Sports

Team USA, Hebard fillet France 78-51, advance to FIBA U19 semifinals

Ruthy Hebard of Fairbanks tallied four points and led Team USA with seven rebounds in Friday's 78-51 win over France in the FIBA U19 World Cup of women's basketball quarterfinals in Italy.

Hebard, a three-time Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year for West Valley, went 4 for 4 from the free throw line in 14 minutes of action.

France (3-2) and the Americans (5-0) were tied 18-18 after the first quarter. Team USA used runs of 14-1 and 11-2 in the second half to pull away.

Team USA will be making its ninth straight U19 semifinal appearance, according to USA Basketball, and will face Japan (5-0) at 11 a.m. ADT Saturday. The game can be streamed live at fiba.com. Canada (5-0) and Russia (5-0) will square off in the other semifinal.

The championship game is Sunday.

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