Basketball New Zealand

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Captain Max Williams led his team by example, but the Junior Tall Blacks could not defend an early lead, falling 56-83 to Italy in the opening game of the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Mannheim, Germany.

Guard Stefan Mandic hit a three-pointer to give the Kiwis their only lead of the game at 7-6 midway through the opening quarter, but it was all downhill from there. Italy scored the next 12 points to seize control of the contest and never relinquished that stranglehold.

While the JTBs actually outscored their opponents in the second period (22-18) and trailed by just four points at halftime, they could only managed three points in the third quarter and there was no way back from there.

Italy led by as many as 31 points in the final quarter.

Williams led the NZ scoring with 15 points (5/11 FG, 4/10 3pt, 1/2 FT) and five rebounds. Mandic was the only other Kiwi in double figures with 12.

The Junior Tall Blacks face Germany U17, a team preparing for the FIBA U17 World Championships for Men later this year, in their next outing on Sunday.

Albert Schweizter Tournament

Mannheim, Germany
Saturday, April 3
Italy 83 NZ Junior Tall Blacks 56 (Max Williams 15, Stefan Mandic 12)
Q1 23-15
HT 41-37 (18-22)
Q3 63-40 (22-3)
FT 83-56 (20-16)

JTBs v Italy Boxscore