The Junior Tall Blacks have achieved their number one goal at the FIBA U17 Oceania Championships. New Zealand cruised to a 137-39 victory against Guam, the win securing a top-two finish at the champs – and with it, a berth at the FIBA Asian Championship in 2024.
The victory also means New Zealand will face Australia in the tournament championship game, with the Kiwis looking to avenge the 12-point loss they suffered in round-robin play.
A dominant display saw the Kiwis hit 67% (60/90) of their shots from the field, including 42% from outside the arc – making 14 triples from 33 attempts.
The Junior Tall Blacks enjoying a massive height advantage, despite Julius Halaifonua sitting out the game, and dominated the boards with a 61-21 advantage. Their eighteen offensive boards and fifteen steals enabled New Zealand to run up 25 second-chance points, with Nic Book securing five of those offensive rebounds and also scored 15 points.
David-Jay Osborn led the way for Guam with 10 points.
New Zealand completely dominated the opening quarter, scoring the first 27 points of the game to lead 33-5 at quarter time – with all eleven players contributing to the scoring.
A Treacher transition dunk from an Isaac assist opened the second quarter scoring, followed by a brace of threes from Christof – the Otago guard the first player to hit double figures. An athletic reverse layup from Wharepapa brought the curtain down on the first half action, as New Zealand took a 65-15 lead into the main break.
Treacher scored New Zealand’s first eight points of the second half as the Kiwis continued to own the proceedings. Book, getting some playing minutes under his belt after recovering from injury, contributed 7 points in the third with the Kiwis ahead 96-26 with ten minutes to play.
Despite the Kiwi onslaught, Guam stuck to the task admirably; but they were no match for the Kiwis who ran up their highest score at the tournament.
Next up for the NZ U17 Men’s Team is a clash with Australia on Saturday in the championship gold medal game, tip-off is at 7.45pm NZT; watch it live on www.youtube.com/fiba
Stats:
New Zealand 137 – Hunt 25 PTS |Treacher 21 PTS & 8 REB | Hopoi 21 PTS | Christof 17 PTS | Book 15 PTS & 9 REB | Heke 11 PTS | Wharepapa 8 PTS | Wyllie 7 PTS | Eagle 5 PTS | Blight 4 PTS & 12 REB | Isaac 4 PTS, 7 AST & 4 STL
Guam 39 – Osborn 10 PTS
Box Score: http://bbnz.link/U17MNZLvGUM
Quarter scores: 33-5, 65-15, 96-26, 137-39
FIBA U17 Men’s Oceania Championships – NZ Results
3 Oct – NZL vs PNG (WON 108-32)
4 Oct – NZL vs Australia, (LOST 72-84)
5 Oct – NZL vs Samoa, (WON 102-83)
6 Oct – NZL v Guam, (WON 137-39)
7 Oct – NZL v Australia, 7.45pm 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
