Liepaja, Valmiera and Riga, Latvia - June 30-July 10, 2011

The USA’s attempt to repeat as FIBA U19 World Champions fell short in Latvia, however, the Americans defeated both the gold and silver medalists and while finishing fifth, tied for the best overall record with a 7-2 win-loss record.

USA head coach Paul Hewitt led the USA squad to three preliminary round wins to open the U19 World Championship. Opening play with an 115-60 rout of Egypt, all 12 USA players scored and Doug McDermott tallied 19 points. Some big plays at critical times by a mixture of USA players and a balanced scoring attack that was paced Joe Jackson’s 19 points paved the way to an exciting 80-78 victory over Serbia. Behind double-digit scoring from four USA players the U.S. closed preliminary play with an 82-66 win over China. Lamb paced the USA’s balanced scoring effort with 17 points.

The fireworks for the USA’s Fourth of July celebration started midway through the first quarter and when the final horn sounded, the Americans, led by 16 points from James Bell, had improved to 4-0 with a convincing 83-54 win against Canada in second round opening day action. Lamb tallied a game best 35 points and Patric Young came up in overtime with two three-point plays off of monster dunks to lead the USA to an outstanding 107-105 overtime victory over Lithuania. Lamb’s 35 points were the second highest single game point production for a USA U19 team member since the event was staged in 1979. Croatia scored five points in the game’s final 50 seconds to steal an 87-85 win over the USA. The loss was the USA first setback of the championship. Lamb scored a game best 25 points and Young finished with 15 points and eight rebounds.

Earning the Second Round Group E No. 1 seed, the U.S. faced Russia in the medal round quarterfinals. Russia, behind 12 of 29 shooting from beyond the 3-point arc, combined with the USA going 0-for-9 from 3-point, earned a 79-74 win to end the USA’s gold medal hopes. Lamb paced the USA offensive effort scoring 21 points.

Getting points from all 12 players including a game best 19 points from McDermott, the USA rebounded impressively from its quarterfinals loss to rout Poland 84-47. Tim Hardaway, Jr. scored a team high 21 points and Lamb tipped in his own miss to provide the USA with the winning margin as the USA finished off the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship with a nail-biting 78-77 victory over Australia in the game to decide fifth place.

Lamb, who finished averaging 16.2 ppg., was named to the five-member All-FIBA U19 World Championship Team.

The USA established three USA team competition records and also improved on five USA single game team marks.