Canada Shoot Down T-Blacks
Tagged in: National Teams, Tall Blacks
Despite a game-high 26 points from returning shooting guard Kirk Penney, the New Zealand Tall Blacks fell to a 90-63 loss to Canada in their first game of the Jack Donohue International Classic on Wednesday morning.
Trailing by eight points at halftime, the Tall Blacks were played out of the game in the third quarter, out-scored 25-14 as the host Canadians led by as many as 24 points in the period at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
New Zealand were able to peg the margin back to 19 points in the fourth to give them some hope but Canada, led by 19 points from veteran guard Rowan Barrett, came out shooting and at one point led by 32 points.
“We’re not trying to get used to losing,” Tall Blacks coach Nenad Vucinic said on the team bus from Hamilton to Toronto.
“But I must say today’s performance was a much better performance, although the score doesn’t show that. It was a much better performance in terms of execution. The shots didn’t drop for us, we lost our confidence a little bit, and they were able to run away in the fourth and make it a 27-point game.
“Canada are a good team and their tough to beat at home, even if you are shooting the ball well.”
Penney, who missed last week’s Al Ramsay Shield series against Australia, shot 8-of-16 from the field, including three treys, and was supported by 11 points and 10 rebounds from forward Craig Bradshaw and eight points from captain Pero Cameron.
“He had a lot of open looks tonight and he could’ve easily scored 40 points. He’s done very well, in just two trainings, to fit in and learn all the plays again,” Vucinic said of Penney.
Barrett, returning to the Canadian national team after a five-year hiatus, bombed away on the Tall Blacks, shooting 7-of-10 from the field, including 5-of-8 on three-point attempts, as Canada shot 51 percent from the floor and 42 percent from long distance.
Contrastingly, New Zealand - held to 60 points or less in their third straight loss to start the 2008 campaign - shot 39 percent on field goal attempts and 33 percent on three-point tries and again were on the wrong side of a 19-8 turnover count.
“Scoring only 60 points, that’s not good for us, so of course you’re only going to have a couple players score in double figures. We need to do better.”
Forward Levon Kendall hit eight of his 10 shots to finish with 16 points, adding five rebounds, for Canada, while Olu Famutimi posted 13 points, five rebounds and two steals.
Back-to-back threes from Penney, followed by two free-throws, got New Zealand back within three points inside the final two minutes of the half but with a possession to tie the game resulted in a turnover and the Canadians scored the last five points of the quarter to lead 36-28 at halftime.
The Canucks went on an 11-0 run early in the third quarter, capped by Barrett’s fourth triple of the game, bumping them out to a 49-31 lead, which only grew larger. Canada led by as many as 24 points in the third as they continued to drop threes, before the Tall Blacks finished on a 7-2 run to get within 20 points with a period to play.
In the first quarter, New Zealand led 8-4 at the mid-point, but Canada, powered by Miami Heat centre Joel Anthony and Barrett, scored the game’s next 13 points and took a 19-11 lead into quarter time.
Melbourne Tigers forward and Canadian captain Dave Thomas hit a three to start the scoring in the second quarter, giving Canada their first double-digit lead at 22-11, but the Tall Blacks were able to go on a mini 7-2 run to get back within six.
The Tall Blacks return to Hamilton tomorrow to meet Lebanon, 89-67 losers to Canada on Tuesday, tip-off 11am (NZ time), and play the Canadians again on Saturday morning at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, tip-off 11am (NZ time).
The Lebanese feature American-born centre Joe Vogel, who was drafted by the Seattle Supersonics in 1996, and 2.30m (7ft 8in) skyscraper Ali Fakhreddine. The 12-man Lebanon roster has familiarity, all playing in Lebanon and split between rival clubs Blue Stars and Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut.
“They’re an international team. We have a chance but it will be tough with this inexperienced team. I expect a tight game and a tough game and I’m glad we get another game straight away,” Vucinic said.
Jack Donohue International Classic
At McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario
New Zealand Tall Blacks 63 (Kirk Penney 26, Craig Bradshaw 11)
Canada 90 (Rowan Barrett 19, Levon Kendall 16, Olu Famutimi 13)
1Q: 11-19
HT: 28-36 (17-17)
3Q: 42-61 (14-25)
FT: 63-90 (21-29)
