JTBs Fall To Lithuania
Tagged in: FIBA U19 World Championship, Junior Tall Blacks
The New Zealand Junior Tall Blacks continued their build-up to next week’s FIBA U19 World Championship with a 77-71 loss to European runners-up Lithuania on Saturday night.
Against the taller Lithuanians, who arrived in New Zealand on Friday afternoon, the JTBs got a game-high 20 points from centre Rob Loe and 16 points from guard Brook Ruscoe, playing in front of his home crowd at Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua.
Lithuania, who were beaten by Greece 57-50 in the FIBA Europe U18 Championship last September, had four players score in double figures, with Orelik Gediminas top-scored with 16 points. Motiejunas Donata had 13 points, Redikas Dovydas 11 and Slezas Tautvydas 10 points.
New Zealand were up 35-27 midway through the second period but the Lithuanians answered with 13 straight points before New Zealand got back within a point at the half.
The game remained close throughout the third and early minutes of the fourth quarter, before Lithuania created a gap with four minutes remaining.
“Three-quarters of the game, we played extremely well and we stayed to the plan,” New Zealand head coach Kenny McFadden said.
“In this game we were thinking about Croatia and some of the principles to beat them. We were able to find some gaps and make some baskets. We were able to take advantage of their big men.
“We had a couple of missed defensive assignments in the last two minutes, which was the difference in them scoring another four-to-six points.
“But overall we were pretty pleased with the effort. Playing against a quality team that made the final in Europe, it gives us an idea that we can compete against the best teams in the world.”
Lithuania 77 (Orelik Gediminas 16,Motiejunas Donata 13, Redikas Dovydas 11, Slezas Tautvydas 10) New Zealand Junior Tall Blacks 71 (Rob Loe 20, Brook Ruscoe 16)
1Q: 22-20
HT: 40-39 (18-19)
3Q: 57-56 (17-17)
FT: 77-71 (20-15)
