Additional Quotes >> USA 113, Canada 70

June 24, 2011 • Cancun, Mexico

Don Showalter, USA head coach
Were you pleased with the energy and intensity the team had right from the start?
We talked about this being a crucial game for us, because it automatically qualifies us for the U17 World Championship. We respect Canada a lot. They’re coached very well, they’ve always given us good games the last two years. They took third in the world last year at the U17s and we certainly didn’t take them lightly. I thought our kids were really, really focused coming out of the locker room.

Canada tried to combat the USA with a zone, how did you counter that?
Our kids were really active tonight. We were active in our press, causing them a lot of trouble getting the ball up the court and we controlled the boards. Aaron Gordon was unbelievable tonight. I thought Jahlil, overall I thought our inside play really came through for us tonight.

Was there anything you were working on in the second half?
We played more zone the last quarter and a half. Part of it was because of the score and part of it was that we need to work on our two-three zone defense. I thought it was a great opportunity for us to work on that. Hats off to Coach Gray and Coach Jones. They really had our kids ready for our press. Those two are in charge of our press and they did a great job getting our kids prepared for it.

On Argentina:
Argentina is going to be tough the second time around. They run a system that’s very good and we’ve seen them three times already over the last two years and now we’ll play them twice this year, and now for the gold medal. I’m sure they’re going to be prepared for us. They’re going to be physical, no doubt about it. They always are.

Gordon

Aaron Gordon
(Archbishop Mitty H.S. / San Jose, Calif.)
On the team’s energy to start the game:
We knew there was a lot on the line, this qualified us for the (U17) World Championship. We had a lot of energy, we pumped ourselves up in the locker room. We got each other motivated. It was all good teamwork.

How does it feel now that you’ve advanced to the gold medal game and qualified for the FIBA U17 World Championship?
It’s a good position to be in. We’ve been practicing, we’ve had about 16 practices in a matter of 10 days, two weeks, and now to finally have it all come together, it’s a good feeling.

Coach Showalter brought out an Olympic gold medal to show you tonight in the locker room after the game. What did you think about when you saw it?
I want this! That’s probably the only thing that was going on in my head. I said that over and over in my head. I want this. It’s good motivation for tomorrow. It’s good that he brought that out, because it actually made it real, what we are playing for.

Were you happy you didn’t pick up any fouls tonight?
Yeah, I was. I’m starting to figure out the international game and how the refs are. I’m starting to be smarter with my fouls and more content about blocking shots.

Okafor

Jahlil Okafor
(Whitney Young H.S. / Chicago, Ill.)
How does it feel now that you’ve advanced to the gold medal game and qualified for the FIBA U17 World Championship?
It feels great. We’ve been practicing since the 10th. We had 16 practices before we started playing and it makes it all worth it.

With one more game to go, is there anything else you need to work on before tomorrow night?
I think we’re pretty much good. We just need to play as a team, play hard and the game should take care of itself.

Have you ever been on a team that plays defense like this one does?
No. The coaches stressed defense from the first day, after we found out we made the team. So, we know it’s important.

You had Canada on their heels early. Were you surprised by that?
No. We knew that they wanted to beat us badly. That kind of motivated us. We just had a bunch of energy and that helped us.

On the team’s energy to start the game:
I think everybody played hard, played great. Once one player started playing hard, it kind of wore off on everyone else.

Pinson

 Theo Pinson
(Oakridge Military Academy / Greensboro, N.C.)
On the team coming out with a lot of energy:
We knew the task at hand. We had to get to the gold medal game. We all played hard.

Have you ever played on a team that played defense like you all do?
No, I’ve not played on a team like this. We preach defense in my high school team, but we don’t preach it like this team. We knew we have to win with defense.

How does it feel to have advanced to the gold medal game and qualify for the FIBA U17 World Championship?
We know we qualified, but we want to get to the gold. That’s all we came down here to get. We’ve got to finish the job.

It looked like everyone was really clicking, do you feel this team is getting better every game?
Yeah, we are. But we have to keep playing. We’re having fun.

How much better have you gotten as a player over the last few weeks?
I’ve gotten better on the defensive end and getting my teammates involved. I’ve always done that, but it’s been fun playing with all these great players, knowing that this makes it easier on me and everyone else. We’re just going to keep playing until we get that gold medal.

Williams

Johnathan Williams
(Southwind H.S. / Memphis, Tenn.)
 On Canada:
They played very good. They played good on defense and offense, but we’re bigger than them. Bigger and stronger.

On his blocks:
The ball was just right there, so I blocked them. Most of the time the ball just came close to my ears, so I was able to block them.

On the energy and focus by the team tonight:
Yes, ma’am. We were focused because we want to get the gold medal next year and in order o get the gold medal next year we had to qualify. And plus, we wanted to play for the championship tomorrow, to get the gold medal.

Coach Showalter brought out an Olympic gold medal to show you tonight in the locker room after the game. What did you think about when you saw it?
I want to have that so bad.

On the team’s chemistry:
We all have fun together. We all talk. We all hang out with each other and we’re all good friends. We’re like one big family.

Has your game gotten better over the last few weeks?
Yes, it has. Especially my shot blocking, defense and getting rebounds.