Boomers ease into quarters after win
AUSTRALIA has cruised into the quarter- finals of the FIBA Asia Cup but the Boomers will be without four- time Olympian David Anderson for the rest of the tournament.
The undefeated Boomers completed a clean sweep of their group matches with a comprehensive 90- 50 victory over Chinese Taipei in Lebanon yesterday to earn direct entry into the quarter- finals where they could face China.
But Anderson will be back in Melbourne by the time Australia next take the court with the power forward succumbing to a shoulder injury.
The Boomers’ most experienced player hurt his shoulder in a warm- up game against Syria a week ago and underwent an MRI.
After assessing the scan results, the Boomers’ medical team decided it was in Anderson’s best interests to head home to start rehabilitation.
The Boomers big men did not miss a beat without Anderson and starting centre Matt Hodgson as they dominated.
The Boomers outscored Chinese Taipei 62- 18 in the paint and enjoyed a 44- 22 superiority in the rebounding as Australia stunk it up from beyond the arc with just three successful three- point shots from 22 attempts.
Suffocating defensive pressure handed Australia a 22- 14 lead at quarter- time and the Boomers went on a 7- 0 run to start the second term on the way to a 20- point advantage at halftime.
Small forward Mitch Creek was a perfect nine from nine from the field for 22 points while forward Angus Brandt finished with 12 points and seven rebounds for the Andrej Lemanis- coached Boomers.