By JEFF FEBUS

Calvin University junior Josh Steinberg recently began his second semester last week as a newly-minted gold medalist.

The California native recently returned from the Pan Am Maccabi Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the games, he helped lead his USA 3-on-3 men's basketball team to the gold medal, doing so in thrilling fashion.

A native of Irvine, California, Steinberg was eligible for selection for the international competition through his father who is Jewish.  He was selected for the tournament through his play in tryout competitions.

The original Maccabi Games are open to Jewish athletes from around the world, and to all Israeli citizens regardless of their religion. They are traditionally held every four years in Israel and are the third-largest sporting event in the world by number of competitors, trailing only the Olympics and FIFA World Cup.

The Pan American Maccabi Games are the Latin American version of the games and are also traditionally held every four years, staggered two years apart from the Maccabi Games in Israel.

This year's competition was held December 27-January 5.

Steinberg's USA team won the gold medal game with a 17-16 victory over another team from the USA on a last second free throw.

The path to the gold medal game was anything but easy however. To start, Steinberg and his teammates Charlie Trey-Masters and Noah Carmona had not played together in a 3-on-3 format prior to last month. They formed one of two USA 3-on-3 teams competing in a bracket of seven teams with their only training together coming in a few leadup days in Argentina.

Steinberg's team had three game days and three off days to begin the trip. His squad opened with a 20-13 loss to the other USA team. Two days later they rebounded to defeat a physical team from Chile' 21-9. They followed with an 18-14 loss to one of two teams from Australia. The final day of pool play featured three games. Steinberg's USA team defeated Cuba 21-1 to open the day. That followed with a game against an undefeated Argentina squad and fell 17-14 in a hard-fought contest. They concluded with a 22-16 win over a second team from Australia to finish pool play 3-3 and gain the fourth seed (one of five seeds given) for the single-elimination medal round.

"The pool play games were a chance to get to know our teammates and getting a feel for each other," said Steinberg. "We started building some chemistry as the games went along. We also had a chance to visit some of the amazing sites of the city, experience the food and culture and meet other competitors that were there competing in other sports. This included high level men's/women's soccer, futsal, volleyball, 5x5 basketball, swimming and other sports. that was a really cool aspect of the games - the ability to meet amazing Jewish athletes not only from around the US but from around the world."

One group that Steinberg's team befriended were the Australian men's and women's basketball teams who began to cheer for his USA team in the medal round.

In the medal round, Steinberg's team met the team from Chile' for a second time. The USA squad trailed 11-10 with four minutes remaining but advanced by scoring the final eight points for an 18-11 win.

The win over Chile' set up a semifinal rematch with host and undefeated Argentina. Using knowledge from the first meeting, the USA side came up with a different game plan and walked away with a thrilling 21-16 victory with Steinberg scoring what would prove to be the game-winning basket. The loss was the only defeat Argentina would suffer in the competition.
  The victory set up an all-USA final as the second USA squad defeated a second Australian team in the other semifinal.

The all-USA gold medal final proved to be an epic contest. Steinberg's USA squad pulled out the win 17-16 on a last-second free throw. Steinberg picked up a key offensive rebound and free throw to give his team a 16-15 lead. The opposition tied the game on a layup with 18 seconds remaining but then fouled Steinberg's teammate Trey-Masters with one second left. On his birthday, Trey-Masters swished the free throw and time ran out moments later as Steinberg was able to successfully defend a last-second shot attempt for the win.

Steinberg's team celebrated and were met in the on-court celebration by their new friends from Australia.

The medal ceremony took place after the celebration and Steinberg was named the Most Valuable Player of the entire 3-on-3 tournament.

"The entire last game felt like a movie," said Steinberg. "My parents were also there which was a surreal moment. The medal ceremony was extremely moving and something I will never forget. It was truly an honor to represent my country and it was also a blessing to meet so many different people while experiencing a new country and culture, all through the avenue of competition."

The two USA teams in the final were the first USA teams to medal in 3-on-3 competition at any Maccabi Games. The initial 3-on-3 competition took place in the 2022 Maccabi Games in Israel with the this year's version being the first in Pan Am Games competition.

Steinberg has now turned his attention to his duties as a student assistant with the nationally-ranked Calvin men's basketball team and his studies where he holds a combination major of marketing and PPE (politics, philosophy and economics).

"It's been a whirlwind with a lot of great memories," said Steinberg. "It's great to be back at Calvin but I will treasure this experience for the rest of my life."