Princeton’s Jackie Young, Team USA takes home gold in Olympic 3x3 women’s basketball

PRINCETON, Ind. (WFIE) - Princeton native Jackie Young and Team USA knocked off the Russian Olympic Committee in the final round of the Olympic women’s 3x3 basketball tournament on Wednesday, winning 18-15 to take home the gold medal.

Fans gathered downtown at the Princeton Theatre and Community Center, which opened its doors so people could watch Young live at 2:30 a.m.

Young and her teammates beat France to start the day. Around 140 fans in Princeton rallied to watch the game Wednesday morning.

[PREVIOUS: City of Princeton honors Jackie Young ahead of Olympic debut]

Her friends and family told 14 News they are so excited to have Young representing their community.

”I can’t even explain it - watching her from mini ball, all the way to now, it’s just unbelievable to be able to see her playing on the stage she’s playing at now,” Sean Packer, a Young family friend said.

”Of course, we love our country,” Jonita Green, Young’s cousin said. “But when you have your hometown girl playing, and she just happens to be my cousin on top of that, it’s like you just get that much more hyped up.”

[READ MORE: U.S. women’s hoops team captures 3-on-3 Olympic gold]

Young’s family says she got the unexpected call from U.S. 3x3 women’s basketball head coach, Kara Lawson, while on vacation in Florida, finding out she was going to be placed on the team last minute.

“She got a call like at (11 p.m.) and it was from the (Team USA) people and Kara Lawson,” Kiare Young, Jackie’s sister said. “So they were taking her through the process of what was happening and what could be happening.”

Friends and family say they didn’t find out that Young was going to the Olympics until she was already on the way to Tokyo. Young’s family says she made them and her hometown proud with her performance at this year’s Games.

“Who would have ever dreamed this would become reality,” Green said. “I mean, she dreamed it, but we kind of sitting back like - okay Jackie, we gonna go with you.”

You can catch all the Olympic action live from Tokyo on WFIE.

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