Legit And Defend Go Undefeated To Capture 2014 USA Basketball 3x3 U18 National Championships
Men’s and Women’s National Championship Tournaments that were held May 30-June 1 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. There was of course the USA Basketball 3x3 U18 National Championship titles which are symbolic of being the nation’s best 3x3 teams. And on the women’s side, the
T
winner of the USA Basketball 3x3 U18 National Championship also earned the right to be named as the 2014 USA Basketball 3x3 Team that would represent the United States at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China. After two days of intense 3x3
here was a lot at stake at the 2014 USA Basketball 3x3 U18
earned a 21-20 decision. “We did better during the rest of the evening and for tomorrow, we just have to keep playing together and keep winning.” In the women’s medal
round play on June 1, Defend earned the right to represent the United States at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games after defeating Grind Repeat 21-4 in the semifinals, then downing Southern Stars 21-14 in the championship game to finish the weekend undefeated. “I feel so good, this is such
play, Legit on the men’s side had bettered tall opponents to finish 8-0 and stake its claim on the men’s USA Basketball 3x3 National title. Likewise on the women’s side, Defend also finished a perfect 8-0 to capture the women’s championship. The Legit squad was comprised of
Charles Matthews and Napheesa Collier led their teams to 8-0 records and to titles at the 2014 USA Basketball 3x3 U18 National Championships, and in the process both were named MVP of their respective tournaments.
Defend, stood atop of the standings undefeated. Legit dominated the men’s Group A,
Braxton Blackwell (Christ Presbyterian Academy/Nashville, Tenn.), Tim Delaney (Pitman H.S./Mullica Hill, N.J.), Charles Matthews (Saint Rita H.S./Chicago, Ill.) and Kipper Nichols (St. Edward H.S./Lakewood, Ohio). Defend consisted of four USA
Basketball veterans, De’Janae Boykin (Charles H. Flowers H.S./Springdale, Md.), Natalie Chou (Plano West Senior H.S./Plano, Texas), Napheesa Collier (Incarnate Word Academy/O’Fallon, Mo.) and Arike Ogunbowale (Divine Savior Holy Angels H.S./Milwaukee, Wis.). Ogunbowale was a member of the Defend team that took the 2013 USA Basketball 3x3 U18 National Championship title and she was named MVP of the 2013 National Championship. Opening preliminary play on
May 31, by the end of the first day and preliminary round play, just one men’s team, Legit, and one women’s team,
USA Basketball News
posting five impressive wins. The closest win for Legit was a six-point, 21-15 victory over G-Unit. In Group B play, Washington earned first after completion of the first day owning a 3-1 record with its lone loss coming in overtime to Blazer 20-18. “I think we played well today,” said
6-foot-6 Nichols of Legit, who helped lead his squad to a 5-0 record. “We are improving and have been focusing on playing hard the whole game. Now, we have to keep it consistent, play as a team and fight until the very end tomorrow.” In the women’s action, Defend
Narrowly nipped Southern Stars 21-20 in both teams’ opening game of preliminary play, and from that point on Defend dominated its opposition and posted five lopsided wins, including a 21-14 win over Southern Stars in a rematch. “Our first game was kind of rough,”
said Boykin of Defend, after her team battled it out with Southern Stars and
a relief,” said University of Connecticut recruit Collier, who was named MVP of the women’s tournament. “I think we played really hard, and I tried to leave it all on the court. “Something just clicked
when we started making the baskets. Natalie (Chou) had a really sick spin move, and I think that really got us going.
We can’t wait to go to China and meet the other teams and just have fun and go through that cool experience.” Wrapping up the men’s competition
with a spotless 8-0 record, Legit won the men’s tournament after defeating Diamond State Stars 21-10 in the quarterfinals, beating Chaos 19-11 in the semis, and upending Washington 21-18 in the men’s final. “We’re very happy about this. It
was a blessing to come out here and compete,” said men’s MVP Matthews, who has signed to play collegiately at the University of Kentucky. “As we got farther in the tournament, it started to get more competitive so we just looked to close it out as a team. “I won MVP, but I wouldn’t have
been able to win it at all without my teammates; they made it all possible.” The weekend also included skills
competitions on May 30 that included a 3-point shooting contest, a skills challenge and a partner hot shot.
Continued on page 106 105
Jimena Panduro/USA Basketball
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116