Opals All Gold
Tagged in: Tall Ferns
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Jet-lagged and well below full strength, the world champion Australian Opals showed they had more than enough depth to handle their closest opposition in their own neighbourhood, defeating the NZ Tall Ferns 78-46 in the opening game of the FIBA Oceania Championships in Dunedin.
With their Olympic tickets already booked, the Aussies have used 2007 to develop the depth of their roster behind superstars like Lauren Jackson and Penny Taylor. Even with only two survivors from last yearís successful line-up, they proved a class above the plucky Kiwis, themselves without inspirational leader Donna Wilkins throughout this yearís campaign.
The home team actually scored first through a baseline jumper from guard Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe, but veterans Alicia Poto and Natalie Porter conspired in a six-point run that carried the Opals clear for good.
By the end of the opening period, Australia were 17-11 up and immediately stretched that advantage to double figures with a three-point play to Rohanee Cox and a trey from Poto immediately after the restart.
The Opals reached halftime 36-22 ahead and the margin reached 20 points when Michelle Broganís lay-up took the scoreline to 49-28. New Zealand continued to hang on gamely, but really fell away to concede the final 11 points of the contest.
The Aussies could have been excused for feeling flat, having returned home from a tour of Europe and the United States just last weekend, then flown across the Tasman the day before the Oceania opener.
Coach Jan Stirling applied full court pressure for much of the game, but shared the court time around equitably, allowing everyone a chance to settle into their work.
ìWe were mindful of [the travel],î said Stirling. ìBut when you play for your nation, you put all that aside and do your best.
ìWe had a goal at halftime to keep them under 50, which we thought was achievable. It was a good hitout, but full credit to New Zealand for fighting it out all the way.î
Porter led all scorers with 16 points (8/16 FG), ably supported by Emma Randall (13 points) and Poto (12 points, 5/8 FG, 2/4 3pt). As a team, the Opals shot 47.8% from the field and held their opponents to just 30.5% FG.
ìThey all had their moments,î observed Stirling. ìI donít think any one player stood out and really thatís how weíre going to win with this group.
ìWe really have 12 role players here and we need bits out of everybody to get a successful win.î
Last time, these two adversaries met, Australia prevailed 99-52 at the William Jones Cup in Taiwan two months ago. Tall Ferns coach Mike McHugh claimed this result represented an improvement, but found little comfort in that appearance.
ìI was disappointed with the scoreline,î he admitted. ìI thought there were certain periods of the game where, if we had stuck to what we were doing, we could have hung in there.
ìOur performance was up and down. We had good patches and bad patches, and in those bad patches, they punished us very quickly.î
Pint-sized point guard Angela Marino had 15 points (6/15 FG, 2/6 3pt, 1/4 FT), three assists and three steals for the Kiwis, but their best performer was young centre Jess McCormack, who compiled a ìdouble doubleî of 10 points (4/9 FG, 2/2 FT), 12 rebounds and three blocks in a game-high 36 minutes.
McHugh pointed at his teamís poor shooting and high turnover rate – they committed 18 to Australiaís seven – as the areas of gravest concern.
ìBut now we have a measure. If we can get past Fiji, we get another crack at Australia in the final on Saturday.
ìThatís a challenge for us to put up a better performance.î
New Zealand have a bye on Thursday as Australia face Fijian squad of just eight players, featuring none of the starting five that took out the South Pacific Games title in Apia earlier this month.
FIBA Oceania Championships
Wednesday, September 26
Edgar Centre, Dunedin
Australia 78 (Natalie Porter 16, Emma Randall 13, Alicia Poto 12) NZ 46 (Angela Marino 15, Jess McCormack 10)
Quarter 17-11
Halftime 36-22 (19-11)
Threequarter 56-35 (20-13)
Fulltime 78-46 (22-11)
Box Score – NZ v Australia (html 22KB)
ìRespectî – Australian coach Jan Stirling (WAV 1.7MB)
ìHitoutî – Australian coach Jan Stirling (WAV 1.3MB)
ìDisappointedî – NZ coach Mike McHugh (WAV 2.9MB)
ìMcCormack & Marino Wonderful Gamesî – NZ coach Mike McHugh (WAV 2.1MB)
ìJump Shotî – NZ centre Jess McCormack (WAV 2.1MB)
