The Australian Boomers men’s basketball team has joined the Jayco Opals in securing Game One of the FIBA Oceania Championship, sealing the 91-78 win in a fiery and physical contest against the New Zealand Tall Blacks.
The game was halted on two separate occasions with the two teams squaring off in a pair of heated exchanges that brought to the fore the competitiveness that exists in this trans-Tasman rivalry.
After a tough first half, which ended with the Boomers in front by only two points, the first scuffle took place late in the third term, with the scores at 61-56 in favour of the Aussies.
The Boomers seemed to find something extra coming out of the incident, igniting to go on a 21-4 run, seeing them jump out to a lead of as many as 20 points at the eight minute mark of the fourth.
The Tall Blacks worked to get the lead back to within striking range, trimming the deficit to 11 points with just under three minutes to go, but the damage had been done, the Boomers running away with the win and the all-important 1-0 advantage in the series, as both teams play for direct qualification to the 2012 London Olympic Games.
For the Boomers, star playmaker Patty Mills top-scored in an MVP performance, finishing with 20 points, while Mark Worthington added 13 points.
For the New Zealand Tall Blacks, Kirk Penney was unstoppable, finishing with 30 points, shooting 55 per cent from the field and 50 per cent from beyond the arc, while Mika Vukona added 18 points.
The series now moves to Brisbane for Game Two on Friday night, as the Tall Blacks look to tie the series, while the Boomers play to seal the series win and gain direct qualification to the London Games.
Australian Boomers 91 (Mills 20, Worthington 13) def New Zealand Tall Blacks 78 (Penney 30, Vukona 18)
