BOOMERS EXPLODE IN SECOND-HALF TO SECURE VICTORY AGAINST CANADA

The Boomers were without stars Patty Mills and Andrew Bogut for resting purposes. Stepping into the starting line-up was Chris Goulding and Aron Baynes, with Baynes returning after missing Friday night’s game.

The Boomers started off game two in much better fashion compared to Friday, getting out to an early 15-9 lead with Jock Landale continuing his hot form, whilst Matthew Dellavedova provided some great on-ball defence, forcing the Canadians into turnovers early.

However, a pair of three-pointers from Canada to close out the first period saw the visitors take a 18-17 lead into quarter-time. Despite the Boomers fast start, three-point shooting was still a concern for the Boomers who went 1-7 from beyond the arc during the first.

Mitch Creek disrupted the Canadians defensively when he came on the floor, forcing a steal and lay-up. However, the Boomers inability to hit the three continued to limit the Boomers’ offensive output.

With three minutes remaining in the first half, Cam Gliddon finally ended the three-point drought, cutting the margin back to five, ending a 13-minute stretch of bad shooting.

When Aron Baynes came up with an offensive put-back off of a missed free-throw, the Boomers had closed within two points despite being 9-35 from the field.

Moments later, Aron Baynes was called for a questionable illegal screen call, seeing him register his third foul before the end of the first half.

Despite the setback, the Boomers re-took the lead on the next possession as Mitch Creek converted on a wide-open corner three.

Entering the half-time break the Boomers had shot 10-37 from the field, despite this, they found themselves trailing by just three points.

Chris Goulding opened the Boomers account in the second-half with a three-pointer, before an and-one from Jock Landale saw the Boomers draw even at 36 apiece.

The Boomers looked to finally have their offense clicking when Joe Ingles found a rolling Aron Baynes for an easy dunk, however, moments later Baynes was assessed with his fifth foul, once again stalling the progress of Baynes and the Boomers.

After Canada got back out to a ten-point lead, the Boomers again found a way back as Dellavedova hit back-to-back triples, before Jonah Bolden found Goulding with a pretty dime to set up a wide-open three. Moments later Bolden again came up with a bucket, giving the Boomers the lead back at 53-51.

The third period saw the Boomers total 30 points, as the Boomers hit six threes to finally get their offense clicking into gear, taking a 60-59 lead into the last quarter.

The three-point shooting barrage continued for the Boomers in the fourth as Joe Ingles and Cam Gliddon piled on two more to see Australia lead 68-61.

After the Boomers got out to a 70-61 lead, the Canadians went on a 6-0 run before a Chris Goulding three electrified the Perth crowd.

Following a time-out, Perth Wildcat Nick Kay converted on back-to-back baskets to finish off a 9-0 Boomers run in the space of just 60 seconds to see the Boomers take a match-winning twelve point lead. The final score reading 81-73 in favour of the Boomers.

Jock Landale led an even scoring attack for the Boomers with 13 points, while Chris Goulding (10 points) and Jonah Bolden (12 points) were both instrumental in the Boomers 51-point second-half explosion.

Find the box score here.

The Boomers next face USA Basketball at Marvel Stadium on Thursday.

The Boomers used a 51-point second-half to defeat Canada in their second game of FIBA World Cup preparations.

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