GTA HOOPS.COM "Dedicated to the game in Canada"

PANEVEZYS, Lithuania - The Junior Men’s National Team (JMNT) continued their series of tune-up games for the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship with a 76-70 win Sunday over Australia in the Youth International Global Games in Lithuania. After a sluggish start to Saturday’s game versus Latvia, the JMNT knew they had to come out sharper against Australia.

The game was played evenly by both teams with the scored knotted at 19 after the first quarter. In the early going, Negus Webster-Chan (Toronto) and Sim Bhullar (Brampton, Ont.) led the team offensively, scoring 11 of the team’s 19 first-quarter points. In the second quarter, Australia began to find their offence, leading as much as 10 points in the quarter. However, a 12-4 run by the JMNT, capped off by a layup by Dyshawn Pierre (Whitby, Ont.) before halftime, cut Australia’s lead to a mere four points. The JMNT continued their offensive flurry into the third quarter and with a layup and a free throw at the 8:17 mark, Julian Clarke (Toronto) tied the game at 45. The Juniors would continue to dominate on offence, outscoring Australia 19-5 in the quarter and taking a 10-point lead heading into the final frame.

To start the fourth quarter, Australia went on a 13-4 scoring run to cut Canada’s lead to one point. However, key points scored by Pierre, Bhullar and Phil Scrubb (Richmond, B.C.) held Australia at bay, as the JMNT would hold for the victory. Bhullar led the way both offensively and defensively, scoring 16 points, grabbing eight rebounds and blocking a game-high six shots. Pierre recorded another double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, also blocking three shots. Webster-Chan added 13 points, while Clarke chipped in with 10 and Scrubb with nine.

The JMNT’s defensive presence played a factor in the win, holding Australia to 36 per cent shooting from the floor. Offensively, the Juniors shot the ball effectively, converting on 47 per cent of their field goal attempts.

Canada plays its final game of the International Youth Global Games on Monday against Brazil at 4:45 p.m. local time (9:45 a.m. ET). The game summary will be posted on http://www.basketball.ca.

After the Global Games, the JMNT will head to Latvia for the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship.

Curtsey of Canada Basketball