The 2018 U21 World Deaf Basketball Championships kicked-things off with a vibrant Opening Ceremony on July 7th at the Field House on the Gallaudet University campus in Washington, DC. Over the course of the week from July 7 - 13, Team USA Men and Women's teams played their best through the qualifying rounds to make it into the Championship game on which were hosted on July 14th.
Here is a short recap of the week's games:
USA Women delivered 101 - 50 defeat of Italy in their Opening Game
USA Men won 103 to 24 against Israel in their Opening Game
USA Women defeated Lithuania 88 to 42
USA Men played against Australia for a final score of 95 - 28
USA Women beat Japan by a score of 71 to 50
USA Women 74 - 30 Turkey
USA Men defeated Ukraine by a score of 93 to 48
USA Men 113 - 39 Lithuania
USA Women prevailed against Italy in the Semifinals 78 - 18
USA Men defeated Canada by a score of 126 to 23 in the Quarterfinals
USA Men narrowly avoided an upset by Spain in the Semifinals 78 - 73
Championship Games:
The USA Women defeated Japan by a score of 79 - 63 in the Gold Medal game of the 2018 Women's U21 World Deaf Basketball Championships. Two USA players earned accolades for their performances this week. Cassidy Perry was named Most Valuable Player of the Women's 2018 U21 World Deaf Basketball Championships. Hannah Neild was named to the Best Five team for the Women's 2018 U21 World Deaf Basketball Championships (the five strongest overall performers in the tournament were selected for this award).
The USA Men defeated Japan by a score of 81 - 63 in the Gold Medal game of the 2018 Men's U21 World Deaf Basketball Championships. Japan's Kazuma Tsuya was named Most Valuable Player of the Men's 2018 U21 World Deaf Basketball Championships. USA's Rogers Printup was named to the Best Five team for the Men's 2018 U21 World Deaf Basketball Championships (the five strongest overall performers in the tournament were selected for this award).
The U21 Basketball Championship in Washington, DC, USA, has concluded. USADSF shares our deepest gratitude to the Organizing Committee, USA Deaf Basketball, ICSD, ICSD Technical Director for Basketball, the volunteers, referees, interpreters, medical staff and athletic trainers for making this event a success. We thank all the countries for traveling to the USA to participate in this memorable competition.
Onwards to the next U21 Basketball Championship in 2022!
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Team USA Women's 2018 U21 Basketball[/caption]
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Team USA Men's 2018 U21 Basketball[/caption]
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Team USA U21 Basketball Champions[/caption]
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Team USA Women's Coaches with the Championship Trophy[/caption]
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Team USA Men's[/caption]
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Team USA Banner and Gold Medal[/caption]