Mid-City resident Kareem Maddox scored four points as the United States defeated Chile, 21-15, in the gold medal game of the Pan American Games men’s 3×3 basketball tournament Monday in Santiago, Chile.
The U.S. allowed the game’s first five points and trailed by six three times, then outscored the Chileans, 16-4, over the final three minutes, 10 seconds for the victory.
Consecutive 2-point baskets by Canyon Barry, former Brigham Young star Jimmer Fredette and Barry gave the Americans their first lead, 14-12, 5:38 into the game. The U.S. increased its lead to 17-12 with 4:13 left on a 1-point basket by Fredette and two free throws.
The 6-foot-8-inch Maddox, a former standout at Oak Park High School and Princeton University, made a free throw with 2:41 left to assure the U.S. of the victory.
Barry scored a game-high eight points. He is a son of Rick Barry, a member of the NBA’s 50th and 75th anniversary teams.
Fredette added seven.
Kevin Rubio led Chile with seven.
Fredette scored 11 and Maddox six in a 21-9 semifinal victory over Trinidad and Tobago earlier Monday.
Fredette was the Americans’ leading scorer for the tournament with 47 points, making 26 of 47 shots, 55.3%, and three of four free throws, 75%, as the U.S. won all five of its games.
The Pan American Games gold medal was the second for the 33-year-old Maddox who was also a member of the 2019 gold medal-winning team. Maddox was also a member of the U.S. team that won the FIBA 3×3 World Cup in 2019 and the U.S. team which sought to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, but lost in the quarterfinals to the Netherlands in 2021.
3×3 is played with a 12-second shot clock on a half court. Baskets inside the arc and free throws are worth one point and baskets made from outside the arc are worth two points.
The winner is the first team to score 21 points or the leading team at the end of the 10-minute game clock.