Basketball New Zealand

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If the NZ Tall Ferns were suffering delusions of grandeur after beating world champions Australia in April, coach Mike McHugh believes they have been brought back down to earth with a thud during their just-completed tour of Europe.

The national women’s team, bound for the Beijing Olympics in August, have suffered their biggest loss of the journey, falling 46-73 to the Czech Republic at Luhacovice in their final outing.

Just like the previous night, when they lost to the same opponents by 21 points, the Kiwis were well in contention late in the second quarter, but conceded 18 consecutive points before halftime. While they rallied somewhat in the second half (lost 29-34), it was way too late to salvage respectability.

“It was pretty much déjà vu from the night before,” observes McHugh. “They upped the ante and we just couldn’t go with them.

“Then, in the third quarter, the scoreboard goes down and we have no idea of time or score except for guys with no English pointing at their watches. It was totally bizarre and very difficult to keep track of what was going on.”

There were positives to be taken even from such a disappointing performance. Point guard Angela Marino broke off the shackles for 16 points, while forward Lisa Wallbutton had nine points/nine rebounds.

New Zealand actually enjoyed a rebounding edge over their much taller opponents, although their 12-4 advantage in offensive boards was due, in part, to their own wayward shooting (30% FG).

While McHugh concedes the 2-4 tour record does not seem a satisfactory result, he insists the trip will yield long term benefits as his team prepares for the Olympics.

“There is no doubt our performances at the Good Luck Beijing tournament were very, very good,” he says. “But I think we came back from Beijing with our heads in the clouds.
“This tour has been exactly what we wanted it to be … a real lesson in international basketball and a reality check. That’s good for us.

“When you play European giants like Spain and the Czechs, the true value is the lessons learnt. The real measure of whether this trip was successful or not will come in August.”

The tour has also thrown Olympic selection wide open. McHugh had hoped to finalise his roster soon after returning home this month, but now feels he needs as much time as the NZOC will allow him.

“These games have certainly raised more questions than answers and the players left at home are still very much in the running.”

McHugh and assistant coach Leigh Gooding will spend the next week in Spain, scouting the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women, from which two teams will land in the Ferns’ pool in Beijing.

He also hopes to lure an Olympic qualifier to New Zealand for a series next month.

NZ Tall Ferns In Europe
Thursday, June 5
Luhacovice
Czech Republic 73 NZ Tall Ferns 46 (Angela Marino 16)
Q 21-10
HT 39-17 (18-7)
3Q 57-31 (18-14)
FT 73-46 (16-15)