Cougs cap U19 Worlds with Gold

KLAY THOMPSON in his fifth-straight start for Team USA hit for 10 points, four rebounds and three blocked shots in 25 minutes in the gold medal as the US posted an 88-80 victory over Greece. Incoming Cougar Brock Motum and Australia placed fourth after falling to Croatia 87-81 in the bronze medal game. The gold medal for the USA team is its first in the U19 Worlds in 18 years.

Klay Thompson finished 3-for-4 from the field in the gold medal finale, including 2-for-3 from beyond the 3-point arc. In the tournament, Thompson averaged 7.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 19.3 minutes per game.

Cougar DeAngelo Casto ended his run in the U19 tournament this past week with a torn meniscus of his knee, as reported by USA Basketball. A 6-8 forward from Spokane coming off an outstanding freshman season at Wazzu, Casto averaged 6.3 points and 3.3 rebounds for the USA in four games.

The USA finished the tournament with a perfect 9-0 mark.

Thompson, who averaged 12.5 ppg last season for the Cougs as a true freshman, had to sit early in the U-19 gold medal game after picking up two quick personal fouls in the opening period. The Americans and Greeks ended the first period tied at 19-19 but the Americans went on a 16-1 run in the second quarter and ended the half up 46-30. Greece rallied in the third quarter and again late in the fourth, closing to within five points down the stretch, but the US went 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the final 40 seconds, including two by Thompson, to seal the win.

For Australia in the bronze medal game, Brock Motum finished with 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting from the field while adding five rebounds in 21 minutes of action. The 6-9 forward finished the U19 World Championship as the tournament leader in field goal percentage after shooting at a 60.7 percent clip.

Motum led his team and was tied for 20th in the championship with 13.6 points per game in 20.3 minutes of action an outing.

Motum scored in double figures in eight of Australia’s nine games.