Americas Under-16s Podium Finishes for Canada

Canada's teenage dreams came somewhat to fruition at the conclusion of the concurrent men's and women's Under-16 Americas tournaments. After both sides had seen their own levels of success in the group stage, it now came down to where it all matters: the knockout round.

A loss at any point here would see their title hopes ended and with no room for error both teams responded in their respective Mexican host cities.

On the men's side, Puerto Rico put the first points on the board but Canada started to surge ahead with nine threes in the first half alone (They had twelve total in the game). In addition, their points in the low post saw them go in front by twenty points at half time and they continued this upward trajectory when play resumed.

Not even a double-double by Alejandro Alvies - 22 points, 11 rebounds - could save the Puerto Ricans as six Canadians scored in double-digits, with a team-best 20 by Mikkel Tyne who also dished a game-leading seven assists, in the 93-65 win. They marched on to face long-standing rivals the USA in the semi finals.

Team USA had the scoring edge in the first quarter, at the end of which they led by double digits, only for Canada to take control of the game's rhythm in the second and their low post play levelled the scoreline when the teams headed to the locker rooms.

Canada began the second half by taking a four-point lead, but while Olivier Rioux led a defensive effort that saw Canada keep out the opposition at any cost, the Americans restored their double-digit advantage with a 13-1 run. Greater depth and outside scoring saw the USA reach the game's highest lead of 21 points before closing out the game and ending the title hopes for Canada with a final score of 99-81.

While Canada were left disappointed on missing out on the final, which would be contested by the USA and Argentina, they could still leave Mexico on a high note in the bronze medal game against the Dominican Republic. After a nervy start where the Dominicans took an early five-point lead, Canada kept finding open looks in the low post to go in front by double digits in the second quarter.

Seven three pointers in the second half, taking their total to nine, kept the Canadians in the lead while the Dominicans tried to make up their deficit in the paint. There was no catching Canada, who reached a game-high twenty five points before finishing the game 92-76 winners. Jacob Theodosiou was the best scorer for the team with fifteen points in seventeen minutes played, a big part in the Canadian capture of the 2021 tournament's bronze medal.

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At the same time, the women's team were looking to remain undefeated when their tournament resumed in Guanajuato. In their quarter-final match-up, after four lead changes in the early phases of the game, Canada went on to a big advantage over Chile following twenty-three unanswered points.

They held the Chileans to four points in the second half and scoreless in the final period en route to booking their semi-final place. Scoring was taken care of by Sumer Lee, Delaney Gibb and Cassandre Prosper, who led all with 21 points and 16 total rebounds in the contest, which the Canadians won 76-25.

This high-energy offence continued against Argentina, against whom Canada opened with ten points unanswered. Fighting for every shot attempt and dominant in the paint, they were able to carry on their double-digit advantage as Argentina were simply unable to match them. Three Canadian players were tied for high scorer with fourteen each while Prosper completed a double-double with 13 in both points and rebounds.

With fifty-eight points in the paint, a commanding performance from Canada which finished 74-47 in their favour, they reached the tournament final where waiting for them were basketball's premier nation, the USA. A tight start to the final gave a glimpse of hope it was possible this Canadian team could deny the United States a sixth Americas Under-16 title.

It did not last long: the Americans soon had a double-digit lead and played shut-down defence, limiting Canada to just a handful of points for all four quarters. Cassandre Prosper closed out her tournament with a team-high 13 points for Canada, but with JuJu Watkins leading all with 28 points for the USA, she won the tournament MVP and her team were the Americas champions, beating Canada 118-45.

Each team finished short of where they would have liked to have, but with the men's and women's teams finishing in the top four, they have both earned a place in their respective Under-17 World Cups next year. They also leave with medals to show for a week of hard work and giving their all for Canada.