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02 - 11
September 2022
0 Jahvon Henry-blair (CAN)
04/09/2022
Game Report
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Canada finds win column in close victory over Uruguay

RECIFE (Brazil) - Canada moved to 1-1 to bounce back to victory in FIBA AmeriCup action after they battled their way to a hard fought victory over Uruguay, taking their first win 84-78.

 

Uruguay were the team to take the slight lead first, leading Canada 19-17 after one quarter thanks to efforts from Esteban Batista and Joaquin Rodriquez, who both shot over 72 percent in the match.

In one of the closest matches of the AmeriCup yet, the teams exchanged leads and kept the game close – no team ever led by more than 10 points all game – as Uruguay applied pressure defensively on Canada that forced them to lose the ball and in turn gave Uruguay 9 steals and 25 points on turnover from the game.

Devonte Bandoo hit a triple for Canada that would give them the lead back in the second quarter, but it was Jahvon Henry-Blair’s offensive skill including able to hit triples of his own that saw Canada take a 5-point lead going into halftime.

However, just as Canada would take back the lead, Uruguay dominated the third quarter to lead 61-54 going into the final ten minutes of play with Luciano Parodi stepping up to help the offense, but with a young and tenacious Canada team, no lead is ever safe.

With just over four minutes left to play in the fourth quarter, Canada clawed their way back to lead by one point, and Henry-Blairs continued offensive effort as one of the best players on the floor along with Dalano Banton’s well-rounded play and accuracy from the free throw line helped Canada secure their first win of the competition.

Henry-Blair led all scorers with 23 points including six 3-point baskets while Banton added 18 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists as Canada’s talented duo helped them fight back for the win.

Rodriguez led Uruguay with 21 points including four 3-point baskets while Batista ended the night with 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting going 88.9 percent from the floor.

 

FIBA