Emerging Teams Fall
Tagged in: FIBA Oceania, National Teams
New Zealand’s Emerging Tall Ferns and Emerging Tall Blacks teams suffered losses to close out day three of the FIBA Oceania Tournament in Saipan on Tuesday.
Following a 112-point win over the host Northern Mariana Islands in the morning, Tania Hunter’s Kiwi U21 women fell 77-62 to Australia for their first loss of the senior zone tournament.
New Plymouth’s Zoe Kensington led New Zealand with 16 points (8/12 FG, 0/1 3pt) and four rebounds, while Nelson’s Jelena Vucinic added 13 points (5/15 FG, 2/6 3pt, 1/2 FT) in the loss.
The Emerging Ferns (2-1) lost the rebounding battle 50-37 and shot less than 30 percent from the field as they let the game get away in the third period, out-scored 25-18 to go down by 11 points.
Canterbury’s Natalie Moore pulled down a team-high six rebounds, one ahead of a trio of players, and Counties Manukau’s Jordan Hunter had four assists.
The New Zealand U21 men dropped to 1-2 for the tournament with their second loss of the day, going down 61-52 to New Caledonia.
Porirua’s Daniel Green, son of coach Jeff Green, was the only Kiwi player in double figures with 10 points (4/7 FG, 2/5 3pt) in 16 minutes, as New Zealand must now beat Guam in their final section game on Thursday to have any chance of playing in the final.
Otago’s Luke Aston had eight points to go with eight boards, while Waitakere City’s Duane Bailey provided eight points, six rebounds and five assists.
Like their female counterpart, the Emerging Tall Blacks were outplayed in the third quarter, out-scored 23-11, to fall behind by 13 points. New Zealand led by two points after the first quarter but found themselves down by one at halftime as both teams shot percentages in the low-30s.
All teams sit out Wednesday as FIBA Oceania holds its Annual Congress, with the final round of games before playoffs on Thursday. The Kiwi men face Guam at 5pm (NZ time), while the Emerging Ferns will need a win over New Caledonia at 3pm (NZ time) to book a place in the final.
FIBA Oceania Tournament
Tuesday, June 23
Australia 77 (Rebecca Cole 18, Caitlin Rowe 18, Samantha Creed 14) Emerging Tall Ferns 62 (Zoe Kensington 16, Jelena Vucinic 13)
1Q: 19-12
HT: 33-29 (14-17)
3Q: 58-47 (25-18)
FT: 77-62 (19-15)
Emerging Tall Ferns vs Australia Box Score
New Caledonia 61 (Raymond Weber 13, Benoit Weber 11) Emerging Tall Blacks 52 (Daniel Green 10)
1Q: 15-17
HT: 27-26 (12-9)
3Q: 50-37 (23-11)
FT: 61-52 (11-15)
