Boomers’ comeback falls short, Opals outclass NZ

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Boomers’ comeback falls short, Opals outclass NZ

Australia’s men’s basketball team have paid the price for a sloppy start in the final chapter of their three-match series against New Zealand, suffering a 106-97 loss in Hamilton.

The Boomers and their women’s counterparts, the Opals, entered Sunday’s double-header with a trans-Tasman series win in their back pocket, having each banked victories in Adelaide and the Sunshine Coast.

The Opals outgunned New Zealand 86-71 in their series finale, with Isobel Borlase’s 18 points and six rebounds helping complete a sweep and a wire-to-wire win.

Borlase, who was part of Australia’s squad that won bronze at the Paris Olympics, was well supported by Courtney Woods (16 points, three rebounds) and Stephanie Reid (six assists, three steals).

The Boomers started their match with a couple of costly turnovers, errors and fouls as the Tall ******* claimed a 16-4 lead in the first quarter.

New Zealand continued to out-muscle the visitors, easing out to a 30-point lead in the third term before Australia staged an epic comeback.

Dejan Vasiljevic, who turned the ball over twice in the opening minute of the match, nailed a three-pointer to reduce the hosts’ buffer to six points with 32 seconds remaining in the final quarter.

But a couple of ice-cool free throws from Finn Delany ensured Australia were unable to conjure a miracle.

Point guard Taylor Britt went close to a triple double for the Tall *******, helping himself to 23 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Perth Wildcats guard Elijah Pepper, who debuted for Australia earlier this year, came off the bench and scored a game-high 28 points.

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