New Zealand saved their best until late to defeat Argentina 65-58 in the 9th-16th classification tie at the FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup in Hungary on Friday night.
Inside the last four minutes of the contest, with the scores tied at 53 points apiece, the impressive Ritorya Tamilo nailed an arching triple. Front court partner Lily Taulelei employed the same trick soon after and the Kiwis were ahead by six, in a game where the lead had changed hands 11 times.
Argentina made a couple of scores in the final minute but with the clock their enemy, and forced to foul, Tannika Leger-Walker, Layla Cameron and Tamilo were perfect from the free-throw line to close out a notable win.
The Kiwis enjoyed some mighty performances in this one. Tamilo was a force at both ends of the court with 6 blocks to accompany 15 points and 9 rebounds. Maia Jones was in double-double territory with 12 points and 10 rebounds while Taulelei was within a rebound of the same tallying 13 points and 9 boards. Cameron had a busy 11 points 5 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block outing as the Kiwis enjoyed a 59-39 rebounding advantage.
Amy Pateman, enjoying her first start of the tournament, opened the New Zealand account as they forged a 6-2 lead.
Jones, happily restored to fitness after missing the bulk of the previous game against Canada, was soon on the scoresheet but it was Argentina with a 19-15 lead at quarter-time.
New Zealand fell further adrift in the early stages of the second – coach Lori McDaniel needing a timeout.
Cameron and Tannika Leger-Walker trimmed the deficit – the Argentines turn to call for a break in proceedings. Jones chased down an offensive rebound for a put back two – the Argentine lead 30-27 at half-time.
Tamilo scored in transition on New Zealand’s first possession of the second half, Taulelei dropped a soft left-hander and when Tamilo scored again the Kiwis had their first lead of the game (33-31).
Jones made a deep three and Cassidy Lacey-Rameka a runaway basket from Pateman’s heads-up pass, but the South Americans had the better of things at the back end of the third to lead 46-43 with a quarter to play.
Taulelei’s three consecutive buckets to start the final period set the tone for New Zealand’s big finish. Next up they face Slovenia in a 9th-12th classification game on Saturday.
New Zealand 65 – Tamilo 15 PTS, 9 REB & 6 BLK | Taulelei 13 PTS & 9 REB | Jones 12 PTS & 10 REB | Cameron 11 PTS & 5 ASS | Lacey-Rameka 5 PTS |Leger-Walker 4 PTS | Pateman 4 PTS | Brown 1 PT
Argentina 58 – M Maggi 13
Full fixtures and statistics can be found at: https://www.fiba.basketball/world/u17women/2022
New Zealand Schedule: (times given are local in New Zealand)
Sat 9 July vs Germany –– (L 68-35)
Sun 10 July vs USA – (L 102-34)
Tues 12 July vs Mali – (W 61-58)
Weds 13 July vs Canada – (L 70-36)
Fri 15 July vs Argentina – (W 65-58) – Re-watch at nz.basketball/tv
Sat 16 July vs Slovenia – (5.30am Sunday) – watch at nz.basketball/tv
U17 Women’s National Team Roster
Ivy Brown – North Canterbury
Layla J Cameron – New Zealand
Waimanu Clarken – Basketball Auckland
Maia Jones – Nelson Basketball
Cassidy Lacey-Rameka – Rotorua Basketball Association
Tannika Leger-Walker – Waikato Basketball
Carly Ohia – Rotorua Basketball Association
Amy-Lee Pateman – Harbour Basketball
Ashlyn Rean – North Canterbury
Ritorya Tamilo – Basketball Auckland
Lily Taulelei – Wellington Basketball Association
Karereatua Williams – Canterbury
Head Coach – Lori McDaniel
Assistant Coach – Pina Lissaman
Assistant Coach – Ryan Dubbledam
Team Manager – Jemma Lawton
Physio – Kylie Cox
Team Doctor – Dr Kaylie Baker
About The FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022
The FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022 features the world’s top 16 women’s U17 national team with 56 games played across 9 days from July 9-17 in Debrecen, Hungary.
As event hosts, Hungary gained automatic entry. The remaining 15 teams qualified through regional U16 championships with 2 from Africa, 5 from Europe, 4 from the Americas, and 4 from Asia – with New Zealand earning their place after securing a spot in the recent FIBA U16 Asian Championship.
