AUS/NZL - Tall Ferns sights on making history in Sydney
MELBOURNE (FIBA OCEANIA CHAMPIONSHIP FOR WOMEN) - With Australia already qualified for the London Olympics, some might view the third game of the FIBA Oceania Championship for Women as a dead rubber.
Don't count New Zealand coach Kennedy Hamilton-Kereama amongst that number though. "We want to make history," he said emphatically following Friday night's 92-73 game two defeat.
"We have never beaten Australia at an Oceania championship. A lot of people wouldn't know this but game one was the closest we have ever got to an Australian team, and tonight is the second closest score we have ever had with an Australian team."
The tough series hasn't surprised Australia coach Carrie Graf, and she expects more of the same on Sunday. "They'll make us work in game three," she said following Friday night's win.
"We know they are going to play hard and we know they are going to try and combat our size. There's no surprises in the way they change up their defences."
As much as they try, the Tall Ferns simply can't slow down the taller Aussies for four quarters. The visitors won the second half in Melbourne and convincingly claimed the second quarter in Brisbane through their disruptive defence, only for Australia to make adjustments and find a new way to get the ball inside.
Hamilton-Kereama is not despairing though, believing a win is still possible. "We're doing all the right things, we are getting early bumps, we try to keep them out of the paint as much as we can, try to make them play face-up rather than back to the basket. But there is always going to be that small margin for error with those deep seals in the paint."
As a result, Suzy Batkovic has averaged 20ppg and Abby Bishop 14.5ppg, with their frontcourt mates Marianna Tolo and Elyse Penaluna also making an impact. Veterans Micaela Cocks (16ppg) Natalie Taylor (15.5ppg) have led the way for New Zealand.
The Tall Ferns have competed at the past three Olympic Games, and have shown genuine improvement this international season with a strong showing in a four nations tournament in China before pushing the Australians. But there is a crucial factor that Hamilton-Kereama believes is a must if that progress is to continue.
"We need more funding (from New Zealand's peak sports body). This team is good enough to compete with the European teams," he said referring to next year's Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women, adding that a win over Australia would greatly help their case for increased funding.
"And it is such an honour to coach these girls because they do it for nothing, and we get very little. So we have a big challenge on Sunday, a win would be tremendous for us, it would create history."
