MANNHEIM, Germany — The U.S. took a step toward Friday’s semifinals of the 25th biennial Albert Schweitzer International Youth Basketball Tournament with a 91-81 victory Wednesday night over previously unbeaten Spain.

“We didn’t play defense very well tonight,” said U.S. coach Larry Krystkowiak after the Americans outscored the Spaniards 28-17 over the game’s final 10 minutes to erase a one-point deficit they faced at the start of the period. “The offense saved us. I told our team, ‘Sometimes you can win with offense.’ Tonight, they went in for a change.”

Especially 6 foot-5 Kevin Ware of Rockdale County, Ga., High School, who scored a team-high 22 points, six of them in an 18-second span early in the fourth quarter to put the U.S. ahead for good.

“I just felt my team needed me to score,” said the University of Tennessee recruit who was 8-for-11 from the free-throw line on a night the Americans sank 24 of 32 from the line and 7 of 16 on slashing drives to the rim.

“That was the way I was raised to play ball,” Ware said. “I played in New York before we moved to Georgia, and there they taught that there is no reason to pull up. Just keep going to the rack.”

Scoring streaks such as Ware’s were vital for the U.S. on Wednesday. Ryan Boatright of East Aurora (Ill.) High school sank a pair of shots, including a three-pointer, to get the U.S. started, then finished his 19-point evening with by drawing a foul on a layup. He was awarded two technicals on the play due to an intentional foul by a frustrated Spaniard. Boatright made two of his three free throws on the play. The four-point play with 43.9 seconds left put the game away.

Damian Leonard, the Americans’ three-point specialist from Greenville, S.C., scored 11 of his 19 points during a 23-point second quarter which put the Americans up 42-37 at the break. Leonard took charge during a during a 2:11 span at the start of the period by sinking a three-pointer and two floaters in the lane.

But Royce Woolridge of Phoenix, whose next stop is the University of Kansas, fashioned the most magical streak of the night, rescuing two second-half possessions which seemed headed for shot-clock violations with NBA-distance-and-farther three-pointers that hit nothing but net for six of his 17 points.

For the game, Woolridge was 4 of 7 behind the arc to lead the team, which got three three from Leonard and two from Boatright. All were vital against a Spanish team which went 11-for-26 on three-point tries.

“Spain was awfully good,” Krystkowiak said. “They’ve been together for a long time.”

Long enough especially to burn the Americans on polished backdoor cuts, usually run after every timeout.

“That’s hard to defend,” Krystkowiak said. “I guess I could have gone to a zone, but against a team that shoots like that, you can get into trouble, especially now that points differential comes into play.”

Next up for the Americans is a Thursday night date against Australia, the team that beat them for the bronze medal here last time. The Aussies battered Croatia 78-59 Wednesday.

A victory over Australia will land the Americans in Friday’s semifinals. A loss could leave them scrambling for the pool’s second-place berth in the semis, at the mercy of points-differential tiebreakers with the Spain-Croatia winner.

“They’re very good,” Krystkowiak said of the Australians. “They play hard.”

Whatever happens, U.S. center Chris Manhertz of New York City has noticed a change in attitude among the international contingent here, especially the officials.

“The calls were even,” he said after fouling out with 3:36 left in the game. “I think we’ve earned their respect.”

U.S.A. 91, Spain 81(Medal-round game Wednesday at Mannheim)

U.S.A. .........19 23 21 28—91Spain ..........21 16 27 17—81 Scoring—U.S.A.: Kevin Ware 22, Ryan Boatright 19, Damian Leonard 19, Royce Woolridge 17, Marshall Plumlee 5, Farooq Muhammad 4, Chris Manhertz 3, Mike Chandler 2; Spain: Jaime Fernandez 28, Joan Creus 19, Alex Barrea 9, Carlos Marzo 6, Albert Ventura 6, Pierre Oirola 5, Francisco Guerra 4, Jordi Mas 4.Rebounding—U.S.A. 40 (9 offensive, 31 defensive) Plumlee 10, Chandler 6, Leonard 6, Manhertz 6; Spain 47 (18 offensive, 29 defensive). Free throws—U.S.A 24-of-32, 75 percent; Spain 10-of-23, 43 percent. Field goals—U.S.A. 29-of-67, 43 percent, 9-of-21 3-point tries, 43 percent; Spain 30-of-72, 42 percent, 11-of-26 3-point tries, 42 percent.