DJ
Years ago
Boomers dft Italy
This from www.nbl.com.au
So can we beat the US :-)
Cheers, DJ
Boomers upset Azzurri
Monday, August 9, 2004 - 09:40AM
Basketball Australia
The Boomers Australian men's basketball team have defeated Italy in a four-nations tournament in Reggio Calabria (Italy) 66-59.
The game was close throughout. Australia stuck to their opponents and were down by only three points at the final break.
The momentum shifted in the final quarter when the defensive pressure being applied by the Boomers finally paid off and the Aussies crept ahead by a couple of baskets. They were able to maintain and add to that lead in the closing stages of the match, taking a seven-point victory.
The Boomers won the game through hard work on the defensive end, contesting every board and limiting the Italian guards' scoring by making it hard to put up a shot.
Captain Shane Heal and rookie Andrew Bogut were instrumental in the victory with Heal scoring 15 points and Bogut pulling down 11 rebounds, ten of those on the defensive end.
"I am really happy with all aspects of this performance and the way the team stuck at it in the first half when things weren't going our way," Boomers coach Brian Goorjian said.
"This win is a great confidence boost for all the players because Italy are a class team and only last week defeated the US 'Dream Team'. It shows that on our day we can beat anyone."
The Boomers will now recover in Italy until August 11 when they will travel to Athens to enter the Olympic Village.
Quarter-by-quarter scores
AU IT
11 19
31 36
46 49
66 59
Australian top scorers: Shane Heal 13, CJ Bruton 11, Andrew Bogut 11 (11 rebounds)
Italian top scorers: Giacomo Galanda 11, Denis Marconato 11
