GLIDERS HIT MIDWAY POINT OF USA INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Utilising the series as a selection camp for a tour of Tokyo in August for the Mitsubishi Electric Cup tournament as well as preparing and developing the group for the AOZ Qualifiers ahead of the 2020 Paralympics, the Gliders’ squad of 17 are gaining significant experience against a quality opponent.
The USA finished sixth at the 2018 World Championships but since then, have added four experienced campaigners from the 2016 Paralympics while they are also coming off a gold medal at the Under-25 World Championships where they beat the Australians Devils in the final.
The Gliders have been unable to get a win in their first three contests but have rotated through 14 players and eight different starters as coach David Gould gets a look at a number of different combinations.
Ella Sabljak and Sarah Vinci have started all three games so far while youngsters Teisha Shadwell (four points, three rebounds per game) and Georgia Munro-Cook (5.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists) have impressed.
Amber Merritt has led them offensively, collecting 31 points and 14 rebounds in the opening game and backing up with 25 points on 10-20 shooting in Game 2.
Annabelle Lindsay then took over the scoring duties in Game 3 with 16 points in 29 minutes off the bench.
The series continues today at 3pm with the box score for that game available here while stats for the previous three contests can be found below.
In addition to the six-game series, the Gliders and USA will split their squads into four teams to compete in the first 3×3 international wheelchair basketball tournament for either country tomorrow.
The Australian Gliders schedule for the international series vs. USA (all times AEST):
June 28: Gliders def. by USA 48-67
June 29: Gliders def. by USA 45-76
June 30: Gliders def. by USA 45-60
July 1: Game 4 vs. USA at 3pm
July 2: 3×3 international series vs. USA at 9.15am
July 3: Game 5 vs. USA at 10am
July 4: Game 6 vs. USA at 9am
Basketball Australia
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