Tall Black Juniors beat Australia

It was a historic weekend for New Zealand basketball in Fiji.

The Junior Tall Blacks claimed a 57-51 win over Australia at the Fiba Oceania under-18 championships, to qualify for next year’s under-19 world championships in Egypt. It was New Zealand’s first win over Australia in the final of an age-grade tournament, having gone agonisingly close twice in recent years.

Promising Otago forward Josh Aitcheson had two points and two rebounds in the win, scoring off a nice follow midway through the second quarter.

It was a scrappy encounter, in which neither team looked comfortable, particularly down the stretch, as turnovers plagued the game. Back-to-back three-pointers in the final two minutes from Canterbury point guard Quinn Clinton proved decisive, the second giving the Junior Tall Blacks a lead they would not relinquish. Clinton finished with a team-high 14 points to go with seven rebounds and two assists, knocking down four of seven from beyond the arc.

New Zealand led 12-8 at the end of the first quarter and exerting its dominance in the second, extending the lead to eight points at one stage and heading to the half up 27-20. That continued early in the third, as two Clinton threes got it out to a 35-22 lead. Two quick baskets to Jacob Rigioni cut the margin by five though, before an Australian run closed the score to 40-37 heading into the final quarter.

Momentum had swung and two quick baskets to Angus Glover tied the score at 42-42, before a Sam Froling dunk put Australia up by two. The Junior Tall Blacks rallied though. Clinton’s threes gave the side a lead heading into the final minute and Wellington forward Taane Samuel iced the game.

Samuel finished with 11 points and three rebounds, while University of Miami commit Sam Waardenburg had 11 points and 12 rebounds.

● Several Kiwis were in action in US college basketball yesterday. Nebraska guard Tai Webster impressed with 22 points and five assists in a loss against a very strong Kansas team.

Otago big man Sam Timmins is in action today, against the University of Nevada, set to tip off at 2pm. 

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