went on a 26-10 run over a 7-minute stretch of the final quarter, turning what was a 63-56 deficit into an 82-73 lead. 'I'm happy for our guys,' U.S. coach Alex Jensen said. 'It was an honor to be a part of it.' It was the ninth time in 11 appearances at AmeriCup - the championship of the FIBA Americas region - that the U.S. captured a medal. The Americans have won gold seven times, silver once and now have a bronze. Canada was seeking a seventh medal in 19 appearances at the event. Jodie Meeks - an NBA champion who spent 10 years in the league with seven teams - scored what may have been his final three points as a competitive player during that late run by the U.S. Meeks' only points on the day came when he got fouled on a 3-point try and made all three of the free throws with 3:31 left, pulling the U.S. into a 71-71 tie. Meeks is planning to retire and begin a coaching career. His teammates sent him out with a medal, and Clark's layup with 1:43 left put the Americans on top for good. 'It's definitely been an experience for our guys,' Clark said. 'The weather's nice. I think most guys were upset that they couldn't get in the ocean because of sharks ... but we've enjoyed our time here.' Abu Kigab (6'7''-F-1998, college: Boise St., agency: Green Sports Management) scored 18 points for Canada, while Kadre Gray (6'1''-G-1997, college: Laurentian) and Jahvon Henry-Blair (6'4''-G-1998, college: Georgetown) had 15 apiece. Zylan Cheatham (6'8''-F-1995, college: Arizona St.) scored 16 for the U.S., while Craig Sword (6'3''-SG-1994, college: MSU) added 11 and Norris Cole (6'2''-PG-1988, college: CSU) led the team with eight assists. Going home medalists, even though it wasn't a higher-profile event like the Olympics or World Cup, wasn't insignificant to the group of G League and internationally based players that the U.S. assembled for this trip. 'From Day 1, I felt it,' Jensen said. 'You're part of a special group.'
Courtesy of: apnews.com