Basketball: Agony for Junior Tall Blacks

New Zealand's Morgan Nathan shoots against Argentina at the North Shore Events Centre. Photo / Getty Images

The Junior Tall Blacks came within two points and three seconds of pulling off a massive shock in their opening under-19 world championship match against Argentina.

A stirring effort from the young Kiwis saw them push the world's top-ranked basketball nation all the way, but they were pipped 66-64.

While the performance was a major fillip for the host nation, they will this morning be reflecting on a match they could have and, in the end, probably should have won.

Down by just a point with 3.3s to go, the Kiwis forced a crucial turnover. But with the team tearing downcourt in transition in search of the winning basket, reserve forward Morgan Nathan was called for a travel.

"It's very tough to take a loss like that at the end," said captain Dion Prewster. "A lot of people didn't think we could do much so I think we showed them that we can compete. But now we have to come back [tonight] against Croatia and forget about this one."

That task could be made all the harder by the loss of outstanding centre Rob Loe. The 2.11m big man was one of the dominant figures in last night's contest, throwing down some huge dunks and also showing a nifty touch from the perimeter.

But in the closing stages, he sprained an ankle competing for a rebound and wasn't able to return.

Coach Kenny McFadden admitted he was hoping the team's physiotherapy staff could produce a miracle.

"He is one our keys," McFadden said. "He is the only big guy that we've got."

Shooting guard Brook Ruscoe (22 points) and Prewster were the other standouts in the NZ effort but in the end it was the class of Argentina's Matias Nocedal that proved decisive. With the lead see-sawing in the final quarter, Nocedal landed a barrage of threes to subdue the determined hosts.

McFadden conceded Nathan's error had blown a glorious chance for his side but he felt the failure to shut down the red-hot Nocedal in the final quarter had been just as crucial.

"I always knew that if we went out there and stuck to our plan and kept our composure we had a chance to win," he said.

Puerto Rico scored the first upset of the championships, overcoming a 17-point first-quarter deficit to defeat Lithuania 80-73 at ASB Stadium.

Another key match-up saw the Australians post an impressive 88-77 victory over Canada. Spain were the other victors in Group C, comfortably accounting for Syria 79-53.

Tournament favourites USA took a while to find top gear against Asian champions Iran but eventually hit full stride to win 106-55.