mystro
Years ago

Tall Blacks trump Slovenia in Double OT

Paced again by a game-high 42 points from Kirk Penney, the Tall Blacks overcame the odds, the loss of starting point guard Lindsay Tait to a stomach bug, a scarcely believable 45 free throws awarded to their opponents and the fouling out of four key players to nudge the host Slovenian team on their home court 104-103.

Vucinic was rapt with the toughness and tenacity displayed by his side as they fought back from an eight-point halftime deficit, battled away without regular point man Tait and survived the loss of Mika Vukona, Tom Abercrombie, Jeremy Kench and Pero Cameron who all fouled out.

Slovenia led 52-44 at the break, largely due to blistering 71 per cent shooting from the floor. They also enjoyed a massive free-throw discrepancy and forced their guests into 10 turnovers.

But the Tall Blacks stayed in touch by shooting well (61 percent FG), especially from long distance (8/14 3pt).

Soon after the restart, the Kiwis rattled off nine points to draw level and though five quick fouls threatened to stall that momentum, they kept their cool to take a 69-67 lead into the fourth quarter.

Cameron, then Penney, and Penney again struck from deep to put them 11 points clear in the final term but
another flurry of fouls saw Kench, then Vukona, then Cameron all foul out.

The Slovenians then drilled six of eight freebies from the charity stripe to draw level at 83-83.

Penney tied the game up from the free-throw line with just over a minute remaining, but his missed second attempt consigned the contest to an extra period.

Still, he opened the overtime scoring with a three-point play before Abercrombie also took a seat.
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Consecutive baskets from Fitchett and Craig Bradshaw gave the Tall Blacks a four-point cushion, but with 26 seconds on the clock, Jaka Lakovic made a layup that prompted a second extra period.

Veteran Phill Jones hit his first field goal from deep to open the second extra period, then Casey Frank also connected from range to open up some breathing room. Slovenia crept closer, but Jones finally sealed the result with a made pair of free throws.

The Kiwis shot superbly, converting 56 percent FG and 45 percent (15/33) from beyond the arc. Their main concern would have been a lopsided foul count which indicates adjustments are needed.

But the New Zealanders did well to restrict Slovenia's shooting, keeping them to just 46 percent FG overall after their hot start.

Penney was huge again as he continues to underline his reputation as one of the premier players in the international game. He hit nine treys as he had another banner night in the black singlet (42 points, 14/25 FG, 9/15 3PT).

There was also a timely breakout performance from veteran big man Cameron who showed he has well and truly put his injury worries behind him, weighing in with 15 points in 16 minutes, making three-of-four from long range and all three of his two-point attempts.

Abercrombie chimed in with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds while Frank (nine points, seven rebounds), Bradshaw (seven points, five rebounds) and Vukona (seven points, four rebounds) all made key contributions.

Point guard Fitchett also had a big game, deputising for the infirm Tait and doing a fine job on star Slovenian point guard Lakovic who is one of the premier point guards in Europe.

The Slovenians were paced by former NBA standout Bostjan Nachbar with 29 points, but will now be well aware of the giant-killing capacity of this gritty New Zealand side.

stuff.co.nz

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Anonymous  
Years ago

not bad given slovenia were unlucky to lose to spain a few days earlier..

Reply #286026 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

I wish Australia had a pure shooter like Penney. His shooting display was phenomenal to watch. At one stage he was 9/13 behind the 3 point arc, knocking down some insane shots in the face of the Slovenia defenders.

Reply #286033 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

we used to have on one in john rillie but never gave him a chance..

Reply #286034 | Report this post


Ushiro  
Years ago

Considering the poor shot selection by the Kiwis in the last 3 minutes of regular time, they should have won by 4-6 in regular time. Even after the opening double 3s in the 2nd period of extra time, poor running of their offence and poor shot selection nearly cost them the game. As it was the same Slovene player ran too much time off the clock before the final plays to win the game in normal and the first period of extra time.

Both teams did not run their offences well in the defining moments of the game. It was good to watch though. More games on tomorrow.

Reply #286037 | Report this post


LC  
Years ago

Great win by the Kiwi's. Massive effory by Penney yet again...he sort of reminds me of a certain Mr Andrew Gaze for Australia in the way he carries his nation on his back...

Australia used to be blessed with plenty of great perimeter shooters: Gaze, Heal, Maher, Rillie, Smyth, Keogh, Graham, Palubinskas, McKay, and plenty of others I have missed. We are just going through a quiet patch right at the moment.

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Billy  
Years ago

That was a good game, bad calls galore I thought Capt. Baldy was there.

Eurosport are showing the games on foxtel.

Reply #286043 | Report this post


Ushiro  
Years ago

Perhaps LC one you have missed is Ian Davies who scored 336 points at 22.4pg at the 1980 and 1984 Olympics. He had 4 high scores in the mid 30's. At he 1982 World Championships, he scored the second most total points in the tournament, 187, good for an average of 23.4 per game.

Reply #286057 | Report this post


paul  
Years ago

Anyone want to guess which major tournament Australia has shot the best at from 3-point range? 43.1% was the clip, next best was 40.6% (records available from 1992 onwards).

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Big Ads  
Years ago

I'll have a crack Paul and say the Athens Olympics in 2004

Reply #286065 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Yeah, I'd say a recent(Goorj coached) team. Even 2008 in a possibility. Goorj was getting their offense going before he was shafted. Barnes relied on outside scoring, but didn't have the spread of shooters like Goorj had.

Reply #286098 | Report this post




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