[joemontes]

Impressive QF thrashing of Czech Republic by the USA, 121-61.

Back-up PG and incoming Notre Dame freshman HIDALGO led the frenetic USA offense/defense 
with 16 pts, 13 assists and 4 steals EFF=26. That after a 12 pts, 5 assists and 8 steals EFF=22
performance vs overmatched Argentina (112-36) in the Round of 16.
She has decisively outplayed sarting PG LEPOLO who had 2 underwhelming performances
vs Argentina (0 pt, 2 assists, 3 steals) and vs Czech Rep (1 pt, 1 assist, 1 steal)

I'm totally impressed with 6'2 Joyce EDWARDS who tallied 23 pts, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks EFF-33
vs Czech Republic.  She really is a smooth and lethal offensive operator inside the paint, 
the best hands I've ever seen for a HS player

After 5 games, EDWARDS and HIDALGO leads Team USA:

EDWARDS: 
15.2 points/game (tied for 12th overall in tourney), but 2nd overall with 33.8 pts/40mins
69.8 FG% (1st overall in tourney)
EFF=19.2

HIDALGO: 
5.8 assist/game (2nd overall in tourney), but 1st overall with 12.3 assists/40mins
3.8 steals/game (3rd overall in tourney), but 1st overall with 8.1 steals/40mins

Did not see USA's victory over France today, but noticed Talana shot 4 times and was 2 for 2 from 3 (6 points), with only 1 turnover, 5 assists and 2 steals.  One of her better outings it would seem.

One can easily see, watching the games, that there are several USA guards more athletic and offensively skilled than Talana, but that is not the point.  With encouragement from TV, it would be great if we could get 7-10 points from her every game, shooting the 3 with confidence, driving the ball when she has a good angle to the basket and if she finds herself open, take that little midrange shot which she is capable of doing.  Along with the ball-handling, assists and solid defense, Stanford gains another weapon.

Definitely one of LEPOLO's better games.  She had more assists (5 vs 2) and steals (2 vs 0) 
than HIDALGO in that semifinals win over France.

I agree that it will be a big plus if she can average 7 to 8 ppg for Stanford,
with the duo of BRINK and JUMP leading the offensive charge with a combined 
30 to 35 ppg, while the trio of IRIAFEN, DEMETRE and BOSGANA hopefully 
contributing a combined 25 to 30 ppg.

---

As far as predicting the finals match-up between USA and Spain,
I'd go with USA winning by 15 points. Spain will have to overcome
the defensive pressure of the USA if they are to have any chance
of making this a tight ballgame. Having watched most of the Youtube
games of Spain, France and Canada, these three teams are quite
evenly matched (especially after watching France's squeaker of 
a semifinal win over Canada, which was 69-68 with less than a minute
remaining), and with USA's 23-point thrashing of France, 
that's where I base my relatively conservative prediction 
of a 15-point win by the USA over Spain.

[joemontes]

Impressive QF thrashing of Czech Republic by the USA, 121-61.

Back-up PG and incoming Notre Dame freshman HIDALGO led the frenetic USA offense/defense 
with 16 pts, 13 assists and 4 steals EFF=26. That after a 12 pts, 5 assists and 8 steals EFF=22
performance vs overmatched Argentina (112-36) in the Round of 16.
She has decisively outplayed sarting PG LEPOLO who had 2 underwhelming performances
vs Argentina (0 pt, 2 assists, 3 steals) and vs Czech Rep (1 pt, 1 assist, 1 steal)

I'm totally impressed with 6'2 Joyce EDWARDS who tallied 23 pts, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks EFF-33
vs Czech Republic.  She really is a smooth and lethal offensive operator inside the paint, 
the best hands I've ever seen for a HS player

After 5 games, EDWARDS and HIDALGO leads Team USA:

EDWARDS: 
15.2 points/game (tied for 12th overall in tourney), but 2nd overall with 33.8 pts/40mins
69.8 FG% (1st overall in tourney)
EFF=19.2

HIDALGO: 
5.8 assist/game (2nd overall in tourney), but 1st overall with 12.3 assists/40mins
3.8 steals/game (3rd overall in tourney), but 1st overall with 8.1 steals/40mins

Did not see USA's victory over France today, but noticed Talana shot 4 times and was 2 for 2 from 3 (6 points), with only 1 turnover, 5 assists and 2 steals.  One of her better outings it would seem.

One can easily see, watching the games, that there are several USA guards more athletic and offensively skilled than Talana, but that is not the point.  With encouragement from TV, it would be great if we could get 7-10 points from her every game, shooting the 3 with confidence, driving the ball when she has a good angle to the basket and if she finds herself open, take that little midrange shot which she is capable of doing.  Along with the ball-handling, assists and solid defense, Stanford gains another weapon.

Definitely one of LEPOLO's better games.  She had more assists (5 vs 2) and steals (2 vs 0) 
than HIDALGO in that semifinals win over France.

I agree that it will be a big plus if she can average 7 to 8 ppg for Stanford,
with the duo of BRINK and JUMP leading the offensive charge with a combined 
30 to 35 ppg, while the trio of IRIAFEN, DEMETRE and BOSGANA hopefully 
contributing a combined 25 to 30 ppg.

---

As far as predicting the finals match-up between USA and Spain,
I'd go with USA winning by 15 points. Spain will have to overcome
the defensive pressure of the USA if they are to have any chance
of making this a tight ballgame. Having watched most of the Youtube
games of Spain, France and Canada, these three teams are quite
evenly matched (especially after watching France's squeaker of 
a semifinal win over Canada, which was 69-68 with less than a minute
remaining), and with USA's 23-point thrashing of France, 
that's where I base my relatively conservative prediction 
of a 15-point win by the USA over Spain.