The Junior Tall Blacks have dropped a 72-84 decision to Australia tonight at the FIBA U17 Oceania Champs, in a game where New Zealand took a one point lead into halftime but couldn’t off an Aussie onslaught in the final period.
In an evenly-matched encounter, New Zealand were beaten both on the boards (29 to 45) and in the shooting column; the Aussies hitting 51.7% of their shots compared to 45% for the Kiwis. But it was anyone’s game until the pivotal fourth quarter, when Australia outscored New Zealand 21-12 while holding the Kiwis to just 5-16 shooting from the field.
Julius Halaifonua was outstanding for New Zealand with his 21 points, 9 rebounds & 4 assists, while Tama Isaac tallied 14 and Ryan Hunt dropped 12 in off the bench on 5/7 shooting. Carter Hopoi also added 8.
Australia was led by Roman Siulepa’s 22 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists, with support from Jacob Furphy (15 points) and Nash Walker’s 10. As a team the Aussies attempted a sizeable 31 free throws – making 18 – with both teams struggling from outside; the Kiwis shooting 6/23 at a 26% clip while Australia was 5-20 (25%).
The first quarter saw Australia lead throughout, building a 14-4 lead with four minutes left before the Kiwis clawed their way back; Halaifonua sinking a triple at the buzzer to put his team just two points behind – 16-18.
A Kahu Treacher triple in the second period gave New Zealand their first lead of the game, 25-23, with the lead changing hands multiple times up until the end of the half; a Ned Renfree triple with 8 seconds left in the half, ensuring that Australia would go one point behind into the second half. The Kiwis shot well in the half – 48 to 44% – with Halaifonua and Hunt combining to go 8/11 from the field.
The Junior Tall Blacks continued to hold a tight lead throughout the third period, until back-to-back triples from Nash Walker late in the quarter gave the Aussies a three point lead. But the Kiwis went cold in the final frame, shooting 5/16 from the field and scoring just 4 points in the final 6:47 of the game as Australia built out a 12-point lead with a combination of strong shooting, rebounding and defence.
New Zealand take on Samoa tomorrow night (Thursday) from 5.30pm NZT. Watch live at: www.youtube.com/fiba
Stats:
New Zealand 72 – Halaifonua 21 PTS & 9 REB | Isaac 14 PTS | Hunt 12 PTS | Hopoi 8 PTS | Wharepapa 6 PTS | Treacher 5 PTS | Heke 5 PTS | Eagle 1 PT
Australia 84 – Siulepa 22 PTS & 12 REB & 6 AST | Furphy 15 PTS | Walker 10 PTS
Box Score: http://bbnz.link/9qj7l
Quarter scores: 18-16, 37-36, 60-63, 72-84
FIBA U17 Men’s Oceania Championships – NZ Results
3 Oct – NZL vs PNG (WON 108-32)
4 Oct – NZL vs Australia, 10pm NZT (LOST 72-84)
5 Oct – NZL vs Samoa, 5.30pm, NZT
6 Oct – NZL v Guam 4.30pm NZT
U17 Oceania Champs – NZ U17 Men’s Squad
- William Blight, Nelson Basketball
- Nicholas Book, Canterbury Basketball
- Christopher Christof, Otago Basketball
- Ezrah Eagle, Basketball Hawkes Bay
- Julius Halaifonua, NBA Academy/ Harbour Basketball
- Mahnaya Heke, Waikato Basketball Association
- Carter Hopoi, Tauranga City Basketball
- Ryan Hunt, Waitakere
- Tamatoa Isaac, Canterbury Basketball
- Kahuranaki Treacher, Team Takeover National
- Manaia-Ariki Wharepapa, Canterbury Basketball
- Joshua Wyllie, Harbour Basketball
- Xanda Marsters (Rotorua Basketball Association)was originally selected but forced to withdraw due to injury.
