AUCKLAND (FIBA U19 World Championship) - An excellent team performance on defence, punctuated by the play of Cody Ellis, has seen Australia overcome a persistent Canadian team at the North Shore Events Centre.

Australia led by double figures midway through each quarter, including 15-2 after less than four minutes of the game, but Canada fought back repeatedly to be within striking distance at each break.

204cm Ellis made the task extremely difficult for Canada in the final term, scoring the first five points of the quarter to establish a 71-58 lead with 7:24 remaining. While Canada would close within eight points with 1:56 remaining, Australia were not seriously threatened, and recorded an 88-77 victory.

Ellis finished with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks, and received good support from forward Brock Motum who scored 22 points on 11/16 shooting and collected 8 rebounds.

Canadian Mangisto Arop led all players with 27 points from an array of impressive one-on-one moves, and 11 rebounds. Captain Kelly Olynk, and guards Cory Joseph and Rob Gagliardi were the other Canadians in double figures with 11 points each.

Australia committed just 11 turnovers for the game and out-rebounded Canada 42-33.

Australia next play Spain at 5:00pm tomorrow at the North Shore Events Centre, while Canada travel to ASB Stadium to play Syria, needing a win to ensure their progress to the second round.


Marty Clarke said :

On the Emus team defence: “The guys really did defend as a unit tonight. That’s something we have been building for a long time. Kids want to play offence, but you have to get them to believe that defending as a group is important.”

On Magnisto Arop: “I thought we did a reasonable job on him, but he made tough shots. It was always going to be a concern, that big, athletic wing player that we didn’t have. But he had a great game, I thought he played really well.”

On their forwards scoring prowess: “I think our guards are really good too, but at the moment, people are really struggling to guard our forwards. So when it’s working you have to go with it.”

On Spain, his next opponent: “The Spanish are good, we played them six or seven days ago. They’ll get better as this thing goes along, they shoot it really well, they got their confidence going at the start of the second half (against Syria) and sunk six or seven threes. They’re good, and they’re going to be tough tomorrow.”

FIBA