The Opals have produced their greatest efficiency of the ladies’s basketball Asia Cup and prevented the ignominy of failing to qualify for subsequent 12 months’s Olympics, with a powerful 91-64 win over South Korea on Friday.
Australia produced rather more vitality and self-discipline and executed much better at each ends of the court docket than within the 25-point loss to Japan on Wednesday.
That outcome within the eight-team match in Sydney meant Japan topped the group and compelled the Opals right into a cut-throat classification match for the semi-finals.
Australia responded beautifully, dominating South Korea and booked a semi-final conflict with China, whereas Japan will play New Zealand in Saturday’s different final 4 matchup following their 83-78 win over the Philippines on Friday.
A loss to South Korea would have resulted in Australia failing to qualify for the Olympics for the primary time because the 1992 Games.
“The pressure was quite enormous, but we had a players meeting yesterday, to fix some (things) sticking to the game plan, playing tough, getting back to Opals brand basketball,” captain and guard Tess Madgen stated.
Madgen, who was named participant of the match, was joint top-scorer for Australia with 14 factors and in addition contributed six rebounds and 5 assists.
Australia gained the rebound depend 48-23 and shot at 51 per cent from the sector.
They took management with a 16-0 run within the first quarter, with the Opals ending that time period with a 31-16 lead.
They blew their benefit out to 21 within the second quarter and carried a 52-33 benefit into halftime.
South Korea gained the third quarter however by no means received the deficit into single figures, with the Opals reasserting themselves within the fourth.
“It was a very physical hit out, given the stakes we’re really relieved to get through that one and play as well as we did,” performing Opals head coach Shannon Seebohm stated.
“It’s probably the best game we’ve played so far as a team, both sides of the ball. We shared the ball really well and we started the game exceptionally well.
“I assumed we had the proper degree of depth and made it very arduous for them to get constant good photographs.”
Centre Lauren Scherf was massive early in the game and finished with 14 points and nine boards.
She dominated her critical matchup with the taller Jisu Park, with the 198cm South Korean not playing in the second half due to conditioning issues.
Forward Keely Froling was again good off the bench, amassing 13 points and six rebounds in just over 16 minutes.
Seebohm made the first change to his starting lineup for the tournament, bringing Maddison Rocci into the backcourt for Lauren Nicholson.
Rocci scored seven of her 9 factors within the first quarter and along with Scherf and Darcee Garbin, who completed with 11, helped ignite the Opals from the beginning.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
