Boom times for our hot shots
AUSTRALIA have taken the lead in a four-match basketball series with China thanks to a narrow threepoint victory in Tianjin City on Wednesday.
The scores were level with just six minutes left, but the Boomers managed a late charge to win game three of the Sino-Australia Challenge 68-65.
Australia now lead the series 2- 1 after Sunday’s thumping of China in Perth.
The Boomers had boasted a 15-point advantage just before half-time, before letting nine points slip late in the third quarter and another 11 midway through the final term.
But giant centre Luke Nevill – a standout in game two – and 30-year-old Boomers rookie Anthony Petrie teamed up to spearhead a succession of late gamechanging plays, scoring 12 and 14 points in the process, respectively.
Melbourne Tigers star Chris Goulding posted 13 points, eight of which came in the first half.
Composed Cairns Taipans pair Cam Gliddon ( six points) and Clint Steindl (three points) played their part, too.
Newly- installed Australian coach Andrej Lemanis said he was really proud of the way his side fought to win against a never-say-die opposition.
‘‘China made a charge in the last quarter and I think we kept our composure, we stayed with plays, toughed it out and found a way to get over the line,’’ Lemanis said. ‘‘We weathered the storm, weathered the run and didn’t get rattled.’’
The Boomers play the series-decider in Yongcheng City today.