AUS - Emus and Gems complete Oceania Under 19 sweep

SHOALHAVEN (FIBA Oceania U19 Championship) - Australia’s National Junior Men and Women, the Emus and Gems, have continued their impeccable form to take their respective game threes of the FIBA Oceania Under 19 Championships over the New Zealand Junior Tall Blacks and Tall Ferns at Shoalhaven. The Australians won 94-75 (Emus) and 88-34 (Gems) to continue their long-standing dominance in this age group and confirm qualification for the 2007 World Junior Championships.

You had a hunch right from the New Zealand haka prior to tip-off in the Men’s game, that today might see the Junior Tall Ferns take the contest a little further up to their Australian counterparts. Once again though, it Emus Andrew Ogilvy and Ben Dowdell provided the initial impetus for their team, piling on the first ten points between them. The Kiwis found a few openings inside for Ezra Fantl and Benny Anthony Junior, but when Patrick Mills executed back-to-back screen and roll plays with Ogilvy, the Emus’ lead had extended beyond double figures (20-5).

It was the worst possible start for the visitors and on the next trip Ogilvy spiked a potential lay-up from Kiwi guard Corey Webster up into the crowd to emphasise his side’s dominance. It was 28-17 at the quarter break and a mountain had appeared in front of any New Zealand hopes of a win.

The Australians continued to edge clear up to the half time break (52-34) with three-point shooting their most effective option (6 of 13 to this point). Anthony (22 points, 14 rebounds and 6 blocks) was at the forefront of almost everything productive for New Zealand but the depth of their rivals was the difference in the game.

The second half opened at a furious pace, a tempo that was only ever going to suit the Emus. Mills (19 points and 6 assists) created more chaos in the open floor and David Clarke (17 points) showed some of his best form for the Kiwis. Nonetheless, try as they might, the New Zealanders could make few inroads and eventually it finished in a 94-75 win to the Emus, giving them a series sweep.

The Gems started out right where they left off the previous two games in the third and final encounter of the Women’s Oceania Championship series. They dominated the rebounding (18-6 in the first quarter) and used their aggressive man-to-man defence to strangle the smaller Kiwis half-court sets. They swept to a sixteen-point buffer (23-7) by the end of the first period and continued to extend that margin throughout the second and subsequent quarters.

For the Kiwis, diminutive point guard Melissa Harrison did a solid job of organising and forward Margaret Smeaton did her best to play above her height inside, but the Australian teamwork was too slick and their size just too big an obstacle. The Australians spread the minutes and the scoring around, Marianna Tolo and Ellie Manou having the greatest impact inside.

It finished 88-34 to give the Gems their own FIBA Oceania Championship clean sweep and propel them onto the 2007 World Junior Championships in Slovakia.

It’s impossible to say enough about the hospitality extended to the tournament and teams by stadium manager Scott Balsar and the local families who are the heart and soul of the Shoalhaven Basketball Association. The appreciative full houses, remarkable catering and good-natured approach to every challenge the event presented made this event a fabulous success.

Brendan Parnell
Basketball Australia