The Boomers have suffered a heart-breaking one-point loss to Turkey to crash out of the basketball World Cup in Barcelona.
The Australian team, which was hoping to win a first-ever medal, led for most of the match but will rue Cameron Bairstow running foul of the clock shot with just 22 seconds left when leading 64-62.
Turkey’s Emir Preldzic then calmly ran down the clock at the other end of the court before downing a three-pointer over Bairstow to steal the match 65-64.
The Australians looked on in disbelief as the Turks celebrated.
The Boomers had lost to Angola in their last group match meaning they could avoid playing the United States until the semi-finals.
But such a scenario became irrelevant after Turkey delivered yet another come-from-behind thriller.
Earlier, Matthew Dellavedova started proceedings well for Australia by downing a three-pointer that should have calmed any nerves.
But the Boomers were surprisingly sloppy.
Turkey couldn’t capitalise, however, and the Australians settled following another three-pointer by Ryan Broekhoff.
Mid-way through the first term, with Australia leading 10-9, there was a 15 minute delay when the shot clock failed.
That followed a 15 minute delay to the start of the match.
Young gun Dante Exum came on and immediately showed why he was the No.5 NBA draft pick and after Aron Baynes dunked at the end of the term Australia went into the break 18-15 up.
In the second quarter, Baynes and Joe Ingles, who’d been brilliant during the group matches, couldn’t find their rhythm.
But Turkey missed too many shots – averaging just 41 per cent from the field in the first half – and Australia dominated the rebounds 23-13.
Nevertheless the world’s seventh-ranked side hit the front for the first time with two minutes remaining before a late basket by Brock Motum helped the Boomers entered the long break 35-34 in front.
Turkey’s Sinan Guler led the scoring with 12 points while Australia’s main contributor was Chicago Bulls draftee Bairstow with six.
In the third quarter Australia showed the class that saw them defeat world No.4 Lithuania last week.
Ingles found his feet, making a steal and bucket, some two minutes in.
That sparked a run from the Boomers that included a three-point jump shot from Dellavedova, another two-pointer from Ingles and a dunk by Baynes.
Suddenly Australia were 48-36 in front.
However, a number of missed free throws from Brad Newley and Dellavedova allowed Turkey to stay in touch and they slowly claw their way back.
After a late three-pointer by Preldzic, Turkey was within four at the final break, with the Boomers leading 50-46.
The Aussies couldn’t break free in the final term despite Baynes and Ingles dominating early.
Players again wasted too many opportunities from the free throw line.
Veteran David Anderson was fouled out of the game with two minutes to go meaning Bairstow, who had been one of the Boomers best previously, was back in.
But with just 22 seconds remaining the 23-year-old failed to get what could have been the match-winning shot away.
The rest was pure heartbreak.
The Boomers shot just 53 per cent from the free throw line and 27 per cent from beyond the perimeter.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
You can't turn off tanking.
Shaun Mancini
Roar Pro
Winning a medal was always going to be a tough ask. To be honest this is about as far as i thought they would get. Not nearly enough depth at this point to be challenging the very good nations. Coaching was poor. I've been very critical of them refusing to play Exum. He might only be 19 but he is a NBA talent 19 year old, he needed to play. Offence was poor, i suspected at the start of the tournament that we would struggle to generate enough points to win big games. Baynes was outstanding but i would have love to have seen Joe Ingles given permission to be a lot more aggressive on offence. The same goes for Broekhoff. The dude looks like an outstanding shooting talent, should have been running plenty more plays for him. I would have also loved to have seen Dante with permission to be more selfish on offence as well. He was getting to the rim however he liked in his limited minutes. Not all bad though. This team has plenty of young talent and more on it's way. We will only get better to go with Bogut and Mills to comeback in as well. Realistic chances for medals are not too far away
Johnno
Guest
nos agreed, Euro basket is a strong set up. But nos the reality is 11 out of the 12, play overseas, only 1 boomer plays local in the NBL. Most are in Europe eg Dave Anderson(plays in Germany, played for Turkish club last year). Heck Nathan Jawal plays in Turkey for Galatasary,so many of the boomers should know about Euro basket conditions. I think the problem is alot of the squad are very young, some have been drafted into the NBA from college, but haven't even played in the NBA, or played 1 season of the bench getting small minutes. But the reality is like soccer nos, club soccer and international tournament football are totally different beasts and pressure, each with there own pressures. Some shine in the week to week grind of club football, while others play better in tournament football or lift when they play for there country eg look at how woeful England players are when step up for England ,Rooney,Lampard,Gerrard only a shadow of themselves compared to club soccer. FIBA rules have a few differences too. Where as socceroos players punch way above the club weight in tournament football, we pushed the Dutch $$ far more expensive side to the brink. I think our squad is too young, and sack the coach, his use of the bench, and tactics were hopeless in the last 10 minutes, no clutch. France won nos they beat Croatia there off to the Q/Finals.
Silver Sovereign
Guest
The boomers should have won. The result was a huge choke. Their halfcourt offence was bad the whole comp. coaching was the problem. Many many times after a player would set a pick and pop or roll the ball handler never found the open man. Often most of the shot clock was spent beyond the three point line dribbling. Broekhoff was automatic from 3 but hardly ever got many shots. David Andersen needs to be put out to pasture; soft, poor rebounder and defender. Exum should havr played point with delly at off guard and ingles at the 3. I would have gone small with only big being baynes. Nate jawai has all the skills but needs to lose a good 15kgs. Still big but cut down the pork. He wasnt getting down low enough and the coaches had him in the high post playing like longley. 2016 should see new coaching and a side of bogut, baynes, simmons, mills, exum with delly, broekhoff, ingles, bairstow, jawai off the bench. USA wins on athleticism, Aussies should base team on that.
MichaelJ.
Guest
So many good teams in world basketball now that the Boomers are just not deep enough to get into the elite.
Brian
Guest
Whilst disappointing its a pretty young squad and a medal at these World's was always a stretch. At best they're currently a 5-8 side. Nonetheless if Exum & Co develop as hoped and Mills & Bogut amongst others all play then we'll see when they can peak for 2016, 2019 or 2020.
Dingo
Guest
Karma.....
Targa
Guest
Kiwis lost a heartbreaker too (76-71 against Lithuania). Unfortunately Steven Adams stayed with his NBA team and Kirk Penney had a quiet game or else it could have been a great tournament for us
Red Kev
Roar Guru
Good thing they tanked to avoid Team USA in the quarter final they're not going to play
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Agree johnno, last 5min were horrible. I wonder if the fact Turks play euro league and domestic matches in hostile environment with a lot of pressure did help them better manage the money time?
Johnno
Guest
Awful worst 5-minutes in sports in 25-years watching sport, that last 5-minutes by the boomers was, awful all over the place. Lost at sea, choke.