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RNZ News
05-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Basketball: Junior Tall Blacks miss gold ,can still win bronze at U19 World Cup
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." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
04-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
New Zealand into semi finals at FIBA U19 World Cup
Hayden Jones, one of the stars of the 2025 New Zealand U19 World Cup basketball team. File picture. Photo: FIBA/Rana Elanwar New Zealand gets into the final four of a FIBA World Cup tournament for just the third time in history. The Junior Tall Blacks stellar performances at basketball's under 19 World Cup have continued, with a courageous win over host nation Switzerland in the quarter finals. In front of a packed house desperate for their team to win, New Zealand held their nerve to win 84 to 70 to set up a semi-final matchup with international basketball powerhouses the United States. The achievement is just the third time a New Zealand national team's made the final four of a FIBA World Cup tournament. Coach Matt Lacey told RNZ he couldn't be more delighted. "Yeah, it means a lot. So excited for our guys and all of the work that they've put in with their coaches back at home. It's it's a huge night for us here," he said. It wasn't an easy victory though, with Switzerland making the better start, largely on the back of forward Dayan Nessah, who scored seven points in the first quarter, to help them to a 23-16 lead at the end of the first quarter. The host nation then extended that lead to 10 points midway during the second quarter, but it was at this point, where New Zealand started to find its groove. Seven footer Julius Halaifonua, from Auckland, was instrumental during this period, with key back-to-back baskets and some impressive rebounding. The third quarter was when things really changed though, as the Junior Tall Blacks came out onto the floor and sent a shockwave through Lausanne Arena. Halaifonua scored four straight and then Nelson's Hayden Jones got cracking to help New Zealand score eight points in a row, which created scoreboard pressure on the Swiss. New Zealand ended up outscoring their opponents 29-12 in the third quarter, as they turned a six point deficit at half-time, into a 11 point advantage heading into the last quarter. Jones would pick up where he left off in the third, by opening the final quarter with another bucket, before Oscar Goodman's triple and another Hayden Jones bucket forced the Swiss into a time-out with five minutes to play, and the Kiwi's holding a big 16-point lead. As New Zealand has been all tournament, they were impressive down the stretch as they managed the game efficiently to the end. "The boys just really held their cool and to come back and have the third quarter performance that we did and close it out, just super proud of our guys to do that," Lacey said. Halaifonua finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and three steals, while Goodman, a forward from Taranaki, finished the game with a 13 point, 13 rebound double-double. Jones, the son of Tall Blacks great Phill, though, showed his huge promise for the fourth game in a row, finishing with 23 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four blocks. "I am extremely proud of the boys. We're all great friends, we get along really well. I'm just super proud of what we've achieved. We're just trying to go even further than we have right now and yeah, get that gold medal," Jones said. The Junior Tall Blacks will take on the United States on Sunday morning (6am NZT) to advance through to the final of the FIBA U19 World Cup, with Lacey super keen for his players to give it their best shot. "This group is a special one, and a lot of them are playing in the US against some of these players or will be in the future. So, the main thing for us is to come out fighting," he said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
