Womens U16 Games

[PalPa]

The group play starts Wednesday. Games are live online at http://www.fibaamericas.com/

Schedule for USA:

Wed 6/24 7PM EDT Argentina
Thu 6/25 3PM EDT Honduras
Fri 6/26 9PM EDT Mexico

 

[CBear01]

Are we looking at Honesty S-G? I'm hearing a great deal about her and it seems she works well playing with AEH (as teammates on several teams). Wish her lots of good fortune during these games

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Are we looking at Honesty S-G? I'm hearing a great deal about her and it seems she works well playing with AEH (as teammates on several teams). Wish her lots of good fortune during these games

Yes, they are looking at her. I'm not sure she and Espinosa-Hunter have played together yet though.

 

[CBear01]

Yes, they are looking at her. I'm not sure she and Espinosa-Hunter have played together yet though.

Aren't they teammates on the same team back home? Same school I thought

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Aren't they teammates on the same team back home? Same school I thought

Scott-Grayson transferred to Blair in the early spring so she hasn't played for the school yet. Perhaps they've played informally though as E-H sorta implies here:


Scott-Grayson, one of the top prospects in the Class of 2018 and a player UConn has shown early interest in, will join Espinoza-Hunter at Blair Academy next season.

“I’ve known Honesty for awhile and I’m excited to play with her,” Espinoza-Hunter said. “We know each other’s game. I’ll go, ‘Honesty, go here.’ She’ll go, ‘Andy, do this.’ I think we really complement each other.”

http://snyuconn.com/uconn/espinoza-hunter-team-usa-set-for-u-16-event/

 

[mrmojack]

Anyone know if these games will be streamed, and if so, what site?

 

[PalPa]

Anyone know if these games will be streamed, and if so, what site?

See OP.
http://www.fibaamericas.com/

 

[PalPa]

Canada defeated Cuba in the first game 85-43. Not sure if Canada is really that good or if Cuba is really that bad. Brazil-Venezuela starting now.

 

[kat0189]

Looks like Espinosa-Hunter, who started, logged 15+ minutes in the first half–definitely the most minutes of anyone on team USA (only V. Myers joined her in double-digit minutes w/ 11+). Has 3 points, 4 boards, 1 assist, no TO's.

USA leads 38-19 at the break. Honesty S-G had a few points off the bench. Texan guard Morris (who started) is the leading scorer for team USA at this point–13 points (5 of 6 shooting) in just about 7 minutes even.

 

[EricLA]

Pretty brutal game for Andy so far - 2-10 from the floor, 1-4 from the FT line... Still, she must be doing something right. Logged the most minutes by a mile...

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Espinosa-Hunter finished with 16 points in 30 minutes (4-14 fg, 3-6 3-pt, 5-8 ft). Also had 5 boards.

Nice games statistically for Grayson and Jade Williams.

http://www.fibalivestats.com/matches/18/15/84/10/13vSgyCZTzZ2/

 

[kat0189]

Nice finish by Espinosa-Hunter! Indeed, when I last checked the stats she had logged 20 minutes which was almost double the next nearest on Team USA, and she was at 1-8 shooting at that point and not sure if she had any FT's yet either. She finished logging 30:17, closest in terms of PT was Jade Williams at 20:20. In the glimpses I watched, Jade looked excellent, finishing both inside and also hitting a mid-range jumper.

I was hoping for a little more from Aquira DeCosta, since she lives (like me) in NorCal. I don't think I caught any glimpses when she was on the floor, so I'm just basing that off the boxscore. Still plenty of opportunities remain, I'm sure! But some locals here who have seen her describe her as a tremendous athlete but possibly a bit of a tweener.

 

[UcMiami]

AEH started the game 0-7, 0-2 from 3 and 1-4 FT - not good - but from there she went 4-7, 3-4, and 4-4

 

[CocoHusky]

AEH started the game 0-7, 0-2 from 3 and 1-4 FT - not good - but from there she went 4-7, 3-4, and 4-4

AEH was also very active defensively long arms which she use to deny many passing angles-very noticeable because you rarely see that in high school players anymore. She also showed good leadership by encouraging her teamates after things like missed freethrows and good plays every present high fives. Clearly she has the trust of the coaches because despite getting off to a very bad shooting start she ended up playing 10 more minutes than any other player. Jade Williams did some very nice things also defensively and offensively -get her in a weight room and she's move up quite a few places in the class. This was only one game and don't want to beat a dead horse but Rellah Boothe not being on this team is head scratching IMO.

 

[willtalk]

Nice finish by Espinosa-Hunter! Indeed, when I last checked the stats she had logged 20 minutes which was almost double the next nearest on Team USA, and she was at 1-8 shooting at that point and not sure if she had any FT's yet either. She finished logging 30:17, closest in terms of PT was Jade Williams at 20:20. In the glimpses I watched, Jade looked excellent, finishing both inside and also hitting a mid-range jumper.

I was hoping for a little more from Aquira DeCosta, since she lives (like me) in NorCal. I don't think I caught any glimpses when she was on the floor, so I'm just basing that off the boxscore. Still plenty of opportunities remain, I'm sure! But some locals here who have seen her describe her as a tremendous athlete but possibly a bit of a tweener.

From what I saw of DeCosta it seemed that she never got involved in the offense. She was open a few times but they either threw the ball to another player who also was open or they didn't see her in time. She seemed to be a bit frustrated because she tried to create a couple opportunities for herself by taking 2 RB's the length of the floor which led to outrunning her teammates a double team on the dribble and combined with trying to get too fancy- 2 turnovers. I did notice that there was not a lot of ball movement in the first half. They did start the second half with much better ball movement and a lot of easier scores.

 

[UcMiami]

It has been a while since I watched U16 age basketball and it was painful at times - lots of missed passes and stupid plays and a little too much one-on-one. Part of that is explained by the usual short training period and it being the first live competition. I did think AEH stood out on the defensive end, and I didn't think her shot selection was unreasonable on offense. She does seem to be a team leader in the way she handles herself.

 

[EricLA]

It has been a while since I watched U16 age basketball and it was painful at times - lots of missed passes and stupid plays and a little too much one-on-one. Part of that is explained by the usual short training period and it being the first live competition. I did think AEH stood out on the defensive end, and I didn't think her shot selection was unreasonable on offense. She does seem to be a team leader in the way she handles herself.

I thought pretty much the same thing. It seemed like any time a USA player was even in the vicinity of the basket, they jacked up a shot, regardless of the defense, if they were even remotely open, or what their teammates were doing. Sort of like an all star game - everyone gunning for shots.

BUT these kids are young, have not played together at all before, and are learning chemistry on the fly. Great experience for them, and specifically for Andy, and also for her to bond with some of the other kids UCONN is recruiting.

 

[UcMiami]

Eric - yeah that was why I mentioned the U16 - this is the first experience for all of them coming together and putting out a team effort. It is not a simple thing to do, and they do get batter at the process the more experience they get - by the time any of them make the national team, it is almost a natural process. That is also one reason that breaking into the USA system gets harder the further up in age you get - you are competing against kids that have learned the skill of quickly becoming a team. There are very few national team members through history that didn't have some junior experience earlier in their careers.

 

[CocoHusky]

I thought pretty much the same thing. It seemed like any time a USA player was even in the vicinity of the basket, they jacked up a shot, regardless of the defense, if they were even remotely open, or what their teammates were doing. Sort of like an all star game - everyone gunning for shots.

BUT these kids are young, have not played together at all before, and are learning chemistry on the fly. Great experience for them, and specifically for Andy, and also for her to bond with some of the other kids UCONN is recruiting.

Eric I agree with you on all counts, but I sure hope that "Andy" nickname doesn't stick. Andra Espinosa-Hunter is way too pretty ( dimples in both cheeks) to be carrying around a boys name. Let's go with Dra' or AEH.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Espinosa-Hunter and the US both off to a slow start again.

 

[j66kicker]

View attachment 9869
Eric I agree with you on all counts, but I sure hope that "Andy" nickname doesn't stick. Andra Espinosa-Hunter is way too pretty ( dimples in both cheeks) to be carrying around a boys name. Let's go with Dra' or AEH.

Think it may be too late...

“I’ve known Honesty for awhile and I’m excited to play with her,” Espinoza-Hunter said. “We know each other’s game. I’ll go, ‘Honesty, go here.’ She’ll go, ‘Andy, do this.’ I think we really complement each other.”

http://snyuconn.com/uconn/espinoza-hunter-team-usa-set-for-u-16-event/

 

[Sluconn Husky]

US beat Honduras 86-41 after a terrible start.

Espinosa-Hunter went 4-11, 1-4 from three, and scored 9 points in 17 minutes.

Big scoring game for Scott-Grayson, 18 points in 19 minutes (9-16 fg).

De Costa had 8 rebounds in 14 minutes.

http://www.fibalivestats.com/matches/18/15/84/12/98klHHIphKZw2/

 

[UcMiami]

USA had a very slow start - losing the first quarter, before crushing the second and fourth - USA played full court pressure most of the game and Honduras was dead on their feet by the fourth quarter. Minutes for USA were pretty evenly spaced across the whole roster - suspect the minutes for AEH from game one were sort of an oversight by the coaches (didn't realize till after the game she had been on the floor so much.) Might also have to do with the fouls the USA continues to pile up. Could be an issue in a tight game especial since USA is shooting so poorly from the line (20-39) They have committed 50 fouls so far. AEH has only committed three which I think is least of the guards.

 

[HuskiesU]

Scott-Grayson seems like a very very good player!!!!
Already hoping we lock her up

 

[EricLA]

Think it may be too late...

“I’ve known Honesty for awhile and I’m excited to play with her,” Espinoza-Hunter said. “We know each other’s game. I’ll go, ‘Honesty, go here.’ She’ll go, ‘Andy, do this.’ I think we really complement each other.”

http://snyuconn.com/uconn/espinoza-hunter-team-usa-set-for-u-16-event/

That was why I referred to her as "Andy". It's much shorter than her entire name, and even AEH does not flow off the tongue. But Andra I guess is just as short. I guess I'll call her Andra and let her call herself whatever she wants!!!