AUS GIRLS QUALIFY FOR 2019 U16 ASIAN CHAMPS, BOYS SUFFER HEARTBREAKER VS. NZ
Australian Girls:
Following on from the boys’ double-header yesterday, the girls firstly met Fiji in the morning and set the tone with a 33-5 opening term before going on to win 141-15.
The Aussies struggled to find their long-range shot, hitting only 3-15, but aside from that they hit 74% from the field with eight players reaching double-figures in scoring and 11 players contributing a steal.
Charlise Dunn paced them with 20 points and eight rebounds, Zoe Crawford scored 18 points on 2-2 three-point shooting, Kate Deeble had 17 points and three steals, Paige Price scored scored 16, Piper Dunlop collected 14 points and nine rebounds while Meg Robinson had ten points and six steals.
Find the box score here.
Needing just one more victory to book their place in the gold medal game on Saturday night as well as earn their spot in the Under-16 Asian Championships next year, Australia backed up against host nation Papua New Guinea nine hours later.
They again set up a victory with a blistering opening term, leading 42-4 and they held their opponents to single-figure scoring in each subsequent period, prevailing 155-18.
Improving their shooting stroke from the previous game, the Aussies nailed eight three-pointers as Dunn (22 points, five assists) and Luisa Fakalata (14 points) each hit two while the team shot 83% from inside the arc thanks to Alana Goodchild (25 points on 10-11 shooting) and Chyra Evans (18 points on 9-9).
Crawford (14 points), Price (13 points), Shaneice Swain (13 points), Piper Dunlop (12 points) and Indiah Bowyer (11 points) also shone while Mille Prior was rested on the second game of a double-header.
Find the box score here.
The girls have now earned a day’s break before the medal games on Saturday where they are likely to re-match against New Zealand at 6pm AEDT in a game that will be live-streamed.
Australian Boys:
Facing their toughest competition of the tournament in New Zealand, Australia got off to the perfect start with the first nine points of the game courtesy of Dyson Daniels (eight points, six steals), Jack McWilliams and a quick five from Josh Duach (15 points).
Their team defence was also sensational, holding New Zealand scoreless for almost five minutes.
However, once the Kiwi’s got going they found their offence quickly and by quarter-time, they owned a two-point edge.
New Zealand carried that momentum into the second term and by the main break, had opened up a double-digit lead by stifling Australia’s offensive flow.
Coach Nathan Cooper-Brown was able to get his team re-aligned by the third quarter with Duach and Daniels leading the comeback before Marcus Windhager (15 points) put the Aussies back in front.
They finished that period on a 12-3 run as Michael Walker shot 5-5 from the field overall for ten points and eight rebounds while a late Matthew Wacher jumper gave them more confidence heading down the stretch.
The teams went back and forth in the final quarter but Australia were able to push out to a six-point edge with under five minutes remaining.
Foul trouble hurt them though and New Zealand were able to take full advantage from the charity stripe, scoring the next 11 points- five of which came from the free-throw line.
They did miss some crucial shots in the dying moments but Australia were unable to take advantage, missing two potential game-tying shots as they fell in a heartbreaker, 57-59.
Find the box score here.
Despite the loss, the Australian boys can still advance to the gold medal game and back up the girls by qualifying for the Under-16 Asian Championships with a victory tomorrow against Papua New Guinea- all but assuring a re-match against New Zealand on Saturday night.
All games on Court 1 at the Under-15 Oceania’s will be live-streamed and you can find a schedule of Australia’s games for the girls and boys below.
The 2018 Boys and Girls Schedules for the FIBA Under-15 Oceania Championships (all times AEDT):
December 4: Australian Girls def. Samoa (111-29)
December 4: Australian Boys def. Samoa (90-49)
December 5: Australian Boys def. Fiji (119-27)
December 5: Australian Girls def. New Zealand (94-34)
December 5: Australian Boys def. Guam (113-30)
December 6: Australian Girls def. Fiji (141-15)
December 6: Australian Boys def. by New Zealand (57-59)
December 6: Australian Girls def. Papua New Guinea (155-18)
December 7: Australian Boys vs. Papua New Guinea at 8pm (Live-Streamed)
December 8: Australian Girls Gold Medal Game vs. at 6pm (Live-Streamed)
December 8: Australian Boys Medal Games. Bronze at 4pm, Gold at 8pm (Live-Streamed)
The post AUS GIRLS QUALIFY FOR 2019 U16 ASIAN CHAMPS, BOYS SUFFER HEARTBREAKER VS. NZ appeared first on Basketball Australia.
Completing their group stage undefeated, the Australian girls have booked a spot in the FIBA Under-15 Oceania Championships gold medal game as well as earning their place at the Under-16 Asian Championships next year while the Aussie boys suffered a heartbreaking loss to New Zealand.
The post AUS GIRLS QUALIFY FOR 2019 U16 ASIAN CHAMPS, BOYS SUFFER HEARTBREAKER VS. NZ appeared first on Basketball Australia.
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