Basketball: Junior Tall Blacks miss gold ,can still win bronze at U19 World Cup

RNZ News

05-07-2025

Hayden Jones of New Zealand.
Photo:
FIBA/Rana Elanwar
The Junior Tall Blacks' highly anticipated semi-final matchup at the FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup against the US at Lausanne Arena has ended in a 120-64 loss.
The loss put an end to the team's quest for gold, however, the team still has the chance to create history by becoming the first New Zealand side to medal at a FIBA World Cup when they take on Slovenia in Monday's bronze medal match.
New Zealand got proceedings underway in Lausanne, thanks to a baseline jumper from big man, Julius Halaifonua.
But to be expected, the US came flying out of the gates, with their star forward AJ Dybantsa scoring a quick four points and a Mikel Brown Jr triple gave the Americans an early lead.
Despite a couple of good looks from beyond the arc, the ball just was not rolling New Zealand's way - and back-to-back buckets in the low post from US's seven-foot giant, Daniel Jacobsen forced coach Matt Lacey to burn his first timeout of the night.
A couple of buckets from Lachy Crate towards the end of the first quarter saw the lead cut ever so slightly, but the talented American squad continued to apply pressure and finished the quarter 32-14.
The Junior Tall Blacks had a tough shooting quarter in the second period, in which the US would add to their lead whilst shooting an efficient 67 percent from the field.
It was almost exactly halfway through the second quarter when guard Jackson Ball would hit New Zealand's first triple of the evening. Whilst the Junior Tall Blacks had their first, America's Jasper Johnson would knock down his third triple of the night in transition, opening up a big 25-point lead for the US.
Halaifonua continued to use his strength and size down low, doing everything he could to keep the Junior Tall Blacks in the game with a seven point, four rebound opening half.
However, US had a half-time lead up 55-26.
The Junior Tall Blacks were left to rue 13 turnovers and shooting 31 percent from the field in the first half, with plenty for them to ponder heading into the second half.
The US continued to apply the pressure at the beginning of the second half, and despite New Zealand throwing absolutely everything they could at the Americans, the US would add to their half-time lead.
Georgetown big, Halaifonua, would continue to make his presence felt down low for the New Zealanders, as he headed into double figure scoring.
Ball started to heat up in the third quarter, looking to spark the team back into action. Hayden Jones hit a triple in the late stages of the third, and had a huge block on the defensive end to send Tama Isaac away on a coast-to-coast transition bucket. It looked as though the Junior Tall Blacks had found their feet on the offensive end of the floor.
But as loaded and as talented as the US was, they continued to score points regularly and held their big double-digit lead heading into the fourth quarter of action.
Whilst the Junior Tall Blacks continued to fight hard and with mana until the very end, the US just proved too strong.
A disappointing end to the New Zealanders hopes of taking the gold, however, an effort that still leaves the team with a chance to return with some metal.
Lacey, while disappointed with the result, was still proud of his group of young men and excited about the challenge at creating history.
"We put a gameplan together that we wanted to come out fighting and punching first and we just weren't really able to get going tonight. Credit to the US, super-talented team. But super proud of the guys and you know, we still have an opportunity tomorrow to make history and get a bronze medal.
"I thought in the third we were a much more competitive team. Started to probably shift the ball and got a few consecutive stops which helps. But yeah, a ton of lessons against a team that is long and athletic. We're not quite used to playing that level across the board, but certainly some positives out of the second half."
The Junior Tall Blacks will take on Slovenia in the bronze medal match, with all the team's focus now shifting to taking home third.
"It's not difficult to refocus at this point. We've got an opportunity to win a medal, the first basketball medal that New Zealand would ever get at a World Cup event. Slovenia is a good team, very different to the United States."
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