BASKETBALL
By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT and TOM HAYES
TRARALGON hosted FIBA basketball for the first time in the region’s history last week, with favourable (to say the least) results for Australia over Indonesia and Thailand on Thursday (February 20) and Sunday (February 23).
Over the two days, more than 3700 locals packed into Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium (GRISS) with the avid crowd heavily involved and active in each games’ proceedings.
It was the first time locals had enjoyed international basketball this close to home since 2006 when the Latrobe Valley hosted preliminary matches during the Melbourne Commonwealth Games at the then Traralgon Basketball Stadium.
Many locals were eagerly anticipating the return of star export Jack White to the region, with the hopes of seeing him suit up in the green and gold for the first time since the 2023 FIBA World Cup and his first game in his hometown in over a decade.
However, still dealing with a back injury that has kept him side-lined for the past three weeks ahead of Melbourne United’s finals campaign (which begins tomorrow against Perth Wildcats at John Cain Arena), White’s return was not to be. He previously was forced to withdraw from Boomers commitments due to a calf strain in December.
White arrived back to the region beginning with Friday’s Valley Ford Basketball Super Clinic, which saw more than 200 young kids gather on the old show courts at GRISS getting tips and tricks from the game’s best the likes of White, fellow Traralgon-native Jade Melbourne, and Boomers and South East Melbourne Phoenix player Luke Fennell.
In terms of the two visiting nations, it was always going to be tough against Australia.
The Boomers have run rampant over the rest of their group across the past year of qualifying play, now going undefeated for six wins between Indonesia, Thailand and Korea as they look ahead to the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia from August 5 to 17.
The closest match Australia had in the group stage came a year ago against Korea where they won by 14 points, 85 to 71 at Red Energy Arena, Bendigo – besides that, the Boomers destroyed their opponents by an average of 52 points.
The Boomers squad that travelled to Traralgon featured six players making their senior debuts, including Isaac White, Luke Fenell, Ben Griscti, Fabjan Krslovic, Elijah Pepper and Emmett Adair.
Pepper was dominant across both Traralgon games, posting an average of 21 points, five rebounds and 4.5 assists.
The side was offered veteran leadership from the likes of 2020 bronze medallist Nick Kay and Mitch McCarron, who has won two gold medals in each of Australia’s previous FIBA Asia Cup wins.
Kay and McCarron were both the oldest on the roster at the age of 32, which also boasted three 18-year-olds in Fennell, Furphy, and Adair.
The FIBA Asia Cup was once a qualifying tournament for the preceding FIBA World Cup and Olympics that took place every two years. Since Australia joined it is now a standalone competition and runs every four years.
Australia has been dominant in their two appearances in the FIBA Asia Cup since joining in 2015 with victories in 2017 (in Indonesia) and 2022 (Lebanon).
The two regional games completed the group stage circuit, with Australia going undefeated for six wins, automatically qualifying for Saudi Arabia.
INDONESIA had no answer for Australia, who smacked them to the tune of 51 points, 109 to 58, at GRISS in Traralgon’s first international game in almost 20 years.
While Traralgon’s Jack White wasn’t present, the fanatic basketball crowd of more than 1800 was treated to an appearance from home-grown talent Jade Melbourne, who was the last local to represent Australia featuring in the Opals bronze medal-winning side at the Paris Olympics.
Others spotted watching on included Melbourne United and Boomers star Chris Goulding and former NBA player David Anderson. Australian basketball royalty Andrew Gaze was courtside for commentary on ESPN’s live broadcast.
Head coach Jacob Chance was given a youthful touch with six on his side making their senior debuts for the Boomers on Thursday night (February 20) as they faced an Indonesia side that had yet to win a game in group play.
The ball was thrown up and the game was under way with the crowd overwhelmingly in their country’s corner, although a few Indonesia fans were spotted making some noise for the travelling side.
There was early jitters to say the least, as Australia scored on the first possession off a put back layup by Nick Kay, then led to almost five straight minutes of continuous bricks with no one able to secure a bucket.
Isaac White broke the game’s scoring drought with a fast break pullup midrange jump shot that began to open the floor up.
Elijiah Pepper went on a mini run of his own with a quick six points including an and-one conversion and drilling a corner three-point shot.
Indonesia were unable to find any burst during the first quarter, with many of their shots falling short and hitting the front of the rim. Australia made five threes to open the game that included three unanswered heading into the first break with a 22-4 lead.
The clear distinction between the two sides in terms of skill and talent could be seen early on, but what was even more apparent was the size differential, with Indonesia only boasting one true big man in Lester Prosper.
Prosper got things going with the first score of the second quarter, coming off a midrange swish only for young Wena David Okwera to return favour with a tough score inside plus the foul.
Indonesia found slight momentum, finally finding the bottom of the hole (mainly from free throws), but Australia still outscored them 28-18 for the term to enter halftime ahead by 28 points.
During the halftime break, Melbourne stepped onto the court to address her faithful Traralgon community, in what was her first visit back home since October where she brought her Olympic bronze medal.
Melbourne was recently awarded with her second consecutive Fan MVP (Most Valuable Player) including all-WNBL second team honours following another exceptional season for AC Capitals in the WNBL. She returns to the states soon for WNBA training camp at the start of March before her Washington Mystics play on opening night of the season on May 17 against Atlanta Dream.
Unflinching in their desire to extend their lead, Australia opened the third quarter in a hard press that continued with what had transpired in the first half. The Boomers held a 30-plus-point lead all the way through to the final buzzer.
This gave opportunities for the younger Boomers to remain on the court for a longer period and expose themselves on the international stage.
Emmett Adair had a good stretch, bodying the visually bigger Prosper for an easy lay and then throwing down a hard slam dunk with Indonesia breaking down while in transition.
The third quarter finished with the Boomers in front 77-39, but that wasn’t it for the Australian side, as they began the final term on a 24-11 run that included three additional three-point bombs. Australia finished with 14 threes to Indonesia’s five.
Fans were treated to a delightful play in the final minutes as the game ended in a wash.
Ben Griscti set a high screen for Luke Fennell before diving to the basket (assisted by a down screen from Jacob Furphy) and dished a fine lob pass in the air and threw down the powerful alley-oop to set the crowd ablaze.
Fennell spoke post-game about playing in the regional area that has strong roots in basketball.
“Traralgon has a lot of Boomers and Opals come through the ranks which is huge for a country town, it’s great for the Boomers to play on home soil let alone in a town that has such a great impact on the Australian basketball community,” he said.
Pepper had a game-high 18 points, five rebounds and four assists, as well as 15 points from both Adair and Okwera.
McCarron offered the poise needed for such a young side, posting nine points, seven assists and two steals – involved constantly during each of Australia’s scoring runs.
THE Boomers made it two from two, crushing Thailand to the tune of 50 points on Sunday, February 23, in a final score of 114-64.
Sunday festivities at the GRISS included face painting, while Latrobe City Mayor, Dale Harriman and Deputy Mayor, Sharon Gibson were in attendance, the former presenting the game ball.
While he may have been absent for the first game, Traralgon’s Jack White showed up to support his Boomers teammates in his hometown. Melbourne also showed her support for the second time in the week.
Prior to the match, Gaze – again on commentary for ESPN – mentioned that Thailand needed to keep Australia to less than 90 points to have any chance of winning. That proved to be something of a difficult feat as the game dragged on.
The pressure was immense from the first tip-off, as both nations vied for early possession and baskets.
The full court pressure from the Boomers was enough to create turnovers, which were translated into buckets for the Aussies.
Just as it appeared Australia was going to sail away in the opening term, Thailand showed some fight, something that the Boomers might not have been used to compared to Thursday night.
Thailand came at the Aussies and forced a number of turnovers to take the lead midway through the opening stanza.
Despite their confidence beaming, Australia still had enough class to close out the first quarter with a healthy eight-point lead.
The Boomers maintained their lead as the second term commenced, as a number of baskets went amiss. The style of play from both nations was described by Gaze as “clunky”.
Nevertheless, Thailand found themselves in foul trouble earlier than expected, as Australia began to take advantage from the free throw line.
Pepper continued his hot scoring form by getting up into double digits before halftime, while Frederick Lish was an outside danger for Thailand.
Australia put the foot down in the second half of the second quarter, opening up a 21-point lead at the main break.
Things began to look easy for the Boomers in the second half, as they continued to force more and more turnovers, which turned into more repeated scoring chances.
This hurt Thailand, who let up a 6-0 run to start the third term. They mounted a quick comeback thanks to big man Emmanuel Ejesu and Lish, who got the margin back down to 20 points.
Pepper remained a massive threat for the Boomers, picking steals and scoring. During the second half of the penultimate quarter, Australia broke out even further ahead, making the most of the tired-looking Thai legs.
Lish came off the court toward the end of the third term, and Australia let loose, putting up bucket after bucket to go 28 points up heading into the final quarter of basketball in Traralgon.
The final quarter was a free-for-all. It didn’t take long for Australia’s lead to surpass 30 points, then soon after it was over 40.
While running rings around Thailand, Pepper passed 20 points, as did Isaac White who ran the last quarter.
The floodgates opened in the final few minutes, as Australia pushed the margin over 50 points within the final minute.
Pepper top scored with 24 points, scoring 11/19 from the field, including five rebounds, five assists and two steals.
White exploded in the final term, scoring 22 points (9/15 from the field), as well as six assists, four rebounds, and a steal.
Following the two wins from two in Traralgon, the Boomers have qualified for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, topping Group A.
Also qualified is Korea, New Zealand, Philippines, China, Japan, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar, and Lebanon. The final spot is to be decided between Bahrain, Syria, and the UAE.
