Boomers thump Bahrain in FIBA Qualifier
THE AUSTRALIAN Boomers delivered a commanding performance at State Basketball Centre, downing Bahrain to the tune of 33 points on Thursday night as part of a FIBA World Cup Qualifier.
It was a matchup that the Aussies were expected to win, given the opposition currently sits at the bottom of Group F, while the Boomers are gunning for a spot in the FIBA World Cup. The home side broke away in quarter number two with a dominant showing, and then pushed the lead out further with an emphatic final term.
The Boomers were led by a few eye-catching performances from some of the NBL’s best, including Isaac Humphries. The big man was as impactful as ever for Australia, finishing the match with 18 points on 8/10 shooting from the field including a perfect one of one from behind the arc.
Fellow NBL veteran Todd Blanchfield led all comers on the scoring front with a game-high 20 points (7/11 FG) to go with five rebounds and four assists. The forward has had plenty of experience at FIBA level, and it came to the forefront on Thursday. Nick Kay (13 points) and Rhys Vague (13 points) rounded out the double digit-scorers for the Boomers, while guard Mitch McCarron did as he always does, impacting the game in a number of ways with eight boards and five dimes.
For Bahrain, Devon Chism was the spark over the course of the match, producing an impressive double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds, both of which were team-high totals. He shot 5/15 from the field, looking to create scoring opportunities whenever he got the ball.
While his statistics may not show the reasoning, forward Ali Hasan seemed to conjure a bit of cult following over the course of the match. The crowd erupted almost every time he touched the ball, and a smile from Hasan and his teammates followed shortly after.
The Aussies shot better from the field as a whole, but the difference from behind the arc was the biggest discrepancy. The Boomers shot 40 per cent from three-point territory compared to Bahrain’s 23, making the most of the looks created by quick ball movement, and the lineup’s ability to stretch the floor.
Ball movement has always been a key pillar of Australia’s game, and it was evident that Dean Vickerman had instilled that in the side once again, winning the assist count 26-11.
The Boomers will hit the court on Sunday at 3pm to take on Kazhakstan at State Basketball Center once again.
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