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