Team USA was finally tested – and in a big way – on Friday in the U19 World Cup quarterfinals, surviving formidable France 70-65. USA moves on to play Spain on Saturday in the semifinals.
On yet another underwhelming shooting performance from the perimeter (4-15) from three, the Americans leaned on three of the things they’ve most been able to count on during the tournament: a remarkable team-wide defensive effort, a 20-point outing from Saniyah Hall, and a double-double from Sienna Betts.
Dominant rebounding had also been a trademark of every USA performance until Friday. Against France, however, the Americans were merely good on the glass, finishing with a 43-38 advantage. France actually won the second-chance points battle 13-6.
The only statistical components of the game where either team had a major edge was USA’s 42-26 advantage in points in the paint.
USA led for all but 25 seconds of the game and went up double-digits in both halves, whereas France’s largest lead was one point. The French came fairly close to erasing a 12-point deficit in the final three-and-a-half minutes, coming as close as 66-62 with 1:04 after trailing 64-52. However, USA never let them score again until Stella Colas hit a three with two seconds left. The Americans successfully inbounded the ball to Kayleigh Heckel, who sunk both free throws to secure the win.
Hall had a game-high 26 points shooting 11-22 to go with six rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block. She made three of the Americans’ four three-pointers on eight tries. Hall is now averaging 19.6 points per game, good for third at the World Cup, to go with 6.4 rebounds.
Betts played a whopping 39 minutes and scored 14 points (6-11 FG) with a game-high 11 rebounds plus a block.
Hall and Betts have been USA’s two most consistent two-way players, and there’s a strong argument to be made that they were the two most consistent stars in high school basketball in 2024-25. Betts was named The Sporting News’ National Player of the Year and the Wootten Award winner with 23 points, 16.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 3.4 blocks, and 2.3 steals per game on 60% shooting for Grandview (CO). Hall was a consensus 1st Team All-American and National Junior of the Year with 20 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.8 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game against one of the nation’s hardest schedules for Montverde Academy (FL) in extraordinarily consistent fashion.
Heckel had 13 points on 4-7 shooting and a game-high four assists. The only other American to crack 20 minutes of action was Jordan Lee, who was second on the team with 35 minutes. One of the keys to America’s defensive dominance on Friday and in all previous games, Lee totaled nine points (3-6 FG), six rebounds, two assists, and team-highs of three steals and three blocks.
France was led by wing Nell Angloma, who had 20 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Sarah Cisse totaled 12 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks. Aissatou Keita-Cissoko had 10 points and five rebounds on 5-7 shooting. Colas added seven points, seven rebounds, and a game-best four steals.
Clearly, the Americans aren’t untouchable, which is indeed news as their closest game until Friday was a 79-49 rout of Hungary. If they shoot it as well from three as they’re capable of, they might be. Spain’s defense has been roughly as dominant as the Americans’, but the Spanish are yet to score 70 points.
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