Canada Is Golden at FIBA Americas Tournament

What a year it has been for Windward School freshman . She seems to have the Midas touch on the basketball court, as every team she plays for turns up gold.

After playing a key role in the Wildcats' run to the Division IV state championship in the winter, the 5-foot-6 guard helped the USA Women's U16 National Team to the gold medal with a 73-40 victory over Brazil in the final of the 2011 FIBA Americas Tournament last Saturday in Mérida, Mexico.

The victory earned the United States (5-0) a qualifying berth into the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship August 17-26 in the Netherlands.

Canada scored six points in 12 minutes on the floor and her basket gave the United States a commanding 38-10 lead with 3:24 left in the first half. The U.S. had beaten Brazil 71-54 in its first game of the tournament, with Canada scoring four points and dishing out three assists.

"The best part was being together as a team," Canada said. "Our chemistry together was excellent. We played great together and I'm always going to remember how we laughed and joked together. Everything about the team, I'm going to miss it a lot."

Canada had two points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals in her team's 82-46 pool play victory over Argentina;  seven points, four assists and two steals in a 114-32 rout of Venezuela; and added four points and five assists in a 99-51 semifinal victory over Puerto Rico on June 17. 

"It's an amazing feeling," Canada said of winning the gold medal. "I've always dreamed of this. When I made the team I was excited and now the hard work that we've been through at practice has all come together. I'm very excited. It's unbelievable."

Canada started 15 games as a freshman at Windward, averaging 12.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 7.0 steals per game while making 54 percent of her three-point baskets and 71 percent of her free throws. She was chosen to the 2011 Cal-Hi Sports All-State Freshman Team and was named Southern Section Divison 4A Co-Player of the Year. 

Windward teammate  is a member of the 2011 USA Basketball Women’s U19 World Championship Team, which will meet for a training camp July 11-15 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to begin preparations for its Group B preliminary round game against Japan on July 21. 

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