The Boomers have copped a bit of flack lately for their performance on the court. Apparently nobody told the likes of Mills, Barlow or Bogut, all combining well in the opening minutes of the game against the European Champions, Russia.
Newly was equally as sharp and when Anstey stepped on for his first minutes he had an immediate effect on the game.
Australia were playing big in defence and the resulting rebounds created great transitional play.
Anstey sunk a 3 late in the quarter and the lead snuck out to 11.
Andersen started out strong in the second and Worthington sunk a big three to take the Boomers out to a 14 point lead 3 minutes in.
Bogut worked hard under the hoop and began to hit his straps. The Boomers strong D forced Russia to shoot from outside with little success.
When Newly took a charge drawing the offensive foul late in the half it summed up the Russian’s game thus far and the Boomers went to the long break 16 points up.
Russia came out hard in the second half and began to close the gap but a quick time out by coach Brian Goorjian had the Boomers back on track.
With Bogut hitting another one from outside the frustration became evident in Russia’s game with team fouls piling up.
They weren’t finished at that point however, closing the third with a 3 point basket and looking back in the game.
Halfway into the last Bogut faked outside and drove to the basket to slam an inspiring dunk. But the Russians weren’t about to lie down and with their 3 point shooting finally on target they clawed their way back into contention.
The Boomers held on and ran out 14 point winners with their hopes of a medal still in tact.
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