Lithuania Dominates
Tagged in: FIBA U19 World Championship, Junior Tall Blacks
New Zealand’s Junior Tall Blacks suffered a setback with a 101-61 loss to European runners-up Lithuania on Sunday afternoon in their build-up towards next week’s FIBA U19 World Championship.
Forward Richie Edwards provided a game-high 21 points, including 9-of-10 on free-throw attempts, and centre Rob Loe added 10 points in a game dominated by the Lithuanians from the second quarter on.
Loe and Edwards were also the team’s best rebounders, Loe pulling down eight and Edwards six, while point guard Logan van Beek had four assists.
New Zealand trailed 29-20 after the first quarter but were outscored 29-14 in the second and 26-13 in the third, to fall behind by 37 points.
“It gives us an good idea of what we need to do to prepare for Kazakhstan,” coach Kenny McFadden said.
“We needed this game and it gives us a good idea of how we need to play when things aren’t going our way. No doubt about it fatigue was setting in.”
Lithuania 101 New Zealand Junior Tall Blacks 61 (Richie Edwards 21, Rob Loe 10)
1Q: 29-20
HT: 58-34 (29-14)
3Q: 84-47 (26-13)
FT: 101-61 (17-14)
