Grandview High School senior-to-be Sienna Betts had an outstanding opening game for the USA U18 women’s basketball team in Monday’s opener of the group phase of the U18 Womens’ AmeriCup tournament in Bucaramanga, Colombia.
The Wolves’ star and two-time reigning Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year played just over 18 minutes for the American team as one of its five starters and was the lone player of 12 who saw action in a 97-51 win over Brazil to record a double-double in points and rebounds.
Betts pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds and also finished with 12 points (one behind Kayleigh Heckel for the team lead), while she had four of the 10 blocks for coach Teri Moren’s American team to boot in a runaway victory.
Betts opened the scoring in the game with a hook shot in the opening minute and by the time she checked out in the first quarter, the Americans had a 20-5 lead and never looked back. A 25-point lead after one quarter became 27 at halftime, then 36 at the end of three quarters and the final margin of 46.
The American team returns to action in Group B play Tuesday against Puerto Rico, which also won its opening game.
— Sports Editor Courtney Oakes
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