Basketball: Tall Blacks hang heads after another loss

New Zealand completed the Six Nations basketball tournament in Istanbul, Turkey, today in timid fashion, losing the playoff for last to Latvia.

The Tall Blacks suffered their third successive defeat at the invitation-only tournament, stumbling their way to a 76-90 loss to the Baltic state.

It was a subdued New Zealand team who left the stadium as they now look ahead to their Olympic qualifying series against Australia, starting in Bendigo on September 1.

Coach Tab Baldwin, who seemingly worked miracles when guiding New Zealand to fourth at last year's world championships, said a lot of hard work remained for his team.

"I wish we had done better here. It hurts and it's disappointing, but it's a road only half travelled.

"We made some gains at this tournament, but we need to make substantial gains in attitude, fitness and desire in the coming days."

The Latvians loomed as a useful yardstick for New Zealand after their 13-point win over Australia at the end of the Boomers' recent European tour.

They had barely tested Turkey and Russia earlier in the tournament but were totally dominant today, leading 27-9 after the opening quarter.

Ainars Bagatskis had 12 points from beyond the arc in that first period, ably assisted by Aigars Vitols and Roberts Stelmahers.

That, effectively, was the ball game.

The Tall Blacks staged a trademark comeback to trail 42-49 at halftime and 50-53 soon after the restart. But that was as close as they got.

"You have to have an appreciation of the experience these European teams have," Baldwin said.

"They have seen and done every possible basketball scenario more times than we've had games."

While Latvia's long-distance barrage did subside, they fed strongman Kaspars Kambala, a former teammate of Tall Blacks point guard Mark Dickel at University of Nevada Las Vegas, in the post.

Kambala was both strong and quick, and really tested New Zealand's internal defenders, who resorted to fouls in an effort to contain him.

Latvia shot 27 from 33 from the free-throw line, an 82 per cent pass mark, with Kambla accounting for 12 from 17 in his 22-point hauls.

The Tall Blacks refused to roll over, with Dillon Boucher enjoying one of his most inspirational games in the black singlet.

Boucher was everywhere and led his team's scoring with 15 points, along with eight rebounds and four steals.

"We showed a bit more passion after that first quarter than we had over the rest of the tournament," Baldwin said.

"Dillon had a Boucheresque game and carried our enthusiasm a lot. He does that every day and if our guys can feed off him, it's great, but we shouldn't have to depend on it."

Veterans Phill Jones and Pero Cameron scored 14 points apiece, while Aaron Olson found his range for 12 points.

Baldwin struggled to remain upbeat.

"Trying to put a positive spin on it, it is a common belief you learn more from losing than winning.

"If that's true, I guess we're in an institution of higher learning right now. We have a lot to do and much of it was revealed by our opposition this week."

Latvia 90 (Ainars Bagatskis 25, Kaspars Kambala 22, Roberts Stelmahers 17) Tall Blacks 76 (Dillon Boucher 15, Pero Cameron 14, Phill Jones 14, Aaron Olson 12). Halftime: 49-42.

- NZPA