Basketball: Boomers thrash NZ 90-60

New Zealand basketball received a rude awakening six weeks out from the Olympics after the Tall Blacks were thumped 90-60 by Australia in Hamilton tonight.

The Boomers left the 3000 spectators in no doubt who the superior team were at Mystery Creek while Tall Blacks coach Tab Baldwin contemplated ways to resurrect the side in the remaining two matches tomorrow and Sunday.

Australia surrendered the lead to New Zealand once but were in full control of the game as they steadily increased the tempo in the last two quarters. They led by 23 points at the end of the third quarter.

Boomers captain and three-time Olympian Shane Heal led the charge with impressive shooting and was ably supported by fellow guard Jason Smith.

The visitors reinforced their position as the top basketball nation in Oceania as they carried on from their 3-0 series win over the Tall Blacks in September last year.

Earlier today, the Tall Blacks chances were given a boost when Baldwin ended a week of speculation over Pero Cameron by naming the skipper in his team.

Cameron was in doubt with a calf muscle injury, which had restricted his preparations.

Among those who started the game tonight were Phill Jones, Dillon Boucher, Mark Dickel and Ed Book -- all who had played in the previous series against the Boomers.

The Australians completed a five-match tour of Europe with wins over France and Croatia (twice) in the lead up to tonight's match. while New Zealand went in without a warm-up.

The Boomers broke out early with Heal bagging two three-pointers while the Tall Blacks struggled to get inside the paint and were forced to shoot from out wide.

The Boomers were strong on the defensive rebounds and streaked out to a 16-4 lead before the Tall Blacks rallied late to outscore the visitors 8-2. The Boomers led the first quarter 19-14.

Australian power forward Andrew Bogut was fouled twice and he scored from all his free throws.

United States-based Craig Bradshaw made his debut for the Tall Blacks in the second quarter and scored early after being fouled.

The home side fought back to close the gap.

Then two three-pointers from Cameron gave the Tall Blacks the lead (24-23) for the first time and Mark Dickle followed up his skipper with three pointers to stretch their lead.

However, by halftime the Australians were back in front - 36-28. Bogut had scored again and Heal - who played in the American NBA for the San Antonio Spurs last season - had come on in the closing stages and landed two three-pointers.

The Boomers again showed their class to break away from New Zealand with a 13-4 burst in the third quarter.

Their lead extended to 50-32, while the Tall Blacks lost composure and were guilty of committing too many fouls.

With a 70-47 scoreline by the end of the third quarter, the Boomers had the match sewn up.

The final quarter proved just as painful for the hosts with Australia inflating the winning margin to 30 points.

The second test is in Christchurch tomorrow night.

- NZPA