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U16 FIBA Americas Championship: Aliyah Boston helps Team USA to another gold medal

By Daniel Benjamin

Apr 2, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; General view during the national anthem before the 2017 Women's Final Four championship game between the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs and the South Carolina Gamecocks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; General view during the national anthem before the 2017 Women's Final Four championship game between the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs and the South Carolina Gamecocks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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2019 Top-10 recruit Aliyah Boston dramatically helped her recruit ranking with her performance in the U16 FIBA Americas performance.

USA women’s national U16 team capped off a sensational 2017 FIBA Americas Championship with a 91-46 victory over Canada in the gold medal game on Sunday evening. Aliyah Boston was named the championship’s MVP after averaging 11.8 points and 8.6 rebounds in five games

The United States (5-0) used a 20-0 run in the second quarter to break open the title game. The Americans gave up 21 points in the opening 10 minutes, the most they surrendered in a quarter during the tournament. The USA led 27-21 at the end of the first quarter but increased their lead to 50-25 at halftime.

“We just kept getting stop after stop,” said USA head coach Carla Berube. “In the first quarter, I thought we allowed them to get a lot of easy drives. They were getting to the rim on us. In the second quarter, we really shut that down and got some important defensive rebounds, and that was leading to easy offense.”

Related Story: USA Women’s National Team: 2020 prospect Paige Bueckers sets U16 shooting record

Azzi Fudd saved her best game of the championship for last. Fudd led the US with 18 points. She was 7-of-12 from the floor, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. The 2021 prospect also had three assists, five steals, and one block.

Boston and Zia Cook chipped in with 15 points apiece. Paige Bueckers added 11 points while Diamond Miller contributed 10 points. Boston and Jordan Horston each hauled in six boards. 2019’s top-ranked prospect Sam Brunelle swatted away five shots.

Boston will likely move up from her ESPN Hoopgurlz No. 9 ranking when the next update becomes comes available.  The 6’4′ post player demonstrated throughout the tournament why she is so highly rated.

Boston is a very good defender, finishes well at the basket, and has a nice touch from mid-range. She produced one double-double while also tallying double figures in scoring three times and rebounding twice. The Worchester, Massachusetts, native led the competition with 26 offensive rebounds. Boston, who shot 54.3% from the floor, blocked eight shots,  recorded 12 steals and had an efficiency rating of 18.4.

Defensively, the US limited Canada (4-1) to 29.0% shooting from the floor and forced 31 turnovers. Canda came into the contest leading the competition in shooting percentage. The U.S. held the Canadians’ leading scorer Brynn-Ann Masikewich scoreless and their No. 2 scorer Sarah Te-Biasu to just four points.

With the win, the U.S. improved to 3-0 against Canada in the FIBA Americas Championship — all matchups have been in the title game. The red, white, and blue has now claimed four gold medals and is 24-1 all-time in the competition.

Next: Which players should have avoided the NBA Draft?

Argentina (3-2) defeated Columbia (2-3) 59-52 in overtime to take bronze. Argentina and Columbia join Canada and the  U.S. as qualifiers for the U17 World Championships next summer.

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