Another piece of history and another impressive win for the New Zealand U17 Men’s team, who are through to the semi-finals of the FIBA U17 World Cup in Istanbul, Turkey after a tense 73-65 win against Lithuania.
In a game that saw nine lead changes, New Zealand faced a 10-point deficit in the third quarter but showed the resolve and composure to beat a quality Lithuanian team – who were aiming for a fourth straight semi-final berth at U17 World Cup level.
Playing controlled basketball, New Zealand held steady in the fourth quarter to win the period 24-17 and continue to progress through unchartered waters – now into the last four at a FIBA World age-group tournament for the very first time.
New Zealand enjoyed double-doubles from Oscar Goodman (19 points and 10 rebounds) and Hayden Jones (13 points and 13 rebounds) as well as double figure points from Troy Plumtree (12 points) and Jackson Kiss (17 points). There was also a nice cameo off the bench from Hunter Te Ratana, with his pair of fourth quarter threes igniting the New Zealand offence at a critical stage.
The shooting numbers were very similar with Lithuania making 32% (23/73) from the field and 27% (8/30) from threes. In comparison the Kiwis were 38% (27/72) from the field and 28% (5/18) from beyond the arc.
The low shooting percentages reflected the defensive intensity on display. New Zealand won the battle of the boards 52-49, gained 10 steals to 6 and came up with 7 blocks to 3. Both teams committed 14 turnovers.
There were 5 points from Goodman and 6 from Kiss, as Lithuania won the opening quarter 19-17. New Zealand opened the second period with a 6-0 run, and after an emphatic Jones dunk led 27-25.
The scoring slowed for a while before Lithuania unleashed a battery of threes in the closing 1:41 of the half. The Europeans made 4-4 from deep, including one on the half-time buzzer to carry a 37-30 lead into the interval.
The Lithuanian lead went into double figures, before a put back from Plumtree opened New Zealand’s second half scoring. After waiting four minutes for their first basket of the half, they made three in no time to pull within two points (40-38).
Another Lithuanian run was countered by a Jones triple, a Plumtree reverse and a brace of scores from Goodman – the Kiwis ahead 49-48 at three-quarter time. Lithuania grabbed back the lead in the early stages of the fourth before a couple of threes from Hunter Te Ratana fuelled New Zealand’s 9 unanswered points.
Lithuania would close to within three (68-65) with 50 seconds to play, but a composed 5 from 6 from the foul line closed out a deserved, historic New Zealand victory.
New Zealand will likely face favourites USA in the semi-finals but an opportunity to play for a medal brings a smile to the faces of all New Zealand basketball fans.
Stats:
New Zealand 73 – Goodman 19 & 10 REB |Kiss 17 PTS & 8 REB | Jones 13 PTS & 13 REB | Plumtree 12 PTS & 8 REB | Te Ratana 7 PTS | Matthews 3 PTS | Crate 2 PTS
Lithuania 65 – I Urbonas 16 |A Butajevas 11
Box Score: https://bbnz.link/U17WC_NZLvLTU
Quarter Scores: 17-19, 13-18, 19-11, 24-17
FIBA U7 Men’s World Cup – New Zealand Schedule and Results
NZL v Turkey – WON 114-94
NZL v Argentina – WON 89-81
NZL v Italy – LOST 95-69
NZL v Egypt – WON 85-64
NZL v LITHUANIA – WON 73-65
NZ’s next play USA or Canada in a semi-final – date & time TBA
NZ Men’s U17 Squad at FIBA U17 World Cup
Jackson Ball, Basketball Hawkes Bay/ Hawkes Bay Hawks
Ihaka Cate, Canterbury Basketball Association/ Canterbury Rams
Lachlan Crate, Basketball Manawatu / Manawatu Jets
Gus Dallow, Harbour Basketball Association / Auckland Tuatara
Oscar Goodman, Basketball Taranaki / NBA Global Academy
Hayden Jones, Nelson Basketball Association / Nelson Giants
Jackson Kiss, Basketball Auckland / Auckland Tuatara
Mana Martin, Canterbury Basketball Association/ Canterbury Rams
James Matthews, Nelson Basketball Association / Nelson Giants
Troy Plumtree, Wellington Basketball Association /Wellington Saints
Jameer Reed, Harbour Basketball Association / Auckland Tuatara
Hunter Te Ratana, Waitakere West Auckland Basketball / Auckland Tuatara
