Friday July 4 2008 – 7:05pm Eastern
We’re about to get underway at Ricoh Coliseum … Game 3 of the Jack Donohue International Classic for Canada.
Canada beat New Zealand by nearly 30 points (90-63) on Tuesday in Hamilton, so the Kiwis will be out for revenge tonight.
As always, questions and comments are welcome below
E. Smith
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Another performance of the “Haka” by the Kiwis. I love it
- E. SmithStarting 5 for Canada:
Juan Mendez
- E. SmithJoel Anthony
Olu Famutimi
Rowan Barrett
Jermaine Anderson
Samuel Dalembert is not playing tonight … nor it Jesse Young
Dalembert apparently needs “rest”. I think there’s something more going on there … but … we’ll see. Either way, even if he’s banged up … I’m sure he’ll be fine by the time the qualifier comes up on July 15 in Athens, Greece
- E. SmithRicoh is about 1/4 full … if that.
- E. SmithCanada won the tip but didn’t score on their opening possession
- E. SmithNZ leads 3-0 off a bomb from the right corner
- E. SmithRowan Barrett answers right back with a 3-ball from the left corner. 3-3 TIE
- E. SmithBack to back buckets for NZ put the Kiwis up 7-3
But Barrett answers again with a 3-ball … this time from the right corner … 7-6 NZ
- E. Smith3-balls everywhere for everyone so far … NZ back with another … 10-6 NZ
- E. SmithGuess what? ANOTHER 3-ball for New Zealand.
13-6 NZ
- E. SmithPerimeter defense anyone??
ANOTHER 3-pointer for the Kiwis from up top — from NBA distance — making it 16-6 for New Zealand.
Canadian coach Leo Rautins calls a MUCH needed timeout.
- E. Smith5:32 to go in the 1st quarter
- E. SmithMendez checks out … Levon Kendall checks in (4:51)
- E. SmithNZ … 2/2 FT … leads 18-6
- E. SmithNew Zealand looks MUCH better today than they did on Tuesday in Hamilton. Jet lag maybe??
- E. SmithEnglish in for Famutimi … following 2/2 FT’s for NZ.
NZ leads 20-6
- E. SmithNew Zealand is active on defense … really shutting down the perimeter on Canada … and on offense they’re quick and crisp.
- E. SmithAndy Rautins and Dave Thomas getting set to check in
- E. SmithBarrett and Anderson out; Thomas and Rautins in.
Rautins running the point right now.
- E. SmithNZ 1/2 FT … Canada now trails 21-6
- E. SmithGreat screen roll between English and Kendall. 21-8 NZ
- E. Smith(Kendall had the last bucket by the way)
- E. SmithAndy Rautins with a 3-pointer. 21-11 NZ
- E. SmithKendall at the line for Canada (1:26 to go) … 2/2 … makes it 21-13 NZ
- E. Smith3-ball for NZ … 24-13 Kiwis
- E. SmithDave Thomas comes back with a jumper from the top … 24-15 NZ
- E. SmithAnother 3-pointer for the Kiwis just before the quarter ends … 27-15 NZ
- E. Smith* 1ST QUARTER ENDS *
- E. SmithCanada trails 27-15 heading into the 2nd Quarter
- E. SmithCanada shot just 38% in the 1st
- E. SmithPenney opens up the 2nd with Another 3-ball. 30-15 NZ leads.
The Kiwis are 7/9 from 3-point land
- E. Smith1/2 FT for Kendall. 30-16 NZ
Rautins then comes back with a 3-pointer for Canada … 30-19 NZ
- E. SmithMike Fitchett just NAILED Carl English with a hockey-esque bodycheck; English got P.O’d and went right at Fitchett … no call though. Just an offensive foul on Fitchett
- E. Smith1/2 FT for NZ .. 31-19 NZ (8:22 to go)
- E. Smith15-foot jumper from the left elbow for Nick Horvath makes it 33-19 NZ
- E. SmithAndy Rautins back for Canada with a 3-ball from the left side. 33-22 NZ
- E. SmithDunk underneath for NZ … 35-22 Kiwis
- E. SmithSteal and a fast break lay-up for New Zealand .. puts the Kiwis up 37-22 with 6:14 to go
- E. SmithDriving lay up on the left baseline for NZ … 39-22 Kiwis
- E. SmithDave Thomas from the left side NZ leads 39-24
- E. SmithTurn-around jumper from left Joel Anthony … brings Canada to within 13 … 39-26 New Zealand
- E. SmithJust noticed Raptors Asst GM Maurizio Gherardini is in attendance
- E. SmithAnthony 1/2 FT for Canada. NZ leads 39-27
- E. SmithJermaine Anderson gets Canada to within single digits with a 3-pointer from the top. 2:24 to go … NZ leads 39-30
- E. SmithRowan Barrett 3-ball … Brings Canada to within 6 … at 39-33 NZ
- E. Smith:47.7 seconds to go … Canada storming back … on a 14-0 run after a 3-ball from Anderson.
39-35 NZ
- E. SmithCheck that … 39-36 NZ
- E. Smith* AT THE HALF *
New Zealand leads 39-36
- E. SmithCanada closes the half on a 14-0 run. NZ didn’t score in the final 5 minutes … and had only 2 points in the final 6:14
- E. SmithCanada at the half is 12/40 from the field (40%).
Both Andy Rautins and Rowan Barrett lead Canada in scoring with 9
- E. SmithMore of the same from back in Hamilton. looks like. Thanks Eric
- James BorbathNZ guard Kirk Penney leads all scorers with 11 points.
The Kiwis are shooting 46% from the field (13/28)
- E. SmithHow is the Crowd Eric? Size? Just wondering?
- James BorbathNice ceremony at the half … honouring some of the great Canadian basketball players and coaches from the past …
- Art Rutledge
- Cameron Hall
- Norm Clark
- Jim Zoet
- Martin Keane
- Greg Francis
- Jay Triano
- Peter Guarasci
- Mike Katz
- Titus Channer
And many more!
- E. SmithThe crowd is bigger than Hamilton … but not much … about 1,500 I’d guess.
- E. Smith3rd Quarter is underway …
- E. SmithI knew Titus Channer from back in my High School Days here in Hamilton nice to seem him get some credit. He was a real good player back in the day. Played pro somewhere in Europe as I recall.
- James BorbathAnthony opens up with a 15-foot jumper. 39-38 NZ
- E. SmithTurn-around 1-handed jumper in the lane for Anthony gives Canada its first lead at 40-39
- E. SmithCoast to coast for Rowan Barrett … and 1 …
Hits the free throw …
43-39 CAN
- E. SmithRowan Barrett nails a 3-ball from the left side … 46-39 Canada
- E. SmithNZ ends a scoreless streak that extended almost EIGHT MINUTES!
3-ball by Penney makes it 46-42 CAN
NZ comes back with another 3-pointer to trail now 46-45
- E. SmithJermaine Anderson driving lay-up puts Canada back up by 3 … 48-45
- E. Smith6:41 to go in the 3rd … Penney 2/2 FT’s … 48-47 CAN
- E. SmithPenney rips the lead back for NZ on a running one-handed jumper off glass … 49-48 NZ
- E. SmithPoor transition D from Canada … lay up for Lindsay Tait … puts NZ up 51-48
- E. SmithTait was fould on his lay-in … he hits the FT … 52-48 NZ
- E. Smith3-ball for NZ puts them up 55-48
- E. SmithSteal … outlet pass … and lay-in for NZ … puts the Kiwis up 57-48
- E. SmithTimeout Canada. 2:13 to go.
Canada has gone scoreless for 4+ minutes.
NZ is in the midst of a 12-0 run
- E. SmithCarl English ends the drought with a driving lay-up … and 1 …
Misses the FT but Canada gets the offensive board. 57-50 NZ
- E. Smith3-ball for NZ’s Paora Winitana puts the Kiwis up by double digits again, 60-50
- E. SmithEnglish whacked in the lane again … but he goes 0/2 at the FT line. Still 60-50 NZ
- E. SmithKendall now goes 0/2 at the FT line (HIT A SHOT!) but the Canucks control the offensive board again … and eventually get a 3-ball from Famutimi. 60-53 NZ
- E. SmithNZ’s Mike Fitchett goes 2/2 at the line after getting fouled by Dave Thomas. 62-53 NZ
- E. SmithCarl English drains a 3-ball just as time is about to expire.
62-56 NZ
- E. Smith* END of the 3rd QUARTER *
- E. SmithRowan Barrett leads Canada with 15 points.
The Canadians are just 5 for 14 at the FT line.
- E. SmithKirk Penney (NZ) leads all scorers with 18 points
4th quarter is underway …
- E. SmithDave Thomas opens the scoring in the 4th with a 3-ball from the left side. 62-59 NZ
- E. SmithKendall gets whacked after a beautiful hand-off pass from Kepkay.
2/2 FT makes it 62-61 NZ
- E. Smith64-61 NZ after a driving lay in (off a steal) by Pero Cameron
- E. Smith1/2 FT for Mika Vukona gives NZ a 65-61 lead
- E. SmithFamutimi goes 1/2 at the FT line.
65-62 NZ
- E. SmithFamutimi fouls out with 5:43 to go in the 4th
- E. SmithNZ 1/2 FT puts them back up by 4 … 66-62
- E. SmithPenney hits 2/2 FT for NZ to put the Kiwis up 68-62
- E. SmithPenney with a gorgeous cross-over change-of-direction lay-in for NZ
New Zealand leads 70-62 with 4:25 to go
- E. SmithEnglish AGAIN goes 0/2 at the FT line.
Wow.
- E. SmithAt the risk of sounding like a homer, the whistle has not been kind to the Canadian tonight. The officials have made a number of questionable calls.
- E. SmithNZ 2/2 FT … puts them up 10 … at 72-62
- E. SmithNZ’s Pero Cameron fouls out with 3:02 to go
Joel Anthony at the FT line …
- E. SmithAnthony goes 1/2. NZ leads 72-63
- E. SmithThis game has been decided at the FT line for Canada. They have blown WAY too many chances. The Canadians are just 9/26 at the FT line.
BRUTAL.
- E. Smith(That 9 of 26 includes two that were just missed by Dave Thomas)
Here comes another shot for Canada … Joel Anthony at the line …
- E. SmithAnthony goes 1 of 2 … 72-64 NZ
- E. Smith2/2 FT for Horvath. NZ leads 74-64
- E. Smith1:44 to go, Rowan Barrett at the FT line with Canada down by 10
- E. SmithBarrett 1/2 FT … 74-65 NZ
- E. SmithNZ 1/2 FT with 1:13 to go … gives them a 75-65 lead
- E. SmithThis baby is over. Not officially, but it’s over.
TERRIBLE shooting performance tonight by Canada
- E. SmithWith :25.7 seconds to go, Canada is shooting just 34% from the field
- E. SmithRowan Barrett nails 2/2 FT’s … to make it 75-67 NZ
- E. SmithReally too bad I really had good feeling after 2 games here in Hamilton. Leo needs to have some foul shooting at the next practice and a lot of it by sounds of it!!! Thanks For the Courtside coverage Eric!!!
- James Borbath2/2 FT for NZ … Kiwis back up by 10 … 77-67
- E. SmithLate lay-in for Kepkay … 77-69 NZ
- E. SmithThis baby is over. NZ wins 77-69
Nice comeback by the Kiwis after their 27-point blowout loss to Canada on Tuesday
- E. SmithFINAL STATS:
Canada 22/64 FG – 34%
New Zealand 22/59 FG – 37%
Levon Kendall – 7 points, 7 rebounds
Rowan Barrett led Canada with 18 points
Kirk Penney led all scorers with 22 points
Canada was 13 of 32 at the FT line … good for just 41%
- E. SmithThat’s it from Ricoh.
I’ll be back at it again tomorrow for Lebanon and Canada at 7pm
Talk to ya later folks
E
- E. SmithCan’t believe all these games are this close to home and I won’t make it out to 1 game
- TunezWow, I know the qualifier hasn’t started yet but that free throw shooting is pathetic. I hope the Canadians can pick it up and grab one of those three spots in Greece, but it’s looking very improbable.
- Mark R.wow, 12 for 32 FT, is this a normal thing for Team Canada?
- Binson