Bitter Sweet
Tagged in: Tall Ferns
NZ Tall Fern coach Mike McHugh was left with mixed feelings following his team’s 78-90 loss to Korea in their second outing of the Good Luck Beijing tournament, the official Olympic basketball test event.
Obviously, the loss was unwelcome, but the Kiwis’ progress towards the Beijing Olympics continued to please him.
“We just couldn’t handle their quickness,” he conceded. “We were in the game, we would get it back to four or six points, but we just couldn’t get over that hump.
“The fact we could play with these teams at this time is very encouraging … I’d just like to get a win.”
The Asian champions, ranked seventh in the world, jumped on their rivals with an early nine-point run that carried them to a four-point lead after the opening quarter and nine at halftime. New Zealand (16th) returned from the break strongly and scored eight unanswered points to close with two points (49-51), before the Koreans drew away again in the latter stages of the third period.
McHugh has targeted the Asians as the Tall Ferns’ most beatable opponents at the same venue in August, but their frenetic style is one that takes some getting used to. Four years ago, the Kiwi women lost twice to Korea during a series in New Zealand, but used that experience as a basis for beating them at the Athens Olympics.
This is a new generation of Tall Fern, one that has to learn those lessons all over again.
“A lot of our mistakes came from young kids not handling the pressure very well,” McHugh lamented. “But I’m happy with where we are and I think there is a lot more improvement in New Zealand than in the other teams here.”
Point guard Angela Marino again led the scoring with 22 points (5/13 FG, 3/6 3pt, 9/10 FT), while newcomer Jillian Harmon continued to grow in stature with 18 points (8/14 FG, 2/2 FT), seven rebounds and four assists.
“Harmon had a super game for us tonight and will be a real asset to this team,” said McHugh.
Forward Lisa Wallbutton fell a rebound short of a double double with 15 points (6/8 FG, 3/4 FT), three assists and three steals for good measure.
The Ferns actually put up more shot attempts than their opponents, but struggled to convert around the basket. While their turnover count was manageable, many of them resulted in clean steals and easy lay-ups for Korea.
Tomorrow, New Zealand face the host nation, who they ran to within four points in a “friendly” earlier in the week.
“China will be a good test and if we can maintain this level of play, we can come away feeling pretty good about ourselves.”
Good Luck Beijing
Beijing, China
Sunday, April 20
Korea 90 (Jung Eun Kim 26, Sun Min Jung 18, Youn Ah Choi 13, Yeon Ha Beon 12) NZ Tall Ferns 78 (Angela Marino 22, Jillian Harmon 18, Lisa Wallbutton 18)
Q 23-19
HT 47-38 (24-19)
3Q 74-64 (27-26)
FT 90-78 (16-14)
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