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HomeNewsArchivesJunior Men’s Basketball Team Finishes Tourney in Fourth Place

Junior Men’s Basketball Team Finishes Tourney in Fourth Place

Aug. 6, 2007 — The V.I. Junior Men's basketball national team concluded the Under-17 tournament with a loss to Tournament of Americas-bound Mexico 103-88 Saturday night.
The V.I. team finished the five-day tourney with one win and four losses.
Despite being the shortest team in the tourney, the V.I. team proved a tough out with close losses to Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.
"The one thing the kids took from this tourney was that the international game is more important than a neighborhood, high school or an island vs. island game," said head coach Jareem Dowling. "It is about the Virgin Islands! Each individual must sacrifice a piece of their game for the benefit of the team."
The V.I. team outrebounded the Central American national team by 20 (64-44), but that effort was negated by 33-percent field-goal shooting. The most telling stat of the game came at the free-throw line. The Virgin Islands struggled mightily, going a combined 16 of 37 at the charity stripe.
Mexico won the first period 25-21, and extended its lead to 10 at the half, 50-40. The lead ballooned to 26, with Mexico outscoring the V.I. team 36-20 in the third frame. The V.I. team showed its toughness by outscoring Mexico 28-17 in the final stanza.
"I have great respect for these guys," Dowling said. "In this game, as well as every other game, it was a fight. Whenever we got down, this team responds in a big way. These guys gave everything they had and more."
The Virgin Islands became the fan favorite, exhibiting the hustle and scrappy play that the Puerto Rican crowd favored.
"We were accepted and cheered for by the people of Puerto Rico," Dowling added. "Their fans respected the way we play."
The Virgin Islands had five guys in double-digit scoring, led by O'lani Vanterpool's 21 points and 10 boards. Kyle Sylvester and Ashai Mathurin also had double-doubles with 17 points and 11 rebounds and 10 points, 10 rebounds, respectively. Curtio Fredericks was one rebound shy of a double-double and finished with 12 points and nine rebounds, while Aubrey Daniel had his best offensive game of the tourney and finished with 11 points.
Mexico placed four players in double figures, led by Carlos Lopez's 25 points. Juan Casillas and Daniel Tames both tallied 23 points, and Cesar Lopez chipped in 14.
Puerto Rico (5-0) finished the tournament undefeated and advanced to the Tournament of the Americas with Dominican Republic (3-2) and Mexico (3-2). The Bahamas (3-2) finished in fourth, followed by the Virgin Islands and Trinidad (0-5).
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