JTBs Show Spirit In Loss
Tagged in: FIBA U19 World Championship, Junior Tall Blacks
Another spirited performance yet another loss for the New Zealand Junior Tall Blacks at the FIBA U19 World Championship.
Without 2.11m (6ft 11in) centre Rob Loe, who was ruled out with an Achilles strain, and on the wrong end of a significant height disparity, the JTBs fell 79-72 to Croatia on day two of the tournament at the North Shore Events Centre on Friday.
Forward Richie Edwards top-scored with 29 points (11/24 FG, 2/7 3pt, 5/9 FT) and had nine rebounds for the Kiwis, while Croatian captain Mario Delas dominated inside, scoring a game-high 31 points and scoring crucial baskets for the European bronze medalists.
New Zealand hung tough despite being out-shot and out-rebounded, with the scores level at 65-65 with 5:02 remaining.
As the JTBs shooting faltered, Croatia went on a 10-1 run over the next four minutes to lock down their second win.
“We had our chances once again. They exploited us, getting that ball inside and we just struggled inside,” said New Zealand head coach Kenny McFadden, who lamented the loss of Loe just before tip-off.
“I thought the boys really battled back in the second half and showed the heart that we’ve got to get back in the game.
“We got them in the penalty early in the third and fourth quarters by being aggressive and taking it to the hoop. We got the opportunities to make some free-throws and we didn’t, and that cost us and they were able to make shots to get away again.”
If McFadden and the Kiwis want to point to any statistics for the loss, free-throw and three-point shooting would be the most glaring.
The JTBs shot 5-of-17 from distance and missed 10 free-throws (13/23 FT), including five misses in the fourth quarter. The Croatians shot just 4-of-21 on three-point attempts.
Kiwi captain Dion Prewster finished with 13 points and eight rebounds while guard Brook Ruscoe, the hero against Argentina on Thursday night, had 10 points and four rebounds.
Delas posted a double-double, also grabbing 14 boards, while three other Croatians – Leon Radosevic, Toni Prostran and Ivan Batur also scored in double digits.
The Kiwis took their first lead of the game at 19-18 after an Edwards three-point shot from the left wing just 23 seconds in the second period.
With forwards Morgan Nathan, Sam King, David Beck and Tipene Friday rotating time on the seemingly endless supply of two metre-plus bigs in the Croatian frontcourt, New Zealand were able to limit their impact and even up the rebounding numbers, which threatened to be one-sided after the opening minutes.
Despite being behind in the rebounding, assists and field goal percentage stats, the Kiwis still somehow managed to keep themselves in the game at halftime.
Stunned by a start that saw the Croatians score the first eight points of the game and dominate the inside, the Kiwis were able to clog the interior better and, with the outside shooting of Edwards, who had 12 points at halftime, and Prewster getting them back within a point at quarter-time.
“Croatia came out and did what they had to do,” commented Edwards, who said he was motivated to perform well after what he deemed a poor performance against Argentina.
“We just couldn’t handle their big guys under the hoop. They’re tough, they’ve got five seven-footers. I felt like we stayed around pretty well but we just missed a few defensive assignments here and there and we’ve got to work those out for Kazakhstan tomorrow night.”
The JTBs play fellow winless team Kazakhstan at 7.30pm on Saturday at the North Shore Events Centre, with the third qualifying spot from group D for the second round at stake.
“Our whole tournament rides on tomorrow night,” Edwards said. “I think the boys will come out and have a great performance against Kazakhstan. We watched them play Argentina today and they shot like a million threes, so we’ve got to look out for that.”
FIBA U19 World Championship
Friday, July 3
Group D
New Zealand Junior Tall Blacks 72 (Richie Edwards 29, Dion Prewster 13, Brook Ruscoe 10) Croatia 79 (Mario Delas 31, Leon Radosevic 13, Toni Prostan 12, Ivan Batur 11)
1Q: 16-18
HT: 31-38 (15-20)
3Q: 55-62 (24-24)
FT: 72-79 (17-17)
