Basketball: Rude awakening for Tall Blacks

By DAVID LEGGATT

Five minutes of magic from little blond point guard Shane Heal decided the opening game of the Tall Blacks' series against Australia's Boomers at Mystery Creek in Hamilton last night.

With the Boomers having seen off a strong New Zealand charge in the second quarter, to take an eight-point advantage into the halftime break, Heal then killed off the Tall Blacks' challenge to lay the foundations for the lop-sided 90-60 victory.

The 33-year-old Heal, with the wisdom of more than 180 internationals squirrelled away in his head and preparing for his fourth Olympics, whistled in 10 points inside the first five minutes of the third quarter to spearhead an 18-4 run which eased Australia out of reach.

By the time the quarter ended, it was 70-47, the Boomers were out of sight and had the initiative in the three-game series, which continues in Christchurch tonight, in their pocket.

"I shot pretty well, I felt pretty good," Heal said afterwards, as well he might.

But Tall Blacks coach Tab Baldwin was far from downhearted at the size of the beating.

"I don't think this was a step backwards. We've got a lot of character in the changing room.

"We are not even within sight of our best."

Boomers coach Brian Goorjian liked what he saw from his team, but is pleased he has something tangible to work on for the rest of the series.

On a chilly night in the big barn and before an ordinary crowd, the Boomers raced to a 16-4 lead on the back of classy work from Heal, and strapping young giant Andrew Bogut.

The 19-year-old Bogut arrived with big praise ringing in his ears from Goorjian and Heal, and did enough last night to suggest they were not being overly extravagant in their claims of him being Australia's Next Big Thing on a basketball court.

Earlier, 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.

Australia's shooting was sharp, their movement slick and the Tall Blacks - whose starting five comprised Cameron, Ed Book, Phill Jones, Dillon Boucher and Mark Dickel - were off the pace in the initial exchanges.

But slowly they battled their way back into the contest, trailing 19-14 at the first quarter. As the Boomers lost some momentum, the Tall Blacks seemed to find their gears changing more smoothly..

Cameron, used in short bursts to prevent his dodgy right calf muscle seizing up, bagged a three-pointer to close the gap to four points early in the second quarter before debutant Craig Bradshaw made his first couple of touches count, picking up a tidy rebound, then drawing a foul and potting his first three throw in a black shirt.

Grit and an element of sheer bloodymindedness served to frustrate the Boomers and suddenly the 50-50 moments began to go New Zealand's way.

Cameron had the Tall Blacks in front for the first time at 24-23 with just under four minutes left in the second quarter. After Mark Dickel drilled a three-pointer, capping an eight-point run for the Tall Blacks, the game took a fresh twist.

The Boomers, recognising they were being worked a treat, picked up the pace. With Heal working the plays, the Boomers rattled on 13 points to one for the Tall Blacks to take a 36-28 lead into halftime.

Australia 90 (S. Heal 22, J. Smith 12, A. Bogut 12, G. Saville 12)

New Zealand 60 (P. Cameron 15, P. Jones 10, P. Winitana 7, M. Dickel 7).

HT: 36-28.