Kickert stands tall as Boomers thrash Japan
BRISBANE Bullets forward Daniel Kickert came up big when it mattered to help Australia claim a 84-68 victory over Japan on the opening day of the FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon.
The Boomers will continue their campaign against Hong Kong tonight after an encouraging start to the tournament when Australia absorbed a fast start from Japan and had the win in the bag by three-quarter time.
Kickert started at power forward and finished with 11 points, four rebounds and five assists with five Boomers finishing in double-figures.
Cairns captain Cam Gliddon and fellow starting guard Jason Cadee both had 13 points while Adelaide duo Matt Hodgson (11 points) and Mitch Creek (10 points) stood tall for the Boomers, who eventually cashed in on their size advantage.
Japan flew out of the gates but only led by one point after Kickert and Ipswich product Hodgson added late buckets.
A Kickert lay-up and two free-throws at the start of the second term sparked a 16-7 run for Australia, who also dialled up the defensive pressure to outscore Japan 23-11 for the term to seize the momentum and an 11-point half-time lead at Beirut’s Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex. The Boomers kept Japan scoreless in the first three minutes of the third term of the Group D match.
Some Japanese resistance was quashed by some Cadee brilliance, a scoring burst from Nick Kay and a three-pointer from Kickert to hand Australia a 21-point buffer at the last change.