The Junior Tall Blacks have bounced back from their Wednesday loss to Australia, with a solid 102-83 win today over Samoa at the FIBA U17 Oceania Champs.
In an impressive display that saw the Kiwis hit 51% of their shots from the field while holding Samoa to 37.6% shooting, New Zealand also put on an improved effort from outside the arc – draining 13 triples at a 33.3% clip. The Junior Tall Blacks dominated both inside and on the boards, holding a 55-36 rebounding advantage and a staggering 56-28 advantage in points in the paint.
Tama Isaac starred in the win, scoring 24 points on 10-14 shooting along with 10 boards and 5 assists. Ryan Hunt poured in 22 points – hitting 6 of his 11 triple attempts – off the bench, while Kahu Treacher added 16 points & 6 rebounds, Mahnaya Heke 15 & 5 and Ezrah Eagle 9.
Samoa saw Semika Chong Nee score 17 points, while Elika Tutagalevao had a double-double with 12 points and 11 boards. Eneasi Piuleini also scored 12, Shammah Charlie Poto 11 and Shalom Poto had 9.
The first quarter saw New Zealand take the lead in dominant fashion; racing out to a 6-0 margin in the first minute and extending the gap to 13-4 midway through the quarter. The Kiwis also saw the welcome return of Nic Book to the floor, the 6’8” forward scoring on a layup after missing the first two games due to injury.
Down 12-25 to start the second period, Samoa showed improvement on offence – going on a 5-0 run to cut the lead to 8 and going on to outscore the Kiwis 20-17 in the quarter. Carrying a 10-point lead into the second half, New Zealand showed flashes of brilliance; Kahu Treacher scoring 6 straight -including back-to-back dunks – followed by a triple from Isaac and a driving dunk from Julius Halaifonua to push the Kiwi’s lead to 25.
Fuelled by a 31-point third quarter, New Zealand faced an improved Samoa attack in the final period. But the Kiwis held strong thanks in part to the heroics of Hunt, who scored 11 in the period – including a trio of threes – to secure the 102-83 win.
Next up for the NZ U17 Men’s Team is a clash with Guam tomorrow @ 4.30pm NZT; watch it live on www.youtube.com/fiba
Stats:
New Zealand 102 – Isaac 24 PTS & 10 REB & 5 AST | Hunt 22 PTS | Treacher 16 PTS & 6 REB | Halaifonua 21 PTS & 9 REB | 2 PTS & 10 REB | Wharepapa 6 PTS | Heke 15 PTS & 5 REB | Eagle 9 PTS
Samoa 83 – Chong Nee 17 PTS | Tutagalevao 12 PTS & 11 REB | Piuleini 12 PTS | Shammah Poto 11 | Shalom Poto 9
Box Score: http://bbnz.link/U17MNZLvSAM
Quarter scores: 25-12, 42-32, 73-56, 102-83
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 (WON 103-82)
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.
