Both Team USA 3x3 Squads Drop Second Pool Play Games
It was another disappointing day of pool play for both United States 3x3 basketball squads. Both teams lost in tight matchups on July 31, keeping Team USA winless in 3x3 Olympic competition thus far.
Not only do these early losses hurt in pool play, but they affect the United States’ point tallies moving forward. With back-to-back losses for both squads, Team USA currently sits in last place in the 3x3 standings among fellow Olympic competition. The only other teams that have lost both games in pool play to this point are France on the women’s side and Lithuania on the men’s side.
Luckily for Team USA, each 3x3 squad has five games remaining in pool play, so there will be ample chances for movement in the standings prior to the quarterfinal round.
Here are some takeaways from day two of pool play for Team USA:
Game Two: Women’s 3x3 Vs. Azerbaijan
Right away, Azerbaijan jumped out to a three-point lead over the United States in Team USA’s second pool play go-around.
After some back-and-forth play from both squads, the score was eventually tied at 10 points apiece with just under five minutes to play. Team USA tied things at 17 with 1:02 left in the game and had a chance to take the lead.
Unfortunately, after a Rhyne Howard offensive rebound, a Team USA shot clock violation gave Azerbaijan the ball and subsequently an 18-17 lead of their own. Hailey Van Lith had a chance to put the Americans ahead with a two-pointer, but any last-minute hopes fell short with a miss, and Team USA ultimately lost 20-17.
Van Lith continued to be productive for Team USA, finishing with five points, two key assists, and, once again, the only two-pointer for the United States.
Dearica Hamby was quiet scoring-wise in the beginning but came alive down the stretch and scored a team-high seven points with five rebounds. Cierra Burdick also had a solid game, finishing with four points, four rebounds, and two key assists.
Howard, who only scored one point, has yet to find her stroke in Paris fully. In game one, she shot 0-for-5 from 2-point range and 1-for-8 overall from the field. Against Azerbaijan, she shot 0-for-2 from 2-point range and 1-for-5 overall.
Shooting continues to be a struggle in general for Team USA, as the Americans have only shot 2-for-14 from distance and 21-for-41 overall. If they can get some jumpers to fall, then pool play has a chance to flip in their favor down the stretch of the schedule.
The United States will have two chances to win its first pool game on August 1. The first game is against Australia at 7:00 a.m., and the second is against Spain at 3:30 p.m.
Game Two: Men’s 3x3 Vs. Poland
Poland was in control from the first check ball on the men's side, jumping out to a 3-0 lead like Azerbaijan on the women’s side. Such remained the case for Poland, as by the seven-and-a-half-minute mark, they held a 7-2 advantage over the United States.
Throughout the contest, the United States continued to fight back to hold its own on the scoreboard. Even when Poland led 17-12 with just under three minutes to play, Team USA did its best to keep the game alive.
With time running down, Jimmer Fredette scored to cut the Americans’ deficit to one point, but any late-game attempts from Fredette and Canyon Barry were not enough to knock off Poland. Team USA ultimately lost 19-17 as time expired.
Overall, it was a fairly evenly matched contest. Both teams racked up quite a few turnovers, and neither shot particularly well from the field. Team USA shot a better mark from the field with one-point shots, going 8-for-11, but Poland had four two-pointers to the United States’ two, proving advantageous on the scoreboard.
Barry and Dylan Travis led the team in scoring this time around with six points apiece. They also combined for five rebounds. Fredette finished with three points, while Kareem Maddox had two points to round out Team USA’s offensive production.
Like the women’s squad, if the men’s team can shoot better and get some two-pointers to go its way, then Team USA could make a run in its remaining pool play games.
The men’s team also has two games on August 1. Game one is against Lithuania at 1:05 p.m., and game two is against Latvia at 5:05 p.m.
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