Basketball: Stunning win for Tall Blacks

BRISBANE - New Zealand's journey towards recognition on the international stage has taken a major step with their first win over traditional world power Brazil.

The Tall Blacks' thrilling 84-79 win in extra time followed Monday's 89-64 upset of Canada to leave them surprise leaders of their Goodwill Games pool.

The Tall Blacks ran Brazil off their feet, finishing extra time much more strongly after the scores were locked 72-72 after normal time.

A series of steals at the start of the extra five-minute period saw them clear away to an impressive 81-74 lead which they were never going to relinquish.

Brazil, who had foul problems throughout, ended the game with no available substitutes.

Injuries and discipline problems meant they began with a roster of just eight players and two had fouled out and another injured himself by the end of the match.

However, nothing could be taken away from the Tall Blacks, who, with skill and maturity in their play, continued to show the benefits of playing at last year's Olympic Games.

After falling behind 2-12 inside the first five minutes, they regrouped and a 14-point streak midway through the first half enabled them to lead 38-32 at the break.

The scores were levelled at 48-48 and the lead changed hands numerous times before the final seconds, when Brazil's attempt for a winning basket was foiled by typically stout New Zealand defence.

"We tried to turn up the tempo in overtime," New Zealand coach Tab Baldwin said.

"We said to the guys 'let's really attack them and run it when we can.' We did, and the steals that came were a result of that."

United States-based guard Kirk Penney was the leading New Zealand scorer, with 23 points, but a host of other Tall Blacks also stood out.

Willie Burton, aged 39, contributed beyond the call of duty with 11 points, and Dillon Boucher's hustling style was effective all night.

Boucher was a late addition to the squad after Sean Marks withdrew. Baldwin wanted to play down his team's results.

"That's two games and they've been very good ones, but it doesn't establish anything about this team's identity," he said.

"We already knew these guys had character and good leadership, but I don't think it's time to start making any landmark statements about the team."

However, Baldwin conceded they were definitely moving in the right direction.

"We're becoming a team that people will now respect and will realise are capable of hurting them."

- NZPA