Tall Blacks pipped by Boomers in knife-edge Fiba World Cup qualifier in Hobart

Saturday, 29 November 2025

Sam Mennenga posted 19 points for the Tall Blacks in Friday night’s World Cup qualifier against Australia.

At MyState Bank Arena, Hobart: Australia Boomers 84 (Jaylin Galloway 19, Angus Glover 17, Will Hickey 12, Jack White 10), New Zealand Tall Blacks 79 (Sam Mennenga 19, Flynn Cameron 15, Finn Delany 10). 1Q: 27-24; HT: 42-48; 3Q: 66-67.

A shoddy Tall Blacks outfit missed a royal chance to grab an early World Cup qualifying advantage over their trans-Tasman rivals in Hobart on Friday night.

At the end of a predictably topsy-turvy, evenly matched encounter in this Group A opener, it was Dean Vickerman’s Australian Boomers who kept their cool down the stretch to prevail 84-79 as they drew first blood in this trans-Tasman back and forth.

The two teams will go at it again on Monday night in Wellington to wrap up the Fiba international window.

In a game that was not always in the Australians’ control, it was the home team who closed very much the more efficient as Judd Flavell’s Tall Blacks got a bad case of the yips when it mattered most to cough up the result.

It was a disappointing finish, to say the least, for a Tall Blacks group that had a clear advantage inside and very much created the opportunities to secure a rare (11th all-time) victory over the Aussies, but simply blinked when the lights were brightest

The Tall Blacks, after trailing by three (24-27) at the first break, surged in the second spell to lead 49-42 at the half, and 67-66 heading into the final intermission. The contest was there for the taking if they were good enough,

Flynn Cameron finished with 15 points and 7 dimes for the Tall Blacks against the Boomers in Hobart.

They weren’t. The New Zealanders committed too many turnovers and took too many hurried shots through the fourth quarter as the Boomers closed the final period 18-12 to take a well deserved victory.

Breakers star Sam Mennenga led the New Zealanders off the bench with a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds (and a team-best plus/minus of +11) in 21 minutes. Flynn Cameron likewise added a handy 15 points and 7 dimes for the Kiwis in just 24 minutes off the pine, while skipper Finn Delany chipped in with a quiet 10 points, 3 rebounds and 5 turnovers.

Flavell’s side smashed their foes on the boards (49-36 overall and 18-8 off the offensive glass) but failed to make it count as they shot the ball poorly from deep (6 of 24, compared to the Boomers’ 12 of 39) and were topped 16-9 in points off turnovers.

Also, it was hard to say that Flavell got his balance right, with his starters outscored 63-29 and 50 of his 79 points coming off the bench. Expect changes for Wrllington.

The Tall Blacks also did not get quite what they needed from Japan-based starting centre Yanni Wetzell (7 points and 8 rebounds in 16 minutes), while Taylor Britt and Izayah Le’afa combined to shoot just 4 of 14 from the floor. It was also a poor night for starting small forward Mojave King who sold himself short with just 2 points on 1-of-10 shooting.

You also had to ask yourself about a New Zealand game-plan that found the biggest player on the court, Tyrell Harrison, just one shot in total for 8 points and 3 boards in 16 minutes. They have to make better use of the giant centre on Monday.

Credit, though, to the Boomers. They battled well through a difficult middle period to figure things out when it mattered. Fiba Jaylin Galloway made his now customary appearance to lead the Aussies with 19 points on 13 shots, while sharpshooter Angus Glover knocked down four triples in his 17 points, and Will Hickey was clutch late to finish with 12 points, 5 boards and 6 dimes for the victors.

Jack White added 10 points and 4 boards for the Boomers, while Nick Kay (8) led the Aussies in rebounding.