Aussie U18s - Day One
Tagged in: Athletes, National Teams
Both New Zealand teams got off to losing starts at the Australian Under-18 National Championships in Ballarat, Victoria, on Saturday.
Otago’s Tom Rowe, a Otago Nuggets squad member this season, compiled a double-double with 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting and 11 rebounds as the Kiwi men’s team fell 78-66 to New South Wales Country in the opening game in pool A.
Winston Li added 18 points and seven rebounds, while James Holland finished with 10 points, but shot 2-of-13 on three-point attempts, part of the New Zealanders overall 4-of-27 from long distance for the game.
NZ led by six points after the first quarter before a 21-10 second period, which included 11 of the team’s 28 turnovers, put them behind. They trailed by a point going into the last quarter but were outscored 29-18
Shooting was also a problem for the Kiwi under-18 women, falling 72-54 to Queensland South to start pool B.
Jasmine Davis top-scored with 15 points and four rebounds while Freda Riwai added nine points and seven rebounds as New Zealanders shot 1-of-20 on threes and 19-of-64 overall from the field.
NZ trailed by nine at quarter time but managed to close the gap to seven points by halftime, before the Queenslanders put the game away with a powerful second half.
The Kiwi men match-up with big-time first round winners and tournament favourites Victoria Metro in round two on Sunday, while the women drew the bye on Sunday, facing back-to-back games against NSW Metro and Victoria Country on Monday.
