Boomers down Russia with Mills buzzer beater

 

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By rsingi, 6 Aug 2012 rsingi is a Roar Rookie

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 2012 London Olympics

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Australian guard Patrick Mills celebrates at the end of the Men's Basketball Preliminary Round match as part of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Basketball Arena on August 6, 2012 in London, England. Australia won 82-80. AFP PHOTO / MARK RALSTON

The Aussies Boomers have had one of the great wins in Olympic history downing the undefeated Russians with a huge Patty Mills buzzer beater.

The Australians were outstanding all game leading for over 80% of the match paced by Joe Ingles with 20 points and Matt Dellavadova with 10 points and 7 assists.

The Boomers looked to have the game in check but the classy and more talented (on paper at least) Russians clawed their way back from a 7 point deficit with four minutes to play to lead by 2 after two free throws.

Brett Brown called time out with four seconds left and drew up an inbounds play where Ingles recieved and inbound pass and dished to Mills who drained a huge pressure three pointer from the top of the key as time expired sending the Aussies bench into raptures.

Apologies to my kids and the neighbours who were woken by my piercing screams – but this was as good an Olympic win as the one at the 2004 Olympics where Tony Ronaldson’s four point play downed Croatia.

These Boomers have showed true Aussie grit after losses to Brazil and Spain coming from behind to gun down Great Britain and China and overcoming the Russian juggernaut.

Mills, Dellavadova, Newley, Anderson and Ingles have all been outstanding and the Boomers have played as a true team unit.

Whilst their Olympic campaign may end in a tough quarter final against Team USA, Australia should be proud of the way this Boomer team have performed at this Olympics.

In a year when criticism has been rife against a lot of our athletes our basketballers can hold their heads high.