Kiwis Bow To AYOF Hosts
Tagged in: Athletes, AYOF, National Teams
Hosts Australia served up a couple of international basketball lessons to New Zealand teams on day one of the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney on Wednesday.
The New Zealand under-18 girls got the competition underway, falling 87-37 to their trans-Tasman rivals, with their male counterparts going down 83-30 this afternoon at the Sydney University Sports and Aquatic Centre.
Anna Lacey led the scoring with 12 points (4/14 FG, 4/11 3pt), also pulling down four rebounds, for New Zealand, who were held to six points in the first quarter and four points in the third period.
Nine of Lacey’s points came in the first half as the Australians led 46-22 at halftime and forced 29 Kiwi turnovers for the game.
Jasana Salmon finished with four points, six rebounds, two blocks and two assists while Samara Gallaher had five rebounds and three blocks. Shiana-Rose Harris added six points and Jasmine Davis five points.
It was a similar storyline for the under-18 boys, who trailed 49-16 at halftime and were held to single-digit points in the first, third and fourth quarters against a dominant green-and-gold defence, which forced 32 turnovers.
Scott Sharp led New Zealand with eight points (3/6 FG, 0/2 3pt, 2/3 FT), also collecting a rebound, assist and block.
Ethan Rusbatch scored all four of New Zealand’s four first period points, finishing with six points and five rebounds, while Tepasu Thomas went a perfect 3-for-3 from the field for six points in one of the few bright spots.
The New Zealand teams get a chance to make amends on Thursday against Japan, the boys starting the day’s play at 3pm and the girls following at 5pm (both NZ times).
Australian Youth Olympic Festival
Wednesday, January 14
Boys
Australia 83 (Anthony Drmic 19, Jackson Aldridge 11) New Zealand 30 (Scott Sharp 8)
New Zealand vs Australia Under-18 Boys Box Score
Girls
Australia 87 (Gretel Tippett 14, Lauren Nicholson 14, Ashley Kiraitiana 13) New Zealand 37 (Anna Lacey 12)
New Zealand vs Australia Under-18 Girls Box Score
