Boomers draw tough London pool

Updated July 10, 2012 17:29:33

The ninth-seeded Australian Boomers have been handed a tough draw for the men's basketball competition at the London Olympics.

Already drawn against number two seeds Spain, 10th-seed China and the 13th-ranked Brazil, the last spot in the Boomers' Group B was allocated to world number 11 Russia following the final qualification tournament in Venezuela.

Also in Group is host nation Great Britain, ranked 43rd in the world.

Boomers coach Brett Brown says the inclusion of Russia highlights the strength of the Olympic competition, which has room for just 12 nations.

"Competition for those spots is intense so we we're not surprised to see Russia join us in Group B," Brown said.

"When you have 213 countries battling it out for just 12 spots, it means that only the best of the best will be in London."

The Boomers qualified for London after defeating arch rivals New Zealand in the 2011 FIBA Oceania Championship. All the Boomers' group games will be played at the London Basketball Arena.

The Boomers' Olympic draw (AEST):

July 29: v Brazil, 8:15pm

July 31: v Spain, 8:15pm

August 2: v China, 8:15pm

August 5: v Great Britain, 5:00am

August 6: v Russia, 6:00pm

Tags: olympics-summer, sport, basketball, australia

First posted July 10, 2012 17:29:33

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Tough draw for basketball's Boomers

Updated May 01, 2012 07:36:58

Australia's men's basketball team has avoided the might of the United States but still faces a tough task at the London Olympics after the draw for the pools was made in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday.

The Boomers have been drawn in Group B alongside hosts Great Britain, European heavyweights Spain, the highly-rated China and Brazil, with another qualifier yet to be determined.

Defending champions the United States have been drawn in Group A alongside Argentina, Tunisia and France, with the Americans favourites to claim their fifth gold medal in six Olympic tournaments.

The top four teams from each group qualify for the quarter-finals, with the final set to take place on August 12.

In the women's draw, the Opals face a similarly tough task after they were drawn with hosts Great Britain, Russia, Brazil and two further qualifiers.

Australia has lost the last three women's Olympic finals to arch-rivals the United States, which inflicted a comprehensive defeat on the Opals in the gold-medal game in Beijing.

Men's tournament

Group A: Argentina, France, Tunisia, USA, two qualifiers

Group B: Australia, Brazil, China, Great Britain, Spain and qualifier

Women's tournament

Group A: Angola, China, USA, three qualifiers

Group B: Australia, Brazil, Great Britain, Russia, two qualifiers

Tags: sport, olympics-summer, basketball, england, united-kingdom

First posted May 01, 2012 06:37:00

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Sixers win tough over Hawks

Updated March 03, 2012 23:04:10

The 36ers continued their late-season resurgence with a tough 77-73 win over Wollongong at Adelaide Arena on Saturday.

In a hard-fought game that rarely reached great heights, the 36ers finally got on top late in the third period before a futile last-gasp fightback by the Hawks.

Hawks guard Ayinde Ubaka was outstanding with 23 points, as was Larry Davidson (17 points, seven rebounds).

Adelaide centre Daniel Johnson was solid with 16 points, Stephen Weigh chipped in with 12 and point guard Chris Warren had 11 points and five assists.

Both sides struggled to find their offensive rhythm early with solid defence the order of the day.

Regardless, the lead changed 12 times with pacey 36ers guard Warren a standout for the home side, as was team-mate Daren Ng with a superb three-pointer.

Davidson and Ubaka also looked switched on for the contest, producing some classy finishing to help the visitors to a 19-18 lead at the first break.

Defence dominated the second period, and despite a brilliant three-pointer late in the term from Hawks guard Tyson Demos the 36ers did enough to take a 32-30 advantage into half-time.

Davidson burst out of the blocks early in the third term with a quick-fire six points. Johnson looked more threatening for the 36ers and when Warren thrilled the crowd with a brace of triples the game began to open up.

Weigh and Mitch Creek sank further three-pointers, and when Everard Bartlett repeated the feat on the buzzer the home side led 53-45 at the last change.

Thanks to guard Nathan Herbert's finishing, the 36ers maintained a 10-point lead at the halfway stage of the final term. However, a Ubaka three followed by a Forman basket kept the Hawks in it.

Weigh and Johnson steadied the 36ers' nerves, however, and they held on for a morale-boosting win.

AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia, wollongong-2500, nsw

First posted March 03, 2012 23:04:10

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