Major Gains
Tagged in: Tall Ferns
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The result may not seem flattering, but coach Mike McHugh walked away from the NZ Tall Fernís 49-78 loss to the home team content that his inexperienced squad had made significant improvement over their week in China.
Even on the scoreboard, the result was better than the 42-point drubbing the young Kiwis had suffered in their opening game six days ago.
ìBut the scoreline probably doesnít reflect our performance,î said McHugh. ìWe actually played them pretty well and although the score was a marginal improvement, it was a vastly different performance.î
New Zealand found themselves down by 30 during the third quarter, but battled back to within 18 in the fourth term before the Chinese slipped away again at the end.
ìPersonally, I wanted the result to be better,î admitted McHugh. ìBut in terms of measuring progress, our performance was more important than the result.
ìI donít think we copped a hiding at all. Probably a 20-point margin would have been a fairer indication of how we played.î
McHugh also noted that China, a major force in womenís basketball 10 years ago, were set to return to the elite echelon after several years on the wane. They are certainly a different proposition to the team New Zealand defeated in pool play at the 2004 Athens Olympics to progress to the quarterfinals.
ìThey are only ranked 10th in the world right now, but I would expect them to go into the Beijing Olympics as medal contenders. They are a vastly improved team.î
As she had throughout this tour, centre Jess McCormack (17) led the Tall Ferns with 11 points (5/11 FG, 1/5 FT), a tally matched by guard Micaela Cocks in her best of the week. The real revelation, though, was back-up centre Karlene Kingi, who had 10 points (4/6 FG, 2/3 FT) and five rebounds as the starting frontcourt of McCormack and Lisa Wallbutton ran into foul trouble.
The Ferns, ranked 17th in the world, return home after twice losing heavily to China, running Cuba (seventh) to within eight points and beating Argentina (12th) by two. With four senior players – captain Donna Wilkins, veteran forward Aneka Kerr, versatile Charmian Purcell and point guard Angela Marino – all unavailable, the focus of this tour was on developing depth, but McHugh hoped the performances against Cuba and Argentina had not escaped the attention of NZ Olympic selectors.
ìWe have to demonstrate to the NZOC that we can compete at this level to secure selection for Beijing and we have had some significant results here.
ìEven the China losses might look huge by the numbers, but against an improved team in their home country in front of home crowds with officials that donít give any help to visiting teams Ö Iím sure the people watching from the NZOC will take all that into account.î
Shanghai Invitational
Monday, June 18
China 78 NZ Tall Ferns 49 (Jess McCormack 11, Micaela Cocks 11, Karlene Kingi 10)
Quarter 12-8
Halftime 36-21 (24-13)
Threequarter 59-33 (23-12)
Fulltime 78-49 (19-16)
