BRISBANE - The New Zealand basketball team and swimmer Dean Kent performed superbly to produce a memorable night for New Zealand at the Goodwill Games.
The Tall Blacks played with a rare degree of skill and purpose to upset Canada 89-64.
On the other side of Brisbane, Kent smashed his national 400m
individual medley record to complete a superb meet for the Auckland allrounder.
After a pre-match haka, the Tall Blacks continued their aggression with a strong first-half defensive display which harried the young Canadians into poor options and shooting.
New Zealand's offence, sparked by Nelson guards Judd Flavell and Phill Jones, proved dynamic in the second spell. Flavell top-scored with 16 points.
Under the basket, Tony Rampton was outstanding against taller opponents, with support from Pero Cameron, 39-year-old Willie Burton on debut, and Rampton's brother Damon, who he was playing alongside for the first time.
"This result is great for New Zealand basketball," Tony Rampton said.
"Canada are a new team, but so are we. It was intense out there. I think everyone reacted really well to the big-game occasion."
Rampton said Saturday's warm-up match against the United States had hardened his team for pressure situations.
"Something we've not done well in the past is to defend a lead at halftime. We would often give it up. It was good to have the lead [41-36 at the break] and actually extend it."
New Zealand will be without guard Mark Dickel, who has injured calves, for the rest of the tournament.
However, he will be available for the Oceania qualifying series against Australia this month.
"The best thing about tonight was that every player did the little things right," coach Tab Baldwin said.
"That was a major step-up from our warm-up games in Melbourne, but the players know they have to keep their heads. It was a young Canadian team and we're going to face tougher challenges this week."
Meanwhile, at the Chandler Aquatic Centre, North Shore swimmer Kent clipped his 400m individual medley record to 4m 19.04s, the third time he had lowered his mark at the Games.
It was nearly 3s faster than the record he had before this meet.
Having also beaten his own 200m medley record last week, Kent has moved significantly closer to the elite category in both distances.
It was a stunning competition for the 22-year-old, who won the individual silver in the 400m and bronze in the 200m.
He collected $US4000 ($9225) for breaking the records and an extra $US2500 for being part of the second-placed World All-Stars team.
They lost the final 45-104 to Australia, who also won gold in the women's competition.
The world women's team were fourth, with their New Zealand contingent generally well below their best.
- NZPA
BRISBANE - The New Zealand basketball team and swimmer Dean Kent performed superbly to produce a memorable night for New Zealand at the Goodwill Games.
The Tall Blacks played with a rare degree of skill and purpose to upset Canada 89-64.
On the other side of Brisbane, Kent smashed his national 400m
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