Dominant American youth basketball team reigns supreme yet again
In recent days, internet users have been sharing photos of young basketball players from the United States and El Salvador on social media, and the photo has gained popularity once again.
1:37 PM EDT, May 23, 2024
The photo shows under-16 basketball players waiting to go onto the court. The Americans stand proudly in line while their El Salvadoran opponents accompany them with considerable shyness. The height advantage of the United States players is striking. The shortest American player is still taller than any player from El Salvador.
The photojournalist captured a memorable moment because his photo regularly makes the rounds on the internet. It turns out that it has been five years since the match between the young basketball players from the United States and El Salvador took place in 2019.
The difference between the teams was evident in the tunnel leading to the court and the game. The Americans won the continental championship 114:19. El Salvador's best quarter result was nine points; in the last quarter, they scored only one point from a free throw.
The United States is a larger country than El Salvador, and more money is invested in the development of female basketball players there. The most talented go through rigorous selection, while in El Salvador, the team often consists of volunteers. For example, the young Americans were equipped with the exact footwear, while their opponents had to arrange it.
Years have passed since the match with El Salvador captured in the photo, and the Americans are still achieving colossal victories. For example, in the previous season, the under-16 team defeated Mexico 123:27 and the Dominican Republic 106:34. They practically never lose, and no one fights.
The Americans play more evenly matched games in adult basketball, yet they can boast the greatest successes. In 2020, they became Olympic champions, and in 2022, they became world champions. El Salvador can only dream of such achievements.
