Basketball: Tall Ferns thumped in second test

The New Zealand women's basketball team were brought back to earth with a thud today, beaten 99-69 by Japan in Sendai after winning yesterday's first test 77-74.

Obviously stung by yesterday's collapse, Japan did not allow New Zealand into the game, jumping out to an early 7-1 lead and never surrendering the advantage.

New Zealand were just two points adrift early in the second quarter (27-25), but gave up seven consecutive points that did not bode well. Minutes later, they conceded another seven, but things got really ugly after halftime when the Japanese rattled off 34 points in the third quarter.

Their margin stretched to 32 early in the final period, before a brief period of NZ ascendancy (15-7) stemmed the flow.

Tall Ferns coach Kennedy Hamilton-Kereama was philosophical afterwards. With veterans Noni Wharemate and Karlene Kingi sitting out for religious reasons, he was obliged to expose some of his rookies and at least they will have gained from the experience.

"We missed Noni immensely," he admitted. "It's tough to give up the 15 points she gave us last night, and we had to throw our young players into the frying pan.

"I thought they did a tremendous job in the first half when we were only down by 10, but the momentum and having to sit experience players [Suzie Bates and Jillian Harmon] with foul trouble didn't really help us."

That inexperience was a direct influence on perhaps the two most important stats of the game - the 24 turnovers committed by New Zealand, and the complete turnaround in refereeing since Game One.

"Our offensive execution was fairly poor today and those turnovers really just fuelled their transition game," said Hamilton-Kereama.

"But the one thing that cost us most was the foul play."

In the first test, New Zealand received almost three times as many free-throw opportunities as their rivals (21-8). This time, the Japanese enjoyed a 33-22 edge and were deadly, shooting them at a 90 percent clip.

"We didn't adjust very well to how the refs call the game, but I guess its swings and roundabouts they can only call it how they see it."

While they again held an upper hand around the glass, even out-rebounding Japan under their own basket, Hamilton-Kereama wasn't impressed that his side had given up 15 offensive boards.

Forward Lisa Wallbutton was again the leading individual performer with 19 points and five rebounds, while Toni Edmondson produced 11 points/eight rebounds.

The Tall Ferns have two days to regroup before the series decider in Yamagata on Tuesday.

Result: Japan 99 New Zealand 69 (Lisa Wallbutton 19, Toni Edmondson 11, Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe 10). Halftime: 43-33.

- NZPA