AUS/ESP - Ogilvy steers Australia to victory

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NOVI SAD (FIBA U19 World Championship) - Andrew Ogilvy had another memorable match for Australia as the reigning champions edged out Spain 86-84 in a hard-fought encounter at the FIBA U19 World Championship on Wednesday.

Ogilvy, who is averaging more than 20 points per match in the tournament, poured in 32 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and handed out three assists as Australia made it three wins out of three in Group F of the eighth-finals.

Such was Ogilvy's contribution for Australia - his tally of 32 points was more than twice as many as his next-best team-mate - it was little surprise to also see him score the match-winning basket with five seconds left on the clock.

Spain had just levelled the scores up at 84-84 thanks to a Victor Claver dunk and the European side looked to have gained the advantage when Pat Mills missed his lay-up for Australia soon after.

But 6tf 11in center Ogilvy managed to grab the offensive rebound before successfully converting his lay-up to give Australia a last-gasp win.

The Australians, who had beaten Korea 135-79 and Argentina 79-78 in their first two eighth-final matches, held the upper hand for most of the opening three quarters against Spain.

And they looked to have taken total control when a 13-4 run put them ahead at 63-54 with less than 90 seconds left on the clock in the third period.

However, Spain responded superbly in the final 10 minutes and they managed to wrestle back the initiative before building a 71-67 lead following Juan Cabot's jump shot.

Spain, who had suffered their first defeat in the World Championship in losing 59-56 to Turkey on Tuesday, still held a three-point advantage at 80-77 heading into the final two minutes.

But Australia stepped up a gear in the closing stages and a 7-0 run helped them reclaim the lead before Ogilvy's late lay-up decided the match in their favour.

Shannon Seebohm added 14 points and three rebounds for Australia, while Spain's leading performers were Quim Colom (20 points), Javier Vega (18 points and eight rebounds) and Xavi Forcada (17 points).

Australia's victory - their sixth on the trot in the tournament - means they will now face Brazil in Friday's quarter-final.

Emus head coach Marty Clarke said after the Spain match: "The guys are doing an awesome job, they are a tougher group than people give them credit for.

"It was a tight game, the boys' discipline is second to none and that showed at the end of the game with the boys doing a great job in a pressure situation.

"We have done the work now to draw the weaker side in Group E, if there is one, but we have got to win the next game and the work is really ahead of us as Brazil play with the emotion and are solid."

Mike Perez
FIBA