Basketball New Zealand

BBNZ logo

Scorelines may suggest otherwise, but New Zealand’s junior national teams have shown the gap is closing between them and their much vaunted Australian rivals at the FIBA Oceania U19 Championships.

While the Australian Gems clinched their place at next year’s world junior women’s championships with a 78-49 victory in Game Two of their series, the Junior Tall Ferns actually led much of the first half and were still in contention (30-30) at halftime.

Immediately after the break, the Aussies unleashed nine unanswered points to snatch the momentum and ultimately enjoyed a 30-6 margin over the third quarter to cruise clear. They again dominated their rivals inside, enjoying a massive 50-30 rebound advantage, and outscoring New Zealand 17-0 in second-chance points and 38-14 in the paint.

Liz Cambage compiled another double double (19 points/10 rebounds) for the Gems, while Canterbury guard Erin Rooney again paced the Kiwis with 14 points.

Meanwhile, the Junior Tall Blacks closed the gap on their rivals with a 71-84 loss to the Australian Emus.

The young Kiwis, who lost by 27 points the previous night, trailed by just four at halftime and drew even at 44-44 midway through the third period. But Australia wrested the initiative back over the latter stages of that quarter to secure a winning edge in the three-game series

Both teams are already assured of a spot in next year’s world championships, New Zealand as hosts and Australia as the Oceania representatives.

The JTBs again committed far too many turnovers (22) and also had trouble keeping the Emus off the offensive boards, gifting their rivals 25 more field goal attempts over the course of the game. Their long range accuracy (10/25 3pt) kept them in the hunt.

Porirua guard Brook Ruscoe-Taiaroa led all scorers with 26 points (6/13 FG, 4/9 3pt, 10/14 FT), while Wellington forward Dion Prewster provided 14 points (6/10 FG, 2/3 3pt), 10 rebounds, six assists and two blocks. Wellington centre David Beck had 12 points and nine rebounds.

Both series wrap up with the “dead” third encounters in Adelaide today.

FIBA Oceania Championships

Adelaide
Saturday, August 2
Men
Australian Emus 84 (Matthew Dallevedova 16) NZ Junior Tall Blacks 71 (Brook Ruscoe-Taiaroa 26, Dion Prewster 14, David Beck 12)
Q 25-14
HT 40-36 (15-22)
3Q 64-51 (24-15)
FT 84-71 (20-20)

Women
Australian Gems 78 (Liz Cambage 19) Junior Tall Ferns 49 (Erin Rooney 14)
Q 13-17
HT 30-30 (17-13)
3Q 60-36 (30-6)
FT 78-49 (18-13)