KAUNAS (2012 FIBA U17 World Championship) – The United States blasted past Australia 95-62 to defend their title at the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship with another undefeated run to the crown.

Conner Frankamp paced four players in double figures with 22 points with tournament MVP Jahlil Okafor adding 17 points and 8 rebounds.

Justise Winslow collected 13 points and 11 rebounds with Jabari Parker scoring 12 for Team USA, who won all eight games at the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship as well.

Dante Exum was the only Australian who could find some success against the Americans with 21 points while Nick Duncan scored 10 points.

Australia had no answer for Okafor in the first quarter as he scored 11 points in helping the Americans build a 22-14 lead.

Team USA’s stifling defense did not allow the Australians to get the ball into the low post as they scored just two points in the paint in the second quarter and went into the half having missing 20 of 24 three-pointers.

The Americans used a 12-0 run for a 26-14 lead. Parker played through a sore ankle and scored eight points in the second quarter in helping push the gap to 14 at halftime 38-24.

The Australians tried to fight back into the game in the second half with Exum scoring six straight points for the Aussies to cut the deficit to 40-30.

However, the USA answered with 6-0 run of their own and the Oceania powers would only get to within 12 the rest of the third quarter.

The Americans were up 64-43 going into the final frame when they remained relentless on defense and did not let Australia even close – with the lead never dipping below 19 points.

FIBA