The Junior Tall Ferns have beaten Samoa 88-52 tonight in the Semi-finals of the FIBA U17 Oceania Champs in Papua New Guinea – setting the Kiwis up for a Finals showdown against Australia tomorrow night and also guaranteeing them a place in next year’s FIBA U18 Asian Champs.
After a horror start to the game where the Kiwis went just 4-19 from the field in the first quarter, they came storming back from a ten-point deficit to take a slim lead into the break. New Zealand then owned the second half, outscoring their opponents 57-23 to register the emphatic 36 point victory – in the process earning a measure of revenge against the team that had beaten them during group play.
Elise Gilbert led New Zealand with 18 points on 9/14 shooting, while Tia Pavihi added 14 and Tannika Leger-Walker tallied 12 points and 3 steals. Kavanah Lene chipped in with 11 points while Rebecca Moors racked up 9 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists; Arna Bright with 9 & 7. As a team, New Zealand recovered from their poor start to hit 47% from the field overall, including 9/26 from downtown at a 36% clip and 44 points scored in the paint.
Samoa saw contributions from Sienna Tutani (14 points) and Kira-May Filemu with 10 points and 6 rebounds, while Azaleeah Oloapu had 9 points and 10 rebounds. Although effective inside with their rebounding and physical play, Samoa was hampered by their turnovers (22) – which the Kiwis turned into 29 points on the night – as well as their poor shooting, hitting 31% of their shots and going 3.16 from outside the arc on the night.
Kiwis struggled mightily with Samoa’s physicality in the first quarter, going just 4-19 from the field while allowing Samoa to gather 9 of their 20 rebounds on the offensive end.
But New Zealand turned the tables in the second period, holding Samoa scoreless for over five minutes as they embarked on a thrilling 10-0 run. The Kiwis outscored Samoa 19-7 in the quarter, holding their opponents to just 2-14 field goals to take a 2-point lead into the second half.
A 25-point third quarter propelled New Zealand to a substantial lead heading into the final frame; the Kiwis up 56-36, with the Kiwis saving their best for last (offensively) in the final 12 minutes – scoring 32 points on an impressive 15-22 shooting.
New Zealand now progresses to the Grand Final to face Australia, tomorrow at 10pm NZT. Watch live at www.youtube.com/fiba
Stats:
New Zealand 88 – Gilbert 18 PTS & 5 REB | Pavihi 14 PTS | Leger-Walker 12 PTS | Lene 11 PTS | Bright 9 PTS & 7 REB | Moors 9 PTS & 6 REB | Carline 7 PTS & 7 REB | Albert-Neha 6 PTS | Scott 2 PTS
Samoa 52 – Tutani 14 PTS | Filemu 10 PTS & 6 REB | Oloapu 9 PTS & 10 REB
Box Score: http://bbnz.link/U17WNZLvSAM2
Quarter scores: 12-22, 31-29, 56-36, 88-52
FIBA U17 Women’s Oceania Championships – NZ Results
3 Oct – NZL vs Samoa (LOST 59-74)
4 Oct – NZL vs Australia, 7.45pm NZT (LOST 72-81)
5 Oct – NZL vs Papua New Guinea, 7.45pm NZT (WON 107-28)
6 Oct – NZL vs Samoa, 9pm NZT (WON 88-52)
U17 Oceania Champs – NZ U17 Women’s Squad
- Kaelani Albert-Neha, Waikato Basketball
- Arna Bright, Taranaki Basketball
- Elise Carline, Basketball Otago
- Elise Gilbert, Waikato basketball
- Katie Harrington, Outside of NZ
- Waiheke Kohunui, Rotorua Basketball
- Olivia Lassey, Tauranga City Basketball
- Tannika Leger-Walker, Waikato Basketball
- Kavanah Lene, Canterbury Basketball
- Rebecca Moors, Harbour Basketball
- Tia Pavihi, Wellington Basketball
- Annika Scott, Outside NZ
- Amy Pateman was selected for this squad but withdrew due to injury
