CZE/AUS – Czechs bounce defending Aussies from medal hunt

KARLOVY VARY (2010 FIBA World Championship for Women) - The Czech Republic rode their home-court advantage and a fierce defensive effort to victory over Australia on Friday night to reach the Semi-Finals of the FIBA World Championship for Women.

After scratching and clawing their way to a third-place finish in Group F, the Czechs ended the title defense of the Opals with a 79-68 triumph.

Eva Viteckova tore apart the Aussies, burying five shots from long range on her way to a game-high 27 points, and Hana Horakova weighed in with 21 and eight rebounds.

Horakova also led the defensive effort by coming up with three steals.

Lubor Blazek’s team shut down two of international basketball’s best players, limiting Australia’s superstars Penny Taylor and Lauren Jackson to five of 30 shooting from the field.

“Someone told us before the game that if there was a miracle, then we’d be the winner,” Horakova said to FIBA.com.

“So I’m happy that there could be a miracle.”

The Czech players remained on the court for several minutes after the final buzzer to celebrate, and to say thanks to the home support in Karlovy Vary with waves of appreciation.

"After such a game, I have no energy left,” Viteckova said.

“I have to admit that before this game, I was sceptical. It was on my mind the game against Australia in the Olympics in Beijing where we lost with a 30-point difference.

“Since the very beginning, we felt as we could do it. We took the chance when Australia were not playing well. This game shows the strength of our team unity.”

The Czechs gave away very little in the paint, especially to Taylor and Jackson.

"My team prepared very well for this game today,” Blazek said.

“I knew the players believed in the system we planned for tonight. In this game we played exactly how we wanted, exactly the defense we need.

“We got ready for the strength of Australia, especially in the paint.

“Luckily, we had enough power to last 40 minutes.

“This game was a great chance for the team. My team believed they could beat Australia and I think that was the key.”

Australia may regret not coming out with fire to play the United States in the last game of Group E in Ostrava on Wednesday.

The Opals had already locked up a second-place finish behind the USA, and they fell behind by 24 points in the second quarter against the Americans.

The Australians played far better in the second half and reduced the deficit to eight but the hole they’d dug for themselves in the first 15 minutes was too big to climb out of.

That result meant the USA clinched first in Group E and put them into a Quarter-Final against Korea and threw the Australians into a showdown with the Czechs in the electric atmosphere of the Karlovy Vary Arena.

"All credit to the Czechs,” Australia coach Carrie Graf said.

“They executed the offense and we didn't. Twenty-nine per cent (20 of 70) from the field and 19% (four of 21) from the three-point line - that's the story today.

“When we are not shooting well, you have to make sure you defend and we didn't do that tonight.”

The Aussies stayed within striking distance thanks to the heroic play of 19-year-old Liz Cambage, a 6ft 8in center, who had 22 points and 10 rebounds.

Australia hit back from a 52-42 deficit with 7:44 remaining in the third quarter to 52-51 by the end of the frame.

On two different possessions, Jackson could have put her team in front but she missed jump shots and with 8:40 to go, Hana Horakova drilled the first of two three-pointers to push the lead back to 58-51.

The advantage ballooned to 69-57 with 4:08 to go on two Jana Vesela free-throws.

A Cambage bucket, two free-throws for both Taylor and Belinda Snell reduced the arrears to 69-63 with 2:03 left.

Viteckova went to the other end and buried a three-ball to take the lead to 72-63 and Australia got no closer than eight the rest of the way.

The Czechs will now take on Belarus, who upset Russia in their Quarter-Final earlier in the day.

“I think it will be a really hard game because we could see today that they are really a great team,” Horakova said.

You can see the Czech Republic's Semi Final match-up with Belarus, plus plenty of highlights on FIBATV.com.

FIBA