Oh the agony of giving up a handy fourth quarter lead only to be run down and lose in overtime. That’s what happened to New Zealand at the U17 World Cup in Belarus.
The Tall Ferns made life hard for themselves in the first half against Chinese Taipei B at the William Jones Cup. However they dominated the second half and now play Japan – the winners will take home the trophy.
A third period scoring drought, when they scored just six points, and another dry spell down the stretch coat New Zealand a win at the U17 World Cup in Belarus.
The Kiwis trailed by 50-49 with just under two minutes to play but failed to execute in the last 90 seconds and lost a game they could so easily have won.
The New Zealand team couldn’t quite cap off a fantastic comeback against European heavyweights Hungary at the U17 World Cup in Belarus last night.
Down 22 points and without three injured players the Kiwis staged a remarkable comeback to almost steal the win before going down 68-60.
Queensland based guard Tara Manumaleuga paced the Kiwis with a game high 23 points as she, Sharne Pupuke-Robati (13 rebounds), Charlisse Leger-Walker (10 points & 10 rebounds), Helen Mathews (7 points & 3 steals) and Tayla Dalton played massive minutes in the second half to lead the fight back.
The scoreline of 83-48 in favour of Spain suggests the Kiwis were hammered in their first ever Fiba U17 World Cup game.
In fact New Zealand went toe for toe with their illustrious opponents until midway through the third quarter. Trailing 43-36 they were well in the contest but from there things went downhill as the Ferns were outscored 40-12 in the last 15 minutes, committing far too many turnovers.
Plenty to be encouraged about with strong contributions from Jazz Kailahi-Fulu, Tayla Dalton, Tara Manumaleuga, Charlisse Leger-Walker and Sharne Pupuke-Robati.
Six days after the Tall Blacks beat China in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers the New Zealand U17 Men replicated that achievement with a 62-57 win against China at the Fiba U17 World Cup in Argentina.
Mitch Dance backed up his 30 points haul the previous day against Serbia with 23 points in this one – his Rosmini College teammate Marvin Williams-Dunn was also in good form scoring 17 points including 4 from 5 from beyond the arc.
There were also key contributions from Anzac Rissetto (8 points) and Shalom Broughton (5 points). The pair also combined for 17 rebounds to ensured the Kiwis gained parity on the glass.
The Kiwis jumped out to a 17-8 first quarter lead and in fact led 17-4 at one stage after Dance and Williams-Dunn (twice) knocked down triples.
Another 10-0 run stunned the Chinese as they found themselves 27-8 down early in the second period – Kainoa Lepou and Anzac Rissetto adding to a third triple from Williams-Dunn.
China found their scoring touch as half-tine approached but the Kiwis were still in the ascendancy at the break leading 35-25.
The third quarter was shaded by China but the Kiwis remained 51-43 to the good at three-quarter time.
After China scored the first eight points of the final period to tie proceedings the game became a battle of nerves.
To their credit NZ held theirs even though they could never stretch their lead beyond five points after Williams-Dunn made it 56-51 with 6:30 to play.
The Kiwis went four minutes without scoring but China weren’t hitting shots either – Shalom Broughton made it 59-54 with 2:30 left after an And-1 play.
China made a triple and once again it was a one possession game – Dance and Rissetto missed a pair of free throws each to heighten the tension but the former made one soon after to give the Kiwis a 60-57 lead inside the last 30 seconds –Broughton sealing the deal in the dying seconds for a memorable win.
New Zealand will play-off for places 13-14 on the final day of competition tomorrow.
China 57
NZ 62 – M Dance 23/7r, M Williams-Dunn 17, A Rissetto 8/8r, S Broughton 5/9r, K Lepou 5, H Dixon 2, E Vaigafa 2
The New Zealand team was no match for European champions France in the round of sixteen at the Fiba World Cup in Rosario today losing 88-48.
The Kiwis, wearing white for the encounter, fought valiantly but the long athletic French outfit demonstrated why they are one of the favourites for the U17 World Cup title with an athletic display.
New Zealand started satisfactorily with a banked French three on the first quarter buzzer giving them a slightly flattering 24-15 lead after Mitch Dance, Kainoa Lepou and Marvin Williams-Dunn had each made triples for NZ.
Turnovers at the back end of the second quarter really hurt the Kiwis effort. A ten point deficit three minutes before half-time became an 18 point hole (47-29) at the interval – Williams-Dunn led the New Zealand effort with 8 points in the first half.
The turnover count (27) was blight on the Kiwi effort as was the perimeter shooting – 4 made from 19 attempts (21%).
Anzac Rissetto (9 points and 8 rebounds), a tower of strength in the middle, made a couple of scores early in the third and Lepou did the same late in the same stanza but France were well in control at three-quarter time leading 68-45.
Unfortunately the lead blew out further in the third as the Kiwi resistance tired.
New Zealand will enjoy a day off today before beginning the play-offs for places 9-16 on Saturday (NZ time).
France 88
New Zealand 48 – K Lepou 11, M Williams-Dunn 9, A Rissetto 9, M Dance 7, J McKinlay 3, T Cowie 2, E Vaigafa 2, H Payne 2, S Broughton 2, H Dixon 1
New Zealand slipped to their second loss at the Fiba U17 World Cup in Argentina going down 80-56 against Montenegro in Rosario. Once again the shooting ability of the teams was a major difference with the Kiwis making just 2 from 16 threes (13%) compared with 14 from 37 (38%) from their opponents.
A two-handed ‘Hail-Mary’ from inside his own half by Tom Cowie, as the half-time buzzer sounded, capped an improved second quarter performance from the Kiwis after they had been upstaged by Montenegro in the opening minutes falling 27-11 behind.
Strong work from Anzac Rissetto, Mitch Dance and Marvin Williams-Dunn meant New Zealand entered the changing rooms at half time facing a deficit reduced to 38-25.
Dance (14 points, 8 rebounds), harshly treated by the referees, was forced to the bench in the third quarter after called for a touchy fourth foul as Montenegro maintained their advantage. Despite points in the paint from Rissetto the Kiwis trailed 59-37 at the three-quarter mark.
To their credit New Zealand stuck to the task not allowing the Montenegro lead to blow out. Rissetto (13 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks was a tower of strength in the paint, Jake McKinlay (8 points and 6 rebounds) and Williams-Dunn (10 points and 4 assists) were also prominent.
The Kiwis, left to rue what could have been but for missed opportunities from the foul line and beyond the arc, now have a day off before meeting Canada. The Canadians are one of the favourites at the tournament so it doesn’t get any easier. That last pool game tips-off early on Wednesday morning (NZ time).
New Zealand 56 – M Dance 14, A Rissetto 13, M Williams-Dunn 10, J McKinlay 8, S Broughton 4, T Cowie 3, H Dixon 2, S Jenkins 2
Montenegro 80
The New Zealand Men have been beaten 64-50 by Egypt in the opening game of the Fiba U17 World Cup in Argentina.
In their first ever appearance at the U17 World Cup New Zealand understandably started nervously and trailed 14-11 at quarter time.
The team struggled to make shots all night converting just 16 from 65 from the floor (25%) and an even lower 11% (3 from 28) from beyond the arc. The lack of scoring power meant New Zealand trailed by 14 points at half-time (33-19).
Shooting guard Kainoa Lepou with 13 points (6/12FG) led a third quarter revival to reduce the deficit to 46-40 but NZ were unable to get closer than six points in the final period.
Lepou added 7 rebounds to his team high points tally with Shalom Broughton (7 points and 15 rebounds), Haven Dixon (2 points and 13 rebounds) and Anzac Rissetto (5 points and 9 rebounds) helping NZ gain parity on the boards (56-55).
Tomorrow New Zealand has a must win game against Montenegro who went down to Canada (92-67) in the other Group C game today.
New Zealand Scorers: K Lepou 13/7r, M Dance 10, J McKinlay 8, S Broughton 7/15r, A Rissetto 5/9r, H Dixon 2/13, T Cowie 2, M Williams-Dunn 2, E Vaigafa 2
In Round eight of the Auckland Secondary Schools Premier competition there were wins for Auckland Grammar, Westlake Boys, Mt Albert Grammar and Rosmini College.
The game at Carmel College between Rosmini and Rangitoto featured four players who will this weekend head to Argentina with the New Zealand team to compete at the Fiba U17 World Cup.
The four all demonstrated good form – Rangitoto guard Harry Payne led all scorers with 30 points, while Kainoa Lepou (23 points), Mitchell Dance (15 points) and Marvin Williams-Dunn (12 points) all made important contributions to Rosmini’s 111-88 victory.
Ethan Mandeno and Taine Murray exchanged early threes before six straight points from Payne gave Rangitoto an early 11-10 lead.
Payne’s jump shot was in good order, his 15 points helping the visitors to a slim 29-28 quarter-time lead.
Sean Murphy scored a brace of baskets early in the second but Logan McIntosh replied in similar fashion for Rangitoto.
Marvin Williams-Dunn scores pushed Rozza out to 40-34 but Obadaiah Paea made a strong impact off the Rangi bench and an 11-2 run restored the Rangi lead.
Lepou’s three tied the scores, Murphy adding to the Rosmini tally giving the hosts a 52-48 lead at half-time.
Perrott-Hunt scored ten points either side of the half-time interlude, a Williams-Dunn triple carrying Rozza to a ten-point lead (63-53) necessitating a Kenny Stone timeout.
Tommie Te Puni responded with six points for Rangi but Perrott-Hunt unleashed a transition dunk, long three and athletic drive to stretch the Rosmini lead to 88-67 at three-quarter time.
Te Puni and Paea kept the Rangi scoreboard ticking over but Lepou and Murphy racked up season best scoring contributions, Tom Seuren scored his first Premier League point, and Rosmini completed an eighth straight win.
Rosmini 111 – K Lepou 23, K Perrott-Hunt 22, S Murphy 16, M Dance 15, M Williams-Dunn 12
Rangitoto 88 – H Payne 30, T Te Puni 17, L McIntosh 12, O Paea
Anzac Rissetto, another Argentina bound player, sunk 33 points as Auckland Grammar proved too strong for Avondale College winning their home tie 80-65.
Playing under new coach Karl Noyer the Avondale duo of Armand Donaldson and Jaga Mete scored 21 points each.
Connor Ngan dropped a couple of early threes to set Grammar on their way. Ably supported by Ilaisa Tela the hosts had a 45-35 lead at half-time.
Rissetto banged down fifteen of Grammar’s seventeen points either side of the three-quarter mark to ensure a fifth win of the season before he heads to South America.
Auckland Grammar 80 – A Rissetto 33, I Tela 14, C Ngan 7, T Caldwell 7
Avondale 65 – A Donaldson 21, J Mete 21, P Karatau 7
Josh Kooiman and Sam Mennenga, with a brace of threes apiece in the first quarter set the platform for a 75-56 Westlake win at St Peter’s.
The pair did more good work in the second period as a four points quarter time margin was increased to 11 points (42-31) at half-time. Phoenix Leupolu scored 14 first half points for the home team to keep them in touch.
The two teams shared 34 points in the third period with Leupolu and Luke Buckingham carrying the scoring load for St Peter’s. A couple of treys from Dylan Wilkie helped Westlake enter the final period with a 59-48 lead.
St Peter’s were held to just nine points in the fourth as Westlake secured a third straight win and move to a share of fourth spot on the Premier ladder.
St Peter’s 56 – P Leupolu 26, L Buckingham 10, W Parata 8
Westlake 75 – K Kooiman 18, S Mennenga 18, D Wilkie 10, J Wuthrich 8
St Kentigern College fought back from 17 points down to take the lead early in the fourth quarter at Mt Albert Grammar. A comeback win was thwarted as in the words of St Kent’s coach Aaron Young, “They made some huge shots to close out an exciting game.”
Making those shots in the last quarter were Sataan Tawera, Nate Wilson and Clarke Aiono who made a season best 15 points.
Earlier Manu Dorcil got MAGS off to a good start as he scored eight first quarter points and then added another seven in the second. The consistent Max Shorter knocked down four triples in the first half but St Kent’s trailed 39-30 at mid-term.
St Kent’s began their resurgence in the third period outscoring their hosts 19-13 as Shorter and Shalom Broughton (another player heading to the Under 17 World Cup) made in-roads reducing the MAGS lead to 52-49 with a quarter to play.
Levic Kerr and Elliot Watson took St Kents into the lead but it was short-lived due to those huge shots.
Mt Albert 72 – M Dorcil 21, C Aiono 15, S Tawera 13, N Wilson 8
St Kentigern 62 – M Shorter 23, S Broughton 14, Z Chan 8, L Kerr 7
Premier Standings
8-0 Rosmini
7-1 MAGS
5-3 AGS
4-4 St Kentigern, Westlake
3-5 St Peter’s
1-7 Rangitoto
0-8 Avondale
Senior A
Northcote 102 Massey 96
We wish all the players, coaches and support staff all the very best at the Fiba U17 World Cup in Argentina beginning later this week.
LACEY LOWDOWN 