Coach T.J. Morrison (standing, left) with the United World Games champs.

Triton varsity boys basketball coach T.J. Morrison guided the USA Under-16 team to the championship of the United World Games in Klagenfurt, Austria, on Sunday afternoon with a 37-31 win over a team of Americans from Stuttgart Air Force Base in Germany.

Morrison’s team battled back from a 13-2 deficit after the first quarter to top KOS Celovec, an Autrian-based Slovenian team, 49-45, in overtime in the semifinals. Colby DeLuce drew a charge late in the semifinal. A.J. Pipkins and Viktor Petrov hit big 3-pointers in the final stages.

A 38-25 win over SAC School, a team of Americans in Turkey, put Morrison’s USA club in the Final Four.

“We jumped out to an early lead,” Morrison said of the championship Sunday. “We did not effectively attack the zone in the third quarter. I’m happy for the kids and their parents. It’s unbelievable to hear your National Anthem in a foreign country. They did it before the game.

“All of the kids contributed and had to make plays down the stretch. One kid from New Jersey, Frank Musimici, got hurt in the semi…changed our rotation, but was able to play A.J. Pipkins more. He was our engine. I think I teared up when I knew we had the game and let Frank sub in the last few seconds. The preliminary diagnosis is there is no tear, strained miniscus and MCL.

“Just a great experience overall. And to play against U.S. military kids. I got to talk to and thank their coaches and a few parents, who are active duty, for their service and sacrifice like living in Germany outside of their home country and comfort zone.”

The championship was a battle and Morrison learned something about differences in international rules during the course of the competition.

“We had to fight through some adversity the last few games,” Morrison said. “I hope they grew and learned from it.”